The most well known laser eye surgery is the procedure called "Laser In Situ Keratomileusis," popularly known as LASIK. This technique is advertised on the Internet, newspapers and magazines, and it is very important that people know everything about the risks and benefits of this form of laser eye surgery, called LASIK.

The procedure consists in permanently changing the shape of the cornea, which reduces the refractive error, and is performed for the treatment of varying degrees of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

Doctor O'Brien, director of refractive surgery at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, warns that people who want to undergo this form of laser eye surgery need to be concerned of ads that make exaggerate promises. "Price should not be the first factor" when a person decides to have such a delicate laser eye surgery, he says. He also added that it's very important to have an experienced, capable surgeon.

Doctors promise you that this form of laser eye surgery, LASIK, will give you a rapid visual recovery, with littlest pain, and little or no post-operative discomfort.

Most of the people who have LASIK are happy with the results of their surgery, but, as with any medical procedure, there are risks involved. The risks of this form of laser eye surgery include: over- or under- treatment; permanent loss of vision; the incapacity of wearing contact lenses; reduction in the quality of vision; trouble with night-driving; and diminished vision in dim light conditions. Furthermore, this form of laser eye surgery is not reversible.

LASIK is not the only form of laser eye surgery used today. Another option is photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK, which is chosen by less then 5% of people. Even though, there are certain cases when this type of laser eye surgery is more appropriate then LASIK. PRK delicately changes the shape of the cornea by taking microscopic amounts of tissue from the outer surface with a cool, computer-controlled ultraviolet beam of light. This form of laser eye surgery takes just a few minutes, and the patients recover in a week maximum.

Another type of laser eye surgery, appropriate for temporarliy reducing hyperopia at people over 40, is Laser Thermal Keratoplasty, or LTK. This procedure involves zapping 16 spots on the outer part of the cornea to shrink the tissue. If the patient chooses this form of laser eye surgery, there will be a minimal chance of infection or loss of vision. The disadvantage is that the procedure is temporary.

Experts say that laser eye surgery is benefic for people who have mild to moderate levels of refractive errors. But people must be aware of the risks involved by this procedure.