Lasik also known as laser in situ keratomileusis which means "to shape the cornea within using a laser" is a procedure in which a laser is used to reshape the cornea to correct refractive error related to cornea and retina. The procedure is used to correct vision problems that are normally corrected by eyewear.

Before this technology an ophthalmologist was limited to standard vision correction with prescriptions. Now patients can have this advanced technology treatment to correct Myopia or nearsightedness, Hyperopia or farsightedness and Astigmatism by reshaping the cornea.

This corrects the refractive light error on the retina that causes the vision problem. The lens inside the eye focuses on incoming light rays on the retina. When the cornea and lens are not perfectly matched the images are out of focus - this is refractive error.

The types of refractive error are Myopia, Hyperopia or Astigmatism. Patients may not be candidates for laser eye surgery with Presbyopia or vision needing reading glasses or bifocals to facilitate work. Lasik laser surgery cannot correct this problem other than with "blended vision" or "monovision" correction.

The procedure has little discomfort during and after surgery. It is not done with general anesthesia. The ophthalmologist will put numbing drops into the eye before the treatment. The surgery takes approximately 30 minutes for the entire procedure.

Any pain experienced after surgery will be taken care of with an over the counter pain medication. Most of the time both eyes are done the same day. After the surgery patients must not drive, therefore transportation by another persona is needed.

After treatment it is recommended that the patient sleep or rest. The patient must be sure not to rub or injure the eye since a corneal flap has been carefully put back in its original position. Contact your ophthalmologist if you have any excessive pain or develop any complications that were discussed with you about your surgery.

With successful surgery vision will improve over time. There will no reason for any additional procedure for the rest of your life to improve vision if the Lasik laser surgery was successful and there were not complication.

A number of laser procedures are available. Lasik is a specific excimer laser surgery. Other laser ablations or cornea reshaping procedures can be done with conventional laser treatments, wave front optimized treatments and wave front guided treatments. Another type of laser is femtosecond laser can be used to create the corneal flap.

Call your ophthalmologist or Houston Lasik surgeon for more information. Qualified Lasik laser surgery is available across America and in Texas in cities as Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.