Understanding how LASIK works starts with the cornea, the clear front surface of your eye. LASIK reshapes this tissue with a laser so that light focuses more accurately on the retina, helping reduce your dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
For patients in Lubbock, knowing what happens during surgery can make the decision feel less unfamiliar. At West Texas Eye Associates, the process begins with an evaluation of your eyes, prescription, and visual goals.
Here is how LASIK changes your vision, what happens during each step, and what to expect afterward.
How Corneal Shape Affects Your Vision
Your cornea and the natural lens inside your eye bend incoming light toward the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. When light is not focused properly, objects appear blurry.
The way light focuses determines the type of refractive error:
| Refractive Error | How Light Focuses |
| Nearsightedness, or myopia | Light focuses in front of the retina, causing distant objects to appear blurry. |
| Farsightedness, or hyperopia | Light focuses behind the retina when the eye is relaxed, which can affect near and sometimes distance vision. |
| Astigmatism | Uneven curvature creates multiple focal points, causing blurred or distorted vision. |
Glasses and contacts redirect light before it reaches the eye. LASIK changes the cornea’s focusing power by removing microscopic amounts of tissue in a planned pattern.
Two Lasers With Different Jobs
LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. At West Texas Eye Associates, the procedure uses two types of lasers:
- A femtosecond laser creates a thin, hinged flap in the cornea.
- An excimer laser reshapes the tissue beneath that flap.
The first laser provides access to the treatment area. The second changes how the cornea focuses light. Afterward, the surgeon returns the flap to its original position.
This distinction helps explain why creating the flap and correcting the prescription are separate parts of LASIK eye surgery.
The LASIK Procedure Step by Step
Step 1: Measuring Your Eyes and Planning Treatment
Before surgery, your care team measures your prescription and examines your corneal shape, thickness, and overall eye health. These findings help the surgeon determine whether LASIK is suitable and plan the treatment.
Corneal thickness matters because reshaping removes tissue. Your surgeon must assess whether enough tissue can remain after treatment.
The evaluation also considers dry eye, prescription stability, and your expectations. Our guide to what to expect from a LASIK consultation explains this screening process in more detail.
Step 2: Numbing and Positioning Your Eye
On surgery day, the team places numbing drops in your eye and positions you beneath the laser system. You remain awake, although your doctor may offer medication to help you relax.
A small instrument holds your eyelids open. You do not need to keep them open yourself or worry about blinking over the treatment area.
Your surgeon explains where to look and what to expect as treatment proceeds.
Step 3: Creating and Lifting the Flap
The femtosecond laser creates a thin flap with a small hinge that keeps it attached to the cornea. You may feel pressure, and your vision may temporarily dim during this part of the procedure.
The surgeon then lifts the flap to expose the tissue underneath. Your vision will be blurry, so you should not expect to see the procedure in clear detail.
Step 4: Reshaping the Underlying Cornea
The excimer laser removes microscopic amounts of tissue according to your surgical plan. Your prescription and eye measurements determine the treatment pattern.
For nearsightedness, treatment generally flattens the central cornea. Farsightedness makes the central cornea steeper. Astigmatism treatment adjusts the uneven curvature.
This reshaping is the key to how LASIK works: changing the cornea’s curvature changes the way it bends light. Your surgeon monitors treatment throughout.
Step 5: Returning the Flap to Position
Once reshaping is complete, the surgeon carefully repositions the flap. It generally stays in place without stitches.
Protecting your eyes afterward is important. Follow your surgeon’s instructions about eye shields and avoiding rubbing or pressure. If both eyes are scheduled for treatment, the surgeon repeats the procedure on the other eye.
Does LASIK Hurt?
LASIK is generally not painful because numbing eye drops are used before surgery. However, you may experience mild pressure or an unusual sensation while the corneal flap is being created.
Following surgery, temporary symptoms can include:
- Mild burning, itching, or a gritty sensation
- Watery eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurry or hazy vision
- Temporary dryness
These symptoms often improve significantly within the first several days. Your surgeon may recommend lubricating eye drops and other medications to support healing and manage discomfort.
Severe pain or worsening vision after LASIK is not expected and should be reported to your surgeon immediately.
LASIK Safety and Potential Risks
LASIK has a well-established history of successful vision correction and is considered safe and effective for appropriately selected candidates.
However, like any surgical procedure, LASIK involves potential risks and side effects.
Possible complications include dry eyes, glare, halos around lights, difficulty seeing at night, undercorrection, overcorrection, and flap-related problems. Less common complications can include infection or vision loss.
A comprehensive LASIK evaluation is important because not everyone is a suitable candidate.
Your surgeon will assess your corneal thickness, prescription stability, tear production, and overall eye health to determine whether the procedure is appropriate.
Explore LASIK in Lubbock
You do not have to decide on surgery before asking questions. West Texas Eye offers a free consultation to help you understand your measurements, likely outcomes, and available options.
Request a free vision correction consultation to discuss your goals and determine whether LASIK or another vision correction procedure is right for you.