The information presented on this page is designed to educate individuals interested in learning more about laser eye surgery. By becoming familiar with the way the eye works, you will be able to better understand the purpose of LASIK and other vision correction procedures. If you have questions about any of the information here or would like to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK surgery, please feel free to contact us for a free LASIK evaluation.
The eye is an extremely complex system of interrelated parts. Each one of the eye's components plays an integral role in generating vision. Our ability to see usually begins when light is reflected off of objects in our visual field. This light enters our eyes through the clear covering at the front of the eye known as the cornea. It then passes through the crystalline lens, located behind the cornea. The cornea does the majority of focusing; however, the lens fine-tunes images and allows the eye to shift its focus. Together, the cornea and the lens direct light to a membrane at the back of the eye called the retina.
Because of the way the optical system is designed, images are formed upside down on the retina. Once it receives an image, the retina transmits it to the brain via electrical impulses carried by the optic nerve. As the brain receives these signals, it translates them and causes the image to appear right side up. When all parts of the eye function properly, a person experiences 20/20 vision, or normal visual acuity. This is the ability to rightly discern a letter or object of a determined size from a distance of 20 feet.
Unfortunately, not everyone is born with or maintains eyes that produce clear vision. LASIK surgery is a procedure designed to eliminate or reduce common visual errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism that are caused by irregularities in the shape of the cornea. The procedure involves the use of a cool beam of ultraviolet light to reshape the cornea and allow it focus light more efficiently.
At the King LASIK centers, our surgeons perform laser vision correction using two state-of-the-art platforms - Bausch & Lomb and VISX®. Both platforms are optimally suited for patients with certain conditions, enabling our doctors to choose the one that will most effectively enhance your vision.
In addition, our eye care professionals offer both conventional LASIK and custom LASIK, a second-generation procedure that not only improves standard vision, but also reduces higher-order abnormalities such as glare and haloes. If you would like to learn more about LASIK, please contact us today, or visit us for a free evaluation. LASIK surgery has been instrumental in helping millions of people worldwide achieve clear, enhanced vision and our doctors would love to help you too experience the benefits of this exceptional procedure.