LASIK

LASIK is a surgical procedure intended to reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact

lenses. The goal of this Web site is to provide objective information to the public about LASIK
surgery. See other sections of this site to learn about what you should know before surgery,
what will happen during the surgery, and what you should expect after surgery. There is a
glossary of terms and a checklist of issues for you to consider, practices to follow, and questions
to ask your doctor before undergoing LASIK surgery. This web site also provides information on
FDA’s role in LASIK surgery, FDA’s current LASIK activities, and FDA-approved lasers for LASIK.

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and is a procedure that permanently
changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer
laser. A mechanical microkeratome (a blade device) or a laser keratome (a laser device) is used
to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge is left at one end of this flap. The flap is folded back revealing
the stroma, the middlesection of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize
a portion of the stroma and the flap is replaced. There are other techniques and many new
terms related to LASIK that you may hear about.

An EYEGLASS PRESCRIPTION is an order written by an eyewear prescriber, such as an

optometrist or ophthalmologist, that specifies the value of all parameters the prescriber has
deemed necessary to construct and/or dispense corrective lenses appropriate for a patient.

If an examination indicates that corrective lenses are appropriate, the prescriber generally
provides the patient with an eyewear prescription at the conclusion of the exam. In fact, in the
United States, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) requires eyewear prescribers to give each
patient a copy of their prescription, immediately following the concluding exam, even if the
patient doesn't ask for a copy.[1][2]

The parameters specified on spectacle prescriptions vary, but typically include the power to
which each lens should be made in order to correct blurred vision due to refractive errors,
including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. It is typically determined using a
phoropter asking the patient which lens is best, computer automated refractor, and through
the technique of retinoscopy. Opticians are not eye doctors and, therefore, are not licensed to
write an eyeglass prescription. A dispensing optician will take a prescription written by an
optometrist or ophthalmologist and order and/or assemble the frames and lenses to then be
dispensed and sold to the patient.

Procedure

There are several necessary preparations in the preoperative period. The operation itself
involves creating a thin flap on the eye, folding it to enable remodeling of the tissue beneath
with a laser. The flap is repositioned and the eye is left to heal in the postoperative period.
[edit] Preoperative

Patients wearing soft contact lenses are usually instructed to stop wearing them 5 to 21 days
before surgery. One industry body recommends that patients wearing hard contact lenses
should stop wearing them for a minimum of six weeks plus another six weeks for every three
years the hard contacts have been worn.[16] Before the surgery, the patient's corneas are
examined with a pachymeter to determine their thickness, and with a topographer to measure
their surface contour. Using low-power lasers, a topographer creates a topographic map of the
cornea. This process also detects astigmatism and other irregularities in the shape of the
cornea. Using this information, the surgeon calculates the amount and the locations of corneal
tissue to be removed during the operation. The patient typically is prescribed and self-
administers an antibiotic beforehand to minimize the risk of infection after the procedure.

[edit] Operation

The operation is performed with the patient awake and mobile; however, the patient is
sometimes given a mild sedative (such as Valium) and anesthetic eye drops.

LASIK is performed in three steps. The first step is to create a flap of corneal tissue. The second
step is remodeling of the cornea underneath the flap with the laser. Finally, the flap is
repositioned.

[edit] Flap creation

A corneal suction ring is applied to the eye, holding the eye in place. This step in the procedure
can sometimes cause small blood vessels to burst, resulting in bleeding or subconjunctival
hemorrhage into the white (sclera) of the eye, a harmless side effect that resolves within
several weeks. Increased suction typically causes a transient dimming of vision in the treated
eye. Once the eye is immobilized, the flap is created. This process is achieved with a mechanical
microkeratome using a metal blade, or a femtosecond laser microkeratome (procedure known
as IntraLASIK) that creates a series of tiny closely arranged bubbles within the cornea. [17] A hinge
is left at one end of this flap. The flap is folded back, revealing the stroma, the middle section of
the cornea. The process of lifting and folding back the flap can sometimes be uncomfortable.

[edit] Laser remodeling

The second step of the procedure is to use an Excimer laser (193 nm) to remodel the corneal
stroma. The laser vaporizes tissue in a finely controlled manner without damaging the adjacent
stroma. No burning with heat or actual cutting is required to ablate the tissue. The layers of
tissue removed are tens of micrometres thick. Performing the laser ablation in the deeper
corneal stroma typically provides for more rapid visual recovery and less pain than the earlier
technique, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
During the second step, the patient's vision will become very blurry once the flap is lifted. They
will be able to see only white light surrounding the orange light of the laser, which can lead to
mild disorientation.

Currently, manufactured Excimer lasers use an eye tracking system that follows the patient's
eye position up to 4,000 times per second, redirecting laser pulses for precise placement within
the treatment zone. Typical pulses are around 1 millijoule (mJ) of pulse energy in 10 to 20
nanoseconds.[18]

[edit] Repositioning of flap

After the laser has reshaped the stromal layer, the LASIK flap is carefully repositioned over the
treatment area by the surgeon and checked for the presence of air bubbles, debris, and proper
fit on the eye. The flap remains in position by natural adhesion until healing is completed.

[edit] Postoperative care

Patients are usually given a course of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops. These are
continued in the weeks following surgery. Patients are usually told to sleep much more and are
also given a darkened pair of shields to protect their eyes from bright lights and protective
goggles to prevent rubbing of the eyes when asleep and to reduce dry eyes. They also are
required to moisturize the eyes with preservative-free tears and follow directions for
prescription drops. Patients should be adequately informed by their surgeons of the
importance of proper post-operative care to minimize the risk of complications.