LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a widely performed outpatient laser surgery designed to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses and contacts by correcting refractive vision errors. It reshapes the cornea so that light focuses properly on the retina, thereby improving the clarity of vision for individuals with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Before LASIK: Preparation and Candidacy
Your LASIK journey begins with a comprehensive eye exam and a personalized consultation. During this evaluation, your surgeon reviews your vision prescription, corneal thickness, eye health, and overall suitability for surgery. Not everyone is a candidate; factors such as unstable vision, thin corneas, severe dry eyes, or specific eye diseases can affect eligibility.
You’ll be instructed to stop wearing contact lenses for a period before surgery, as contacts can temporarily alter the shape of your cornea and interfere with accurate measurements. In the days leading up to your procedure, avoid wearing eye makeup, lotions, and perfumes to minimize the risk of infection, and plan to have someone drive you home afterward.
Day of Surgery: What Happens During LASIK
On surgery day, topical anesthetic drops are applied to numb your eyes and ensure you remain comfortable throughout the procedure. You’ll remain awake but relaxed, and a gentle device keeps your eyelids open, minimizing the need for blinking.
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Creation of the Corneal Flap
The surgeon creates a thin, hinged flap on the cornea using a femtosecond laser or a precision blade. This flap gives access to the deeper corneal tissue that will be reshaped.
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Reshaping the Cornea
With the flap lifted, an excimer laser is used to remove microscopic amounts of corneal tissue according to your personalized vision prescription. This reshaping adjusts how light bends as it enters your eye, targeting a clearer focus on the retina.
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Flap Repositioning
After the corneal reshaping is complete, the surgeon carefully places the flap back into its original position. The flap adheres naturally without stitches, acting as a biological bandage that promotes rapid healing.
The entire surgery typically takes about 10–15 minutes per eye, and many patients notice an improvement in their vision immediately following the procedure.
Advanced Technology
In the LASIK procedure, Wellish Abrams LASIK surgeons utilize highly specialized excimer lasers to reshape the cornea and correct refractive errors.
Femtosecond Lasers are used to create the initial flap. These lasers are the pinnacle of laser technology development. This laser makes the flap to exact dimensions, helping it conform to your eye’s unique anatomy and ensuring the flap fits back in place securely.
Wavefront-guided lasers are used in LASIK to enable surgeons to map defects in the eye’s optical system. These devices demonstrate how light travels through the eye and aid in producing a customized LASIK treatment plan for each patient.
Wavelight Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser is then used to fix each eye’s visual imperfections. It is highly specialized and capable of preserving the natural curvature of the cornea, which prevents unwanted side effects, including poor night vision or halos.
After LASIK: Recovery and Healing
After LASIK, you’ll rest briefly before going home. You may experience mild sensations, such as itching, tearing, or a gritty feeling in your eyes — these are common and typically subside within one to two days. Light sensitivity or visual disturbances, such as halos around lights, may also occur initially and tend to improve quickly as your eyes heal.
Results and Long-Term Outlook
Most individuals achieve significantly improved vision after LASIK. A high percentage attain vision good enough for driving without corrective lenses, and many experience 20/20 vision or better.
It’s essential to recognize that LASIK permanently corrects the shape of the cornea. Still, it doesn’t prevent age-related changes, such as presbyopia, which typically begins in the 40s and makes close-up focusing more challenging. Some patients may need reading glasses later in life.
Risks and Considerations
While LASIK is considered safe and effective for many patients, no surgical procedure is entirely risk-free. Understanding possible side effects and complications helps you make an informed decision.
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Dry eyes, especially in the first few weeks or months after surgery
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Glare, halos, or starbursts around lights, particularly at night
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Light sensitivity
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Mild discomfort, burning, or a gritty sensation
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Blurry or fluctuating vision during early healing
More serious complications are less frequent but possible. Careful candidacy evaluation and thoughtful discussion with your surgeon ensure you understand both benefits and risks before moving forward.
Enjoy Clear Vision After LASIK
LASIK is a precise, efficient, and well-established option for many people seeking greater visual freedom. At Wellish Abrams, that freedom is supported by our Lifetime Vision Plan, an ongoing commitment to preserving your best possible vision for life. Our surgeons are confident in the long-term stability of LASIK outcomes, which is why eligible patients can enroll in a plan that includes future laser enhancements at no additional cost, should they ever be medically appropriate. With thoughtful care, annual eye exams, and a team focused on long-term eye health, LASIK becomes not just a procedure, but an investment in how you see and live for years to come.