Watch a LASIK procedure

Laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) and Photo-Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) are two surgical techniques that use lasers to reshape or change the curvature of the cornea. Here’s what happens.

The cornea and lens combine to focus visual images on the back of the eye. When the overall shape of the eye or the curvature of the cornea is incorrect, visual images become blurry. The cornea accounts for approximately two-thirds of the focusing power of the eye. By surgically changing the corneal curvature, the rays of light are focused clearly on the retina, and most or all of the blur can be eliminated.

Laser vision correction is not a new procedure. Around the world, millions of procedures have been performed since the 1980s. In the United States, where Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval came in the mid-1990s, more than two million surgeries have been performed using the VISX laser–the procedure preferred by Drs. Jenkins and Omphroy.

LASIK

LASIK surgery is a common surgical procedure to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Using the excimer, or cold laser, the doctor removes the damaged tissue beneath the corneal flap with very little or no scarring. The entire procedure from start to finish takes a matter of minutes. Patients have reported clearer vision within a few hours following the surgical procedure.
Advantages of LASIK include:

• Faster healing time
• Rapid visual recovery
• Less risk of scarring
• Less risk of corneal haze
• Less post-op discomfort
• Treatment of a wide range of refractive errors

Procedure

In LASIK, a small flap is made on the surface of the cornea. A suction ring will hold the eye in place. You will not see anything or feel any pain, but you may feel some pressure at this time. When the flap is turned over, your vision will become a little blurry. You will be asked to fixate on a red target light.

The laser part of the procedure is performed in 20-60 seconds.

The flap is then placed back into position and the surgeon will wait 3 to 5 minutes for the eye to create a natural vacuum to hold the flap down. The typical LASIK procedure takes about 10 minutes per eye.

Once the surgery is complete, you will be able to go home almost immediately. First, we place some additional drops into your eyes and instruct you on using your medications.

PRK

Photo-Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) is another method of surgically reshaping the cornea using the excimer laser. The difference between LASIK and PRK is that for PRK, the corneal flap is not created. That is, the outer layer of the cornea remains in place and the laser removes tissue directly from this outer layer.

As in LASIK, the laser treatment is very brief. Unlike LASIK, the healing period is longer. The corneal curvature is changed so that visual images are properly focused on the back of the eye. The correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism are the same as LASIK. In either procedure, once your vision is stable, your treatment is permanent, resulting in less dependence, maybe complete freedom, from glasses and contact lenses!

Procedure

You will rest in a comfortable reclining chair with hour head under the laser equipment. An eyelid holder will be placed in your eye to keep you from blinking. The surgeon will prepare your eye for the laser by removing the top surface of the cornea. You will feel pressure but no pain. When the eye is prepared, you will be asked to look at the red target light. The laser makes a clicking sound as it works.

The actual laser part of the procedure takes seconds. At the end of the PRK procedure, a clear bandage contact lens is placed onto your eye. This will help keep you comfortable while the outer surface heals. The typical PRK procedure takes about five minutes per eye.

FDA Approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is mandated to protect consumers through rigorous proofs of safety in food, drugs and medical devices.

The products must not only be safe, they must be effective and labeled honestly.

Technology has brought us more and more complicated medical procedures, and the FDA has responded by requiring detailed manufacturing information and extensive performance testing.

The VISX Laser

The VISX laser system, which Drs. Jenkins and Omphroy use, was the first device for corneal, refractive surgery to seek FDA approval. This device has been approved for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The VISX laser system has met the FDA's stringent standards involving manufacturing, performance and quality, failure mode analysis, animal tests (begun in 1986), toxicology tests, and human clinical studies.

Around the world, millions of procedures have been performed since the 1980s. In the United States, where FDA approval came in the mid-1990s, about two million procedures have been performed using the VISX laser; the laser of choice for the Ke Ala 'Ike surgeons. VISX holds more than 25 U.S. patents on hardware and surgical methods.

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