Step One:

Preparation Of The Eye

An anesthetic drop will be instilled, which will completely numb your eye. An eyelid holder will then be placed between your eyelids to prevent you from blinking. Small markings are made on the corneal surface of the eye (front clear part of your eye) using a water-based marker. These markings will disappear after a few minutes. They are used to align the corneal flap in the final stages of surgery.

Step Two:

Microkeratome

An automated microkeratome is a microsurgical instrument which is placed on the eye using a suction ring. The microkeratome is placed on the surface of the eye and a blade is then passed across the surface of the cornea, creating a flap of tissue, about one third depth. It works in the same way as a carpenter's plane, allowing a micro-thin hinged layer of the cornea to be lifted. This is called the corneal flap. During this process, you may feel a little pressure, but no discomfort.

Step Three:

Once the corneal flap is created, a smooth tipped microsurgical instrument is used to lift the flap and lay it back. After the hinged flap has been lifted aside, the corneal bed is inspected for smoothness, it is then gently cleaned and dried slightly, to prepare it for the application of the Eximer laser treatment.

Step Four:

Laser Process

You will be asked to look directly at the target light while the laser reshapes the cornea, usually in less than a minute.

To treat nearsightedness, the cornea is made flatter by removing tissue from the center of the cornea. The more tissue that is removed from the center, the flatter the curvature of the cornea.	Correction of Myopia (concentration of laser on center of cornea)
Correction of Hyperopia (concentration of laser on outer edge of cornea)	To treat farsightedness, the central cornea must be made steeper by directing the laser beam to remove tissue from just outside the center of the cornea. The more tissue removed around the center, the steeper is the curvature of the cornea.
To treat astigmatism, the cornea must be made more spherical. By changing the pattern of the beam, tissue is removed in one direction more than the other.

Human hair magnified 500x, ablated by laser to 0.25 microns.

Fischer Laser Eye Center uses the Nidek EC-5000 Laser System to contour the underlying layer of corneal tissue. Each pulse of the laser disrupts the molecular bonds between the corneal cells with accuracy up to 0.25 microns, or 0.00004 of an inch, which makes it extremely accurate. For more information, please go to our: About Our Laser page.

Step Five

After the laser procedure, the corneal flap which was created in Step two is gently placed back down on the corneal bed, where it bonds securely without the need for stitches. Alignment to its original position is accomplished by aligning the markings initially made in step one. The cells of the flap reconnect to the underlying corneal bed cells in about a minute.

Corneal Flap Adhered

Once the LASIK procedure is completed, the light rays entering the eye will meet at a focal point which is now on the retina, instead of in front of or behind the retina. This will give you optimum vision.

After LASIK, some patients report a slight discomfort, which usually goes away within twelve to twenty-four hours.

After Surgery

Immediately after surgery you may feel as though something is in your eye as well as experience some burning and itching. Your vision may initially be blurry. You will be given a detailed list of instructions:

• Return home after surgery and try to sleep, if appropriate. You may wish to take a sleeping pill.
• Use Antibiotic eye drops every 4 hours, while awake, starting when you get home.
• Wear plastic shields given to you after surgery, when you sleep and shower, for one week.
• Do not rub your eyes.
• Avoid smoke filled rooms and dusty environments for a few days.
• No water activities for 2 weeks including swimming, hot tubs, etc.
• Do not wear makeup for 1 week.
• Avoid sports and strenuous exercise for a few days.
• Use the artificial tears, given to you after surgery, every hour, or as often as needed, for dry eyes or discomfort.