Laser Eye Surgery

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

• Images

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Patient Handouts

Summary

For many people, laser eye surgery can correct their vision so they no longer need glasses or contact lenses. Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. This changes its focusing power.

There are different types of laser eye surgery. LASIK - laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis - is one of the most common. Many patients who have LASIK end up with 20/20 vision. But, like all medical procedures, it has both risks and benefits. Only your eye doctor can tell if you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery.

Start Here

• LASIK (Food and Drug Administration)
• LASIK -- Laser Eye Surgery (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
• LASIK Eye Surgery (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Shaping Clearer Vision: Is Eye Surgery Right for You? (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• What Should I Expect Before, During, and After Surgery? (Food and Drug Administration)

Specifics

• Alternative Refractive Surgery Procedures (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish

Images

• Lasik eye surgery - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• Eye Health Data and Statistics (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Corneal Surgery, Laser (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Photorefractive Keratectomy (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Analysis of the changes in corneal optical density following small incision...
• Article: Posterior lenticule laser scan influence the ultra-early postoperative visual acuity and...
• Article: Feasibility study of treatment of mixed astigmatism with small-incision lenticule extraction...
• Laser Eye Surgery -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• How the Eyes Work (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• Find a Doctor of Optometry (American Optometric Association)
• National Eye Institute

Patient Handouts

• LASIK eye surgery (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Lasik eye surgery - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Refractive corneal surgery - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish