LASIK & Laser Eye Surgery:
A Complete Consumer Guide

LASIK is one of several surgical options for correcting your vision. Our articles cover:

• Alternative non-laser procedures
• What you should know about LASIK
• Types of laser eye surgery

Start with the vision correction surgery basics article. Or choose another feature:

Free Online LASIK Evaluation
Are you a candidate for LASIK? Our two-minute test will generate a personalized report. Start now »

NEW: Custom LASIK Q&A
A respected Navy eye surgeon, now retired, explains why he favors custom LASIK.

Debate: Blade Vs. Bladeless LASIK
Two prominent, experienced LASIK surgeons give us their opinions on a much-debated topic: Should the flap-cutting device in LASIK be a microkeratome blade or a second laser?

LASIK Surgeon Q&A
Read recent answers from our LASIK surgeon panel, then see our archives of Q&A About LASIK and Other Vision Correction Surgery.

What You Should Know About LASIK:

How To Choose a Surgeon — including tough questions to ask.
NEW: LASIK Enhancement: Perfecting vision outcomes.
LASIK Criteria for Success: How to know if LASIK or PRK is for you.
LASIK Surgery Risks and Complications — and how to avoid them.
LASIK Eye Surgery Results: Are you likely to see 20/20 after LASIK?
LASIK Financing: Learn how you can afford LASIK surgery.
What Does LASIK Surgery Cost? Average LASIK prices are rising.
Which Laser Is Best? Read a review of all current LASIK lasers.
Contact Lenses After LASIK: Why some people need them.
When LASIK Goes Wrong: Some cautionary tales.

Types of LASIK and Other Laser Eye Surgery:

Corneal Onlays/Inlays blend with your eye's surface.
PRK: Some surgeons still prefer PRK, the original laser eye surgery.
Custom Wavefront LASIK: What makes it "custom" LASIK?
Epi-LASIK avoids using alcohol to remove the cornea's outer layer.
Presby LASIK is a possible laser eye surgery for presbyopes.
LASEK is a no-flap procedure used mostly for thin corneas.
IntraLase "Bladeless" LASIK uses a second laser, not a blade.

SPONSORED SECTION: The iLASIK Procedure
Learn about this advanced laser vision correction procedure for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

Alternatives to Laser Eye Procedures:

CK for Hyperopia uses radio-frequency energy for corneal shaping.
Refractive Lens Exchange replaces your eye's natural lens.
Implantable Lenses (phakic IOLs) avoid removing corneal tissue.

Eye Surgery for Presbyopia
Want to toss your reading glasses or bifocals? Find out what you can do right now, as well as what currently investigational procedures might be available in the future.

Departments
Refractive Surgery News / LASIK & PRK FAQ / LASIK Quiz / Surgeon Directory

About LASIK
LASIK is a surgical procedure that uses a laser to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism. In LASIK, a thin flap in the cornea is created using either a microkeratome blade or a femtosecond laser. The surgeon folds back the flap, then removes some corneal tissue underneath using an excimer laser. The flap is then laid back in place, covering the area where the corneal tissue was removed.

With nearsighted people, the goal of LASIK is to flatten the too-steep cornea; with farsighted people, a steeper cornea is desired. LASIK can also correct astigmatism by smoothing an irregular cornea into a more normal shape.

If you are considering LASIK eye surgery, your first step is to choose a good LASIK surgeon who can evaluate whether LASIK is right for you. Your LASIK surgeon will examine your eyes to determine their health, what kind of vision correction you need, and how much laser ablation (corneal tissue removal) is required. The doctor will also ask about any health conditions that may disqualify you altogether for LASIK surgery.

If you're not a candidate for LASIK, you may qualify for another laser eye surgery such as PRK (similar to LASIK but without the flap), LASEK, or epi-LASIK. There are also non-laser vision correction procedures. Your prescription and eye structure will be considered to help determine which procedure is best for you.

LASIK is an outpatient procedure. The LASIK surgeon uses a computer to adjust the laser for your particular prescription. You will be asked to look at a target light for a short time while the laser sends pulses of light to painlessly reshape your cornea. The actual LASIK surgery usually takes less than five minutes.

Read an expanded description of LASIK / Read about LASIK results

[Page updated June 2008]