What happens during LASIK surgery?
During the procedure, the LASIK surgeon uses a speculum to keep the patient’s eyelids open while he or she works. The patient is then asked to stare at a blinking red light, while the surgeon stabilizes the eye with a suction ring so that it does not move during surgery. Using a microkeratome (a small oscillating blade), the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the top layer of the cornea to create a thin flap. The flap is then lifted, exposing the underlying corneal tissue. With an excimer laser, the surgeon carefully removes a predetermined amount of tissue to subtly reshape the cornea. This stage of the procedure takes about 15 seconds per eye. Finally, the surgeon returns the corneal flap to its original position, where it will heal on its own, without the need for stitches.
