The first LASIK eye surgery in the US was performed in 1991. Over two decades later, the American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates that more than 28 million such procedures have been performed worldwide.
LASIK (Laser in Situ Keratomileusis) is a type of refractive surgery that uses lasers to correct common vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. During the procedure, the surgeon first creates a thin corneal flap using a microkeratome. With the flap pulled back and the corneal tissue exposed, lasers are then used to reshape the cornea accordingly for each patient. Then the flap is repositioned. Because the cornea stays intact (for the most part), this procedure allows for faster recovery.
In the US alone, around 700,000 LASIK procedures are performed annually, making it one of the most common surgeries overall. And these numbers are expected to grow even more as the procedure becomes even more streamlined. Are you considering LASIK? Watch the video to learn more about how this procedure works.