3Chances are you’ve heard of LASIK. Everyone has. But do you know how it works? What it corrects? Or even what the procedure entails? LASIK, a form of laser vision correction surgery, can be used to correct some of the most common vision problems. In fact, many Frantz EyeCare patients report that LASIK has helped them eliminate their need for contact lenses or glasses. Some of these ecstatic patients have worn corrective lenses their entire lives. In the last 20 years, millions of people all over the world have improved their vision and their lives with LASIK. Let’s dive in and discover what makes LASIK such an incredible, life-changing procedure. L A S I K E X P L A I N E D DID YOU KNOW LASIK is the most popular refractive procedure performed in the United States today (and has been since 2001). In the most scientific sense of the word, LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) uses a specially-calibrated, computer-guided excimer laser to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. It is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser to help you see more clearly. In nearly all cases, LASIK is pain-free and takes about 8-10 minutes for both eyes. LASIK works by reshaping the cornea to enable the light entering the eye to focus properly onto the retina. Numbing eye drops are applied to the eye surface and the surgeon creates a thin circular flap in the cornea (1a). 8