LASIK - laser eye surgery > What is LASIK?

The method of cutting the cornea with diamond knives has been used from 1970. LASIK method (laser in situ Keratomileusis), which was developed by professor Pallikaris in Crete, is one of many other surgical procedures used to correct refractive disorders. It is a modern excimer laser method. Historical roots of laser surgery LASIK go back to 1949 to Barraquer´s Keratomileusis based on which in 1966 Ruiz developed the method of automatic lamellar keratectomy (ALK). With the help of microkeratome he created a regular lamella on the surface of the cornea. Then after he uncovered it he performed second incision deeper into the stromal parts of the cornea which lead to desired flattening of the cornea.

First procedure performed on the human eye through laser surgery LASIK was done in 1989. A keratotome which was used had the depth of 150 micrometers and it was the first time that an excimer laser was used to photoablate the corneal stroma. Since then the surgical technique has been improved but the principle stays the same.

Higher degrees of refractive disorders are an indication: short-sightedness from - 3.0 to 10.0 diopters, far-sightedness from +3.0 to +5.0 diopters and astigmatism above ± 2.0 Dcyl. LASIK method has become a prevailing method used to correct refractive disorders and it guarantees quick and proper stability and high comfort for a patient. To be performed properly it requires a relatively expensive technological equipment and skillfulness of a surgeon.

It is not suitable for extremely high degrees of refractive disorders for which other methods apply.

LASIK is a surgical technique for refractive disorders when a combination of surgical technique of the corneal lamella (lamellar corneal surgery) with a process of modeling the corneal tissue by excimer laser is used together. Diamond knives are used to cut the cornea in order to create the lamella. The lamella which is partly connected to the cornea is uncovered and only then the process of shaping the cornea by a laser can begin.

This technique enables to achieve a perfect result with swift recovery of the vision and has a significant stability of resulting correction. It leads to swift recovery of visual functions while the risk of undesirable effects is minimal. Postoperative period is painless and patients can return very early to their workaday activities.

The advantages include postoperative painlessness thanks to integrity of the corneal epithelium and Bowman´s membrane, above mentioned significant stability of resulting correction, absence of corneal opacity and early recovery of visual functions. Then, there is a possibility of performing the procedure on both eyes at once what can significantly shorten the time of inability to work and minimize the number of postoperative examinations. This method is sometimes more difficult to perform due to worse accessible eyes with short eyelids or due to high supraorbital ridge.