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LASIK The most popular and commonly performed refractive procedure is Laser Assisted Stromal In-situ Keratomileusis (LASIK). This procedure combines the precision of the excimer laser delivery system used in PRK (PhotoRefractive Keratectomy) with the convenience of Automated Lamellar Keratoplasty. A microkeratome first glides across the cornea, creating a thin flap which the surgeon then gently lifts aside, leaving it on a hinge. High frequency (billionths of a second per cycle) “cold” laser energy is then applied by the excimer laser to the underlying cornea, breaking molecular bonds and ablating as precise as 0.25 microns per pulse. That is 2.5 thousandths of a millimeter! This gently reshapes the cornea, thereby changing the patient’s prescription. The surgeon then reposi-tions the corneal flap. Because of the flap, healing is rapid and is essentially painless. Because of the painless quick recovery and its ability to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism to the same degree of accuracy as PRK, LASIK is the choice of most patients. Almost all patients return to work the next day!
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