|
Learning About 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.
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 knife, called a microkeratome, 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.
|