You will lie on your back in a reclining chair in an exam room that contains the laser system. The laser system includes a large machine with a connected microscope and a computer screen. Doctors often use wavefront-guided technology to evaluate the eye in detail before LASIK surgery. Your eye doctor will talk with you about whether LASIK surgery or another similar refractive procedure is an option that works for you.
LASIK surgery itself has not caused any cases of blindness in people who are candidates for appropriate surgery. The long-term results of LASIK are often better in people who are carefully evaluated before surgery to ensure that they are good candidates for the procedure. Certain health conditions can increase the risks associated with LASIK surgery or make the outcome less predictable. Therefore, these surgeries may be better for you if you're not eligible for LASIK surgery (for example, if your corneas are too thin or if your job puts you at risk of eye trauma).
LASIK surgery is performed with a laser programmed to remove a defined amount of tissue from a part of the eye called the cornea. About 1 in 5 people who want to have LASIK surgery have medical or eye conditions that prevent them from receiving LASIK surgery. Regardless of the LASIK procedure or alternative to LASIK, most patients can return to work the next day. More than 8 out of 10 people who have undergone LASIK refractive surgery no longer need to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses for most of their activities.
We'll dive a little deeper into the time of laser surgery in a minute, but first, let's look at what happens before LASIK. One of the most common questions people ask when considering LASIK eye surgery is how long the procedure lasts.
