LASIK, an acronym for "laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis", a popular type of refractive eye surgery used commonly to correct myopia (nearsightedness) as well as other conditions like presbyopia and astigmatism. The procedure involves using a specialized knife called a nucrokeratome to cut a hinged flap of corneal tissue in the outer layer of the eye which when lifted out of the way, provides access to the underlying tissue. This deeper layer of the corneal tissue is then reshaped with an excimer laser using ultra violet light. After reshaping the cornea the flap is repositioned and secured without stitches. An eye patch helps stop the flap from moving during the healing process.

A short recovery time and the relative painlessness of the procedure contribute to LASIK's popularity. Performed with local anesthesia (numbing eye drops) on an out-patient basis and taking only 10-15 minutes per eye, LASIK's appeal results in over a million procedures yearly in the U.S. alone.

In future posts I'll discuss the ins and outs, pros and cons of LASIK surgery including common problems, factors to think about when considering whether LASIK is right for you and informative statistics that may help you with making the jump from glasses to 20/20.