If you're tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses, you may be considering Lasik eye surgery - one of the newest procedures to correct vision problems. Before you sign up for the surgery, get a clear picture of what you can expect.

Facts About Lasik Surgery

• Lasik is surgery to a very delicate part of the eye.
• Millions of people have had Lasik, most very successfully.
• As with any surgery, there are risks and possible complications.
• Lasik may not give you perfect vision. The American Academy of Ophthalmology(AAO) reports that seven out of 10 patients achieve 20/20 vision, but 20/20 does not always mean perfect vision.
• If you have Lasik to correct your distance vision, you may still need reading glasses around age 45.
• Lasik surgery is too new to know if there are any long-term effects beyond five years after surgery.
• Lasik surgery cannot be reversed.
• Most insurance does not cover the surgery.
• You may need additional surgery - called "enhancements" to get the best possible vision after Lasik.

Why do I need laser vision correction?

Probably because you have a condition called myopia or nearsightedness. When light rays enter the eye, they get bent or "refracted" into focus. If the refractive power of your eye is just right, the image will focus on the retina--a thin layer of tissue in the back of the eye that processes images and sends them to the brain--and you'll see clearly without glasses. But if the eye is a little too long (myopia) or too short (hyperopia) some images will be blurry.

How does laser vision correction compare to glasses or contacts?

Glasses and contacts temporarily adjust the eye's refractive power to focus images on the retina while you're wearing them, but don't actually "cure" the underlying problem. Laser vision correction offers a more permanent solution by surgically reshaping your cornea--the outer layer of your eye, which covers your iris (the colored part) and pupil.

What is laser vision correction?

In laser vision correction, a surgeon uses a laser to carefully remove a very thin layer of your cornea. This alters its refractive power to suit your eye's focal length better, improving your vision. Many patients no longer require glasses or contacts after surgery. There are three popular forms of the procedure: PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), LASIK (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis) and LTK(Laser Therml Keratoplasty).

What's the difference between PRK and LASIK?

In PRK, the surgeon removes a thin layer from the front of your cornea. In LASIK, the surgeon removes tissue from the middle of the cornea instead of the very front. Both procedures use a laser, but LASIK also requires a special instrument called a keratome that the surgeon uses to create a "flap" in the cornea. The surgeon applies laser energy to the area underneath the flap, the repositions the flap back over the cornea.

How well will I see after the procedure?

Laser vision correction cannot guarantee that you won't need glasses or contact lenses after the procedure. But it will decrease your dependence on corrective lenses. After surgery, the vast majority of patients see 20/40 or better, most patients see 20/25 or better, and many even see 20/20. Sometimes enhancement surgery is worthwhile to "fine tune" the results. So while you may still need to use glasses occasionally to see at night or while driving, you'll probably need them less often for the many other tasks you do.

How painful is the procedure?

You'll feel no pain during the surgery. The laser doesn't actually burn tissue away; it breaks the bonds between molecules to"vaporize" corneal tissue. However, there may be some pain in the days following the procedure. Usually, if you do feel pain, it subsides after a couple of days. Furthermore, your doctor can prescribe medication to make this time a little easier. Most patients do have some irritation, light sensitivity, or watering of the eyes the first few days after the procedure.

How soon can I go back to work?

Two or three days after the procedure, your vision will improve well enough for you to perform most visual tasks. You probably will be ready to drive yourself to work by the second or third day after the procedure.

Are You A Good Candidate for Lasik? Remember, Lasik is not for everyone.

• You should be at least 18 years old (21 for some lasers), since the vision of people younger than 18 usually continues to change.
• You should not be pregnant or nursing as these conditions might change the measured refraction of the eye.
• You should not be taking certain prescription drugs, such as Accutane or oral prednisone.
• Your eyes must be healthy and your prescription stable. If you're myopic, you should postpone Lasik until your refraction has stabilized, as myopia may continue to increase in some patients until their mid-to late 20s.
• You should be in good general health. Lasik may not be recommended for patients with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma, herpes infections of the eye, or cataracts. You should discuss this with your surgeon.
• Weigh the risks and rewards. If you're happy wearing contacts or glasses, you may want to forego the surgery.
• Understand your expectations from the surgery. Are they realistic?
• Ask your doctor if you're a candidate for monovision - correcting one for distance vision and the other eye for near vision. Lasik cannot correct presbyopia so that one eye can see at both distance and near. However, Lasik can be used to correct one eye for distance and the other for near. If you can adjust to this correction, it may eliminate or reduce your need for reading glasses. In some instances, surgery on only one eye is required. If your doctor thinks you're a candidate, ask about the pros and cons.