LASIK Eye Surgery

During normal vision, light passes through the cornea, the clear covering of the eye, and then through the pupil. Light then passes through the lens, which focuses the image on the retina at the back of the eye. LASIK surgery is for people who are nearsighted, meaning that distant objects are blurry because the distant images are focused in front of the retina instead of on it. During LASIK surgery, a laser and a cutting tool called a microkeratome are used to create a flap on the cornea. The corneal layer is flipped back and the inner layers of the cornea are reshaped with the laser. The laser changes the shape of the cornea so that images entering the eye will strike the retina more directly. The purpose of this procedure is to sharpen the patient's vision, reducing the patient's dependency on glasses and contact lenses. There are several potential complications associated with this procedure that should be discussed with a doctor prior to the procedure.