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Before the laser can be used in LASIK, a thin "flap" of corneal tissue is lifted out of the way. A small hinge connects the flap to the rest of the cornea for the duration of the procedure. |
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| After the flap has been lifted out of the way, the laser can be applied to the cornea in order to remove excess tissue. This process is very brief and painless. The laser is accurate to within 0.25 microns! | |||
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Following application of the laser to the inner corneal tissue, the cornea will be flatter in order to reduce nearsightedness. The precise amount of flattening required depends on how nearsighted the patient was before the surgery. |
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| To complete the procedure, the flap is replaced back onto the flattened cornea. Because the actual surface of the cornea has been left undisturbed, the time needed to heal is very short. Also, a patient's risk of infections and other complications is greatly reduced. | |||
