Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is actually the most popular refractive surgery. LASIK causes less afterward pain and offers quick vision recovery. A microkeratome or a laser can be used to create a thin flap during LASIK. After lifting the flap, the surgeon removes some corneal tissue with an excimer laser. Both hyperopic and myopic patients can get visual correction from LASIK through reshaping the cornea. LASIK flattens the too-steep cornea in myopic people and creates steep cornea for hyperopic patients.

A surgery of laser vision correction can reshape the cornea using a cool beam of light, improving visual acuity. The laser performs in several ways, flattening the cornea, steepening the cornea or smoothing out corneal irregularities. Laser vision correction methods LASIK and PRK are two types of laser procedures. Most LASIK surgeons correct both of the patient’s eyes at the same visit, while PRK always treats the two eyes with a proper interval.

While calculated at per eye, the cost of LASIK can be quite different from one surgeon to another. If the patient wants to have two eyes corrected, the cost doubles. In addition, LASIK involving new technologies such as wavefront and bladeless also requires higher prices.

Even if performed by experienced surgeons, LASIK may cause rare complications. In fact, LASIK is only one of the refractive surgeries. Others include LASEK, PRK and implantable lenses. Since inappropriate candidates carry higher risks of LASIK complications, it is overwhelmingly necessary to take a candidate evaluation. On the other hand, experience and skill of the surgeon are also importance in decreasing risks.

LASIK always costs a few thousand dollars per eye, which is somewhat unaffordable for low-income individuals. Fortunately, various financing options help these people receive LASIK, insuring best visual treatment. The monthly payments of different financing plans vary from $127 to $420. In general, there are three types of financing options: health care financing company, financing through a LASIK surgeon and a flexible spending account (FSA).

As a new form of laser eye surgery, Epi-LASIK combines some features of both LASIK and LASEK and also addresses some visual problems that are beyond these two procedures. In general, Epi-LASIK differs in operation devices and eye parts.

The elective LASIK has helped thousands of patients in reducing the dependency on eyeglasses and contact lenses, which is the most attractive advantage of the procedure. However, LASIK is also rarely associated with potential risks such as complications and dissatisfying visual outcomes, even with the unremitting improvement in supporting technology and surgeon skill.

Candidates of LASIK or PRK should meet certain requirements, which are essential to get safe and desired outcome. There is online LASIK screening for a personalized evaluation.

While conventional LASIK uses mechanical cutting tools, all-laser LASIK performs in a different way. Also named bladeless LASIK, all-laser LASIK takes use of two types of lasers: femtosecond laser and excimer laser. These two types of lasers can both reshape the cornea and improve focus ability.

It is amazing that presbyopia correction can be achieved through cataract surgery, which is a good example of “killing two birds with one stone”. As commonly known, conventional single vision IOLs that are inserted during cataract surgery can only provide clear vision at a certain distance, so that patients still need kinds of eyeglasses or contacts to correct other vision problems. Also called presbyopia-correcting IOLs, multifocal and accommodation IOLs inserted during cataract surgery can restore a full range of vision without eyeglasses or additional contact lenses.