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LASIK is a safe, reliable and painless way to improve vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses. LASIK, which stands for laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis, is a form of refractive surgery that changes the way light is bent, or refracted, as it passes through the cornea so that it focuses properly on the retina in the back of the eye and objects can be seen clearly. The procedure is effective for many patients with nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism.
  During the procedure, a device called a microkeratome creates a flap in the outer layer of the cornea. Patients are given topical anesthesia and a mild sedative so they are awake but calm and cannot feel discomfort. The corneal flap is lifted and an excimer laser beam adjusts corneal curvature so objects no longer appear blurry. The cornea is steepened for hyperopic patients, flattened for myopic patients, and made more spherical for patients with astigmatism. The flap is then closed.
The entire LASIK procedure takes only 15-20 minutes for both eyes, and patients are often ready to leave the office within a half-hour. A common complaint after surgery is sensitivity to light, but this will subside. Antibiotic eye drops will be prescribed for a few days, along with any other post-operative instructions. Full recovery takes a few weeks.
For additional information on the preparation and what to expect from the LASIK procedure, please click here. The following form can be downloaded using Adobe Acrobat and printed out for your convenience.
 If you do not have a copy of Acrobat Reader you can get one for free by clicking on the icon 'Get Acrobat® Reader'. This will take you to Adobe's website and enable you to download the Acrobat program to your computer.
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