Many people who suffer from nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) or astigmatism are able to reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contact lenses by undergoing refractive surgery.

LASIK Surgery Corrects Vision

In a nutshell, refractive surgery uses lasers to permanently change the shape of the cornea (the clear “front window” of the eye) to allow it to focus light more sharply. The most common kind of refractive surgery is called LASIK. During this outpatient procedure, a very thin protective flap of cornea tissue is created with an instrument similar to a miniature electric plane. The flap is folded back, and an ultraviolet laser is applied to the cornea bed. The corneal flap is then put back in place, where it heals without stitches. 

LASIK is a painless procedure that requires only a drop of topical anesthetic and takes just 20 minutes for both eyes. Following surgery, some patients feel a slight scratchiness, but this usually goes away within 12 to 24 hours. Patients can return to work the very next day, and almost all patients do so.

Most LASIK surgery patients are able to see between 20/20 and 20/40 on the first day after surgery and drive without glasses to their first follow-up appointment. However, not everyone who has LASIK will achieve 20/20 vision. As with any surgical procedure, there are some potential risks, and perfect vision cannot be guaranteed by any surgeon.

Meet Our LASIK Surgeons

John D. Suson, MD, and Vinicius de Stefano, MD, PhD, are ophthalmologists who perform LASIK surgery. Together, they have decades of experience with refractive surgery and use the latest technology in laser vision correction.

Learn More About LASIK