Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, also simply known as LASIK, is one of the most highly recommended surgical procedures for improving vision. It is safe, quick and very effective in correcting astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness.

LASIK surgery has been available for over 30 years and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for 25 years. It has an excellent track record, with a success rate of around 96%. To date, more than 40 million LASIK procedures have been performed globally since its introduction as a treatment option for refractive eye errors.

LASIK eye surgery in Dubai costs, on average, around GBP 1,000-1,600 per eye. This is significantly less than the GBP 1,500-3,000 average cost per eye when LASIK is performed in the United Kingdom.

Even the most expensive LASIK surgery in Dubai should still fall on the low end of the U.K. average cost spectrum. In the context of Dubai’s world-class eye care and medical facilities, LASIK in Dubai represents excellent value. This is why LASIK eye surgery is one of the most popular medical tourism activities in the United Arab Emirates.

What Does LASIK Do?

LASIK may be an option if you have poor vision resulting from a refractive eye error. First, you must understand how the eye functions to get a clear picture of what LASIK can do.

In eyes with normal vision, the cornea, a dome-shaped clear tissue at the front of the eye, bends or refracts light so it can land directly on the retina. The retina is a small layer of photoreceptor and glial cells found at the back of the eye.

If you have a refractive eye error, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, light does not hit the right spot on the retina, causing blurry vision.

• Nearsightedness (Myopia): Myopia or nearsightedness happens when the eye is too long or the cornea is too concave, causing the refracted (or bent) light to fall in front of the retina instead of on it. Consequently, while close objects remain clear, distant objects appear blurry.
• Farsightedness (Hypermetropia): Hypermetropia, or farsightedness, is the opposite of myopia. In this case, the eye may be too short or the cornea may not be curved enough, so the light focuses behind or beyond the retina. Consequently, nearby objects appear blurry, while distant objects remain clear.
• Astigmatism: An irregularly shaped cornea or lens causes astigmatism. Thus, refracted light has multiple focal points, leading to distortion in both near and distant vision. Astigmatism can occur alongside myopia or hypermetropia.

How are refractive eye errors corrected or treated? The typical method of correction involves the use of glasses and contact lenses. However, refractive eye surgery is also an option.

LASIK is essentially laser-assisted refractive eye surgery and one of the surgical strategies for correcting refractive eye errors. In this procedure, a surgeon uses a special laser tool to reshape the cornea. If the surgery is successful, the reshaped cornea becomes capable of bending light at just the correct angle so the light falls directly on the retina, leading to clear vision.

How Is LASIK Done?

LASIK reshapes the cornea with a laser. After desensitising the eye with numbing drops, the surgeon secures the eye with a suction ring and then cuts a thin, hinged flap on the cornea’s surface.

The doctor folds the flap out of the way and then uses a pre-programmed excimer laser to strategically remove pieces of corneal tissue and achieve the ideal corneal shape. After the cornea reshaping procedure, the doctor unfolds the outer corneal flap and puts it back in its original place.

When Might Laser Surgery Be Not for You?

LASIK has a high success rate, but it’s not for everyone. Your doctor may not recommend it and other forms of laser eye surgery in the following circumstances:

1. If you have keratoconus

If you or your family has a history of keratoconus, which is the disorder that causes the cornea to thin and bulge, or other similar conditions, you probably can’t have refractive surgery.

2. If your cornea is too thin, your pupil is very large, or your myopia or nearsightedness is severe

The above condition may make you more susceptible to post-refractive surgery ectasia or the loss of corneal integrity, which could progress to keratoconus or keratoconus-like symptoms. This is especially a concern in LASIK, which involves the creation of a rather thick corneal flap.

In severe myopia, perhaps you should consider a non-surgical alternative like orthokeratology myopia control.

3. If you have persistent eye dryness

LASIK causes dry eyes for at least six months after surgery. The use of eye drops may alleviate this, but this may not suffice if you already have unusually dry eyes. Thus, your doctor may discourage you from undergoing LASIK if you have abnormally dry eyes.

4. If you have glaucoma

LASIK may cause pressure-induced stromal keratitis. Additionally, during LASIK, pressure is temporarily applied to the eye to create the corneal flap. The changes in the cornea after LASIK can also make it harder to accurately measure intraocular pressure and, thus, monitor and manage glaucoma.

5. If you have significant cataracts

Refractive surgery will not fix your vision if you have significant cataracts. Even after your cornea has been reshaped, the cataracts in the eye’s lens will continue to obscure your vision.

6. If you have presbyopia

Presbyopia is caused by the ageing-induced hardening of the lens. LASIK is a corneal reshaping surgery. That said, some doctors use LASIK not to correct presbyopia but to compensate for the blurry vision caused by the condition.

7.  If you have had a recent eye infection or eye injury

A recent infection or injury might have caused corneal scarring, which could complicate the procedure or lead to unpredictable results.

LASIK: Correct Your Vision

LASIK is laser-assisted refractive eye surgery. It involves reshaping the cornea to correct refraction errors that cause light to focus on or fall behind the retina instead of directly on it.

LASIK is an alternative to wearing glasses and contact lenses, and it has a high success rate. To learn if it’s the solution to your poor vision, consult your eye doctor.