LASIK: Laser in-situ keratomileusis. The University of Iowa

LASIK: Laser in-situ keratomileusis

LASIK combines the use of an instrument called a microkeratome to create a flap of cornea tissue which is lifted up while the laser is used to reshape the underlying surface.

LASIK differs from PRK in that it corrects vision by reshaping the corneal tissue beneath the surface of the cornea rather than on the surface. LASIK combines the accuracy of the laser with the healing benefits of a surgical procedures called Lamellar Keratoplasty.

After your eye has been numbed using "eye drop" anesthesia, an eyelid holder is placed between your lids to prevent blinking. Your surgeon then makes a protective flap in the cornea. During this process you may feel a little pressure, but no discomfort. Using a laser, protective flap is folded back in place where it bonds without the need for stitches

Because LASIK is performed under a layer of protective tissue, there is less surface area to heal, less risk of corneal haze, less postoperative discomfort, and less need for postoperative medication. Your vision also returns more rapidly- often within a day or so. LASIK can also be used to treat higher ranges of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. LASIK carries more surgical risks than PRK.

What is Custom Lasik?

Custom LASIK, also known as wavefront LASIK, combines the use of the STAR S4 Excimer Laser System with the WaveScan Wavefront System to created the CustomVue Procedure. (Read about Wavefront and CUstomVue)

Department of Ophthalmology
& Visual Sciences

Laser Vision Correction