The LASIK QuickStart Guide

Five Things Your Eye Surgeon Wants You to Know Before Going Under the Laser by: Dr Khor Wei Boon

- Dr Khor Wei Boon

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) has become synonymous with laser vision correction. This surgical treatment has allowed millions of people worldwide to be free from glasses and contact lenses. But despite the fact that LASIK has been around since the 1990s, patients still continue to have misconceptions about this common procedure. As an eye surgeon with two decades of experience, I would like to share five key points that will help you to make an informed decision and set realistic expectations about your LASIK journey. Let us get into these right away!

1. LASIK is Eye Surgery!

It is a common misconception that LASIK is merely a “procedure” and not an actual surgery. Over the years, I have had more than one patient confidently tell me they underwent a “minor procedure” to correct their vision, only to be surprised when I explained that it was, in fact, a type of refractive surgery. One patient even exclaimed to me, “Was it a surgery, doc? It was so simple; I didn’t think it was a surgery!”

The truth is that LASIK is a form of eye surgery. It involves creating a thin flap in the cornea, reshaping the underlying tissue with a laser, and repositioning the flap to promote natural healing. While the procedure is quick, minimally invasive and performed on an outpatient basis, LASIK still requires precise surgical techniques, specialised equipment, and careful preoperative planning and postoperative care to ensure consistently good results. And because it is a surgery, patients do need to understand the benefits of LASIK, and to balance that with the small risk of side effects and complications.

2. LASIK is Effective for Myopia, Astigmatism and Hyperopia, but it Cannot Prevent Presbyopia (“Lao Hua”)