LASIK has helped tens of millions of people see without glasses or contacts. It's also one of the most over-marketed procedures in medicine. Here's how to think about it clearly.
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a refractive surgery that reshapes the cornea — the clear dome at the front of your eye — to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. A femtosecond laser creates a thin hinged flap in the cornea. The flap is lifted, an excimer laser sculpts the underlying tissue to a new curvature, and the flap is laid back down. It heals without stitches.
The whole procedure usually takes 10 to 15 minutes per eye. Most patients see clearly within 24 hours.
Good candidates are generally 18 or older with a stable prescription for at least a year, healthy corneas of adequate thickness, no significant dry eye disease, and no autoimmune conditions that impair healing. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, certain medications (like high-dose isotretinoin), and conditions like keratoconus are reasons to wait or to consider a different procedure.
A good surgeon will spend significant time during the consultation measuring corneal thickness, mapping corneal shape with topography, evaluating your tear film, and asking about your daily activities. If a clinic doesn't do this carefully, walk away.
PRK removes the surface layer instead of creating a flap. It heals more slowly but avoids flap-related complications, and is often the better choice for patients with thinner corneas or high-impact lifestyles (combat sports, military).
SMILE creates a small disc of tissue inside the cornea and removes it through a tiny incision, leaving the front surface mostly intact. It tends to cause less postoperative dry eye than LASIK and has a smaller recovery curve.
ICLs (implantable collamer lenses) are placed inside the eye in front of the natural lens — no corneal tissue is removed. They're an excellent option for very high prescriptions or thin corneas, and they're reversible.
No single procedure is best for everyone. The right choice depends on your prescription, corneal shape, lifestyle, and budget.
Most LASIK patients see 20/20 or close to it within 24 hours. You'll be given preservative-free artificial tears, antibiotic drops, and anti-inflammatory drops to use for several weeks. Expect mild light sensitivity, halos around lights at night, and dry eye for the first one to six months.
Activity restrictions are usually short — no swimming or eye rubbing for a few weeks, no eye makeup for about a week. Most people are back to work within 1–2 days.
Modern LASIK has a strong safety profile, but "safe" doesn't mean risk-free. The most common postoperative issues are temporary dry eye (improves over months) and night-vision glare or halos (also usually improves). Persistent symptoms occur in a small minority of patients but can be very distressing when they do.
Serious complications — flap dislocation, infection, ectasia (corneal weakening), significant under- or over-correction — are rare with good candidate selection and an experienced surgeon. Ask any surgeon you consult what their complication and enhancement rates are. A confident answer is a good sign.
Cost should not be your first filter. Choose by experience (thousands of cases minimum), the consultation quality (real measurements, real conversation), the technology available, and the willingness to tell you you're not a candidate if you aren't. A surgeon who's quick to schedule everyone is the wrong surgeon.
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