Overview of the LASIK Procedure:
Diagnosis: You have been diagnosed with myopia (nearsightedness), with or without astigmatism, or hyperopia, (farsightness), with or without astigmatism.

LASIK Surgery Described:
LASIK permanently changes the shape of the cornea. The surgery is performed using a topical anesthetic (drops in the eye). A suction ring is applied securing it for the microkeratome cut. When the suction is applied, the vision will appear completely gray until the flap is made and the suction is released. The patient cannot see or feel the incision. The procedure involves folding back a thin layer of corneal tissue (corneal flap) with a microkeratome. The thickness of this flap is about one and a half hair thick. The cornea is roughly four to five hairs thick. You will hear a clicking noise during the ablation (the removal of corneal tissue with the excimer laser). After the ablation, the flap is replaced and bonds back into place. The removal of tissue (ablation), causes the center of the cornea to flatten in the case of nearsightedness, or become more rounded in the case of astigmatism, which changes the focusing power of the cornea.