What is LASIK?

You’ve probably heard of LASIK, one of the most popular types of laser eye surgery. But what exactly is it, how does it work, and what can it treat? If you’ve been thinking about vision correction, understanding the basics of LASIK is the perfect place to start.

A quick overview

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It’s a procedure that reshapes the cornea — the clear front part of your eye — so light focuses correctly on the retina at the back. The result is clearer vision without glasses or contact lenses.

What vision problems can LASIK correct?

LASIK is effective for people with:

Short-sightedness (myopia): Blurred distance vision
Long-sightedness (hyperopia): Blurred near vision
Astigmatism: Distorted or blurry vision caused by an irregularly shaped cornea

Most patients who meet the suitability criteria can achieve 20/20 vision or better after LASIK.

How does the procedure work?

LASIK may sound complicated, but it’s actually a quick and straightforward process:

Preparation
Your eye is numbed with anaesthetic drops so you feel no pain.
Creating a flap
A thin flap is made on the surface of the cornea and gently lifted.
Laser reshaping
A laser is used to precisely reshape the cornea so that light bends correctly into the eye.
Flap repositioned
The flap is placed back into position where it heals naturally, without stitches.

The laser part itself usually takes less than a minute per eye. The whole procedure lasts about 15 minutes.

Is LASIK painful?

No. You may feel some pressure during the procedure, but not pain. Afterward, your eyes may feel gritty or watery for a few hours, but this usually passes quickly.

How long does recovery take?

LASIK has one of the fastest recovery times of all laser eye surgery techniques. Most people notice a dramatic improvement within 24 hours. Many patients are back to work in 1–2 days.

Who is suitable for LASIK?

LASIK isn’t right for everyone. You may be suitable if you:

Are over 21 (to ensure your prescription has stabilised)
Have a stable prescription for at least 12 months
Have healthy eyes with no conditions like glaucoma or severe dry eye
Have a cornea that is thick enough for the procedure

If your corneas are too thin, or if you’re involved in certain contact sports, your surgeon may recommend LASEK or TransPRK instead.

What are the risks?

While LASIK is considered very safe, every procedure carries some risks. These may include:

Temporary dry eyes
Glare or halos at night in the early healing period
Rare cases of undercorrection or overcorrection (which can often be fine-tuned later)

Thorough pre-surgery testing ensures that only people who are good candidates go ahead.

How long do the results last?

The changes made to your cornea are permanent. However, your eyes may still change naturally with age. This means that later in life, you might need reading glasses due to presbyopia, or develop cataracts. These changes are unrelated to LASIK itself.

Why do people choose LASIK?

Quick recovery
High success rate
Long-lasting results
Freedom from glasses and contact lenses

Patients often say they wish they had done it sooner.

Next steps

Curious to know if LASIK could work for you?

Take our free self-test. In just one minute, you’ll find out if LASIK might be right for your eyes.