The latest trend of surgery is the non-invasive, or minimally invasive form. Today, patients show that they prefer surgical procedures to be done as quickly as possible, as non-invasively as possible and requiring as short a recovery time as possible.

Laser Vision Correction is among the most popular elective surgery this decade. The procedure involves the use of a special type of laser called the Excimer laser, originally developed in the early 1970s by IBM to etch computer chips and modified for ophthalmic use in the early 1980s. The Excimer laser creates a"cool" beam of ultraviolet light, meaning that most of the heat it generates dissipates quickly into the air. This makes the Excimer laser ideal for eye surgery because it can vaporize (ablate) corneal tissue without causing thermal damage to surrounding tissue.

The Excimer laser is also extremely precise. It can remove corneal tissue with an accuracy of 0.25 microns (less than 1/1000 of a millimeter). For most LASIK procedures, proper vision correction can be achieved by removing only about 50 microns of corneal thickness. This is approximately the thickness of a single human hair. With the cornea now reshaped, light focuses more directly on the retina for clearer eyesight.

Two major techniques of Laser Vision Correction are PRK and LASIK . PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) was the first kind of corrective eye surgery to use a laser rather than a blade to remove corneal tissue. PRK became less and less popular following the development of LASIK.

There are several reasons LASIK has become the most popular corneal refractive procedure. The use of a corneal flap to access the underlying tissue greatly reduces the amount of post-surgical discomfort compared to procedures such as PRK corrective eye surgery.

LASIK--Most popular Laser Vision Correction

The word LASIK is an acronym for LASer In-situ Keratomileusus, which means,"to reshape the cornea with a laser." LASIK was first conceived in 1989 by a Greek doctor named Ioannis Pallikaris. LASIK requires the creation of a flap in the cornea before surgical eye correction can take place.

The steps in the LASIK procedure are as follows:

1. Detailed measurements of the eye are performed and then treatment is planned


2. Anesthetic eye drops are applied to numb the eye.


3. A speculum device is applied to the eyelids to hold them open during the surgery.


4. An instrument called a microkeratome is used to cut a small flap of corneal tissue. The flap remains attached to the cornea on one side (hinge).


5. The flap is folded back to expose the central corneal tissue.


6. The excimer laser delivers a programmed number of pulses of ultraviolet light to the exposed cornea. Each pulse removes a microscopic amount of corneal tissue, thereby changing the shape of the front of the eye.


7. After the laser treatment is completed, the corneal flap is folded back to its original position. There is no need for stitches to keep the flap in position.

Many patients experience immediate results, which continue to improve over the next several days. The morning following surgery, patients often wake up to a crisp, clear view of the world that surprises and delights them. Most patients can usually return to work the day after LASIK procedure.

Eye-doctors will want patients to return for few visits after your LASIK to make sure their eyes heal properly and to monitor their visual acuity. Follow-up visits are usually scheduled at least at the following milestones: 1 day, 1 week , 1 month and/or 1 year after LASIK

LASIK is not for everyone. Only an eye care professional trained in laser vision correction can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for the LASIK procedure. It is important to discuss the risks associated with the procedure and any questions you may have about the procedure with your doctor.