LASIK Eye Surgery for Vision Correction

LASIK

LASIK is the most commonly performed laser eye surgery in the UK and remains the most widely performed form of laser vision correction worldwide. With over 30 years of clinical evidence, extensive safety data, and consistently outstanding outcomes, LASIK remains a trusted, established procedure for correcting common vision problems. It can treat myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness) and astigmatism (where the cornea is more oval-shaped, like a rugby ball, rather than round like a football).

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What is LASIK Surgery?

LASIK surgery works by gently reshaping the cornea — the clear front surface of the eye — so that light can focus more accurately on the retina at the back of the eye, helping to improve vision.

During LASIK surgery:

A very thin flap is created in the cornea using a femtosecond laser
The underlying corneal tissue is precisely reshaped using an excimer laser
The flap is carefully repositioned, where it naturally adheres without stitches

The procedure usually takes only a few minutes per eye and is performed using local anaesthetic eye drops to keep you comfortable.

LASIK is one of the most widely performed refractive procedures. More than 40 million procedures have been performed since its introduction in 1990, contributing to its extensive clinical track record.

At Laser Vision, we perform LASIK using some of the most advanced laser technology available, including the Schwind Amaris 1050RS excimer laser and the Ziemer Z8 femtosecond laser. This combination allows us to deliver treatment that is exceptionally precise, customised, and designed to achieve the safest and best visual outcome for each patient.

The first step of LASIK involves creating a thin corneal flap. We use the Ziemer Z8 femtosecond laser to create the flap using tiny, rapid pulses of laser energy — without the need for a metal blade. These pulses form microscopic bubbles at a carefully programmed depth within the cornea, allowing the surgeon to create an extraordinarily accurate and uniform flap tailored to your eye.

Because the Z8 operates at low energy and a high repetition rate, it can produce exceptionally smooth, stable flaps. This precision supports strong flap integrity and is associated with rapid visual recovery.

Once the flap is gently lifted, vision correction is carried out using the Schwind Amaris 1050RS, one of the world’s highest-performance laser platforms for refractive and therapeutic corneal surgery.

With a 1050 Hz repetition rate and sophisticated 7D eye tracking, it delivers treatment with exceptional speed and accuracy, continuously monitoring eye movement to maintain precise alignment throughout the procedure. Its ultra-fine laser spot allows for extremely smooth corneal reshaping, helping to optimise both clarity and quality of vision.

By combining the latest femtosecond and excimer laser technologies, our LASIK treatments are designed to be safe, highly accurate, and tailored to your eyes’ unique characteristics.

What does the LASIK treatment package include?

Our focus is to achieve complete satisfaction for your eye conditions with your LASIK eye surgery. All our patients are treated until discharge as part of the inclusive care plan. This includes 2 years of follow up and retreatments after your initial lasik procedure. Although you may be discharged, all our patients remain under our care and positively encourage patients to get in touch should problems from the laser procedure arise.

Our successful outcomes with the LASIK eye procedure has been dependent on personalised patient care and we believe this is paramount. All patients will see their surgeon at each visit as they are personally responsible for your care, giving assurance that you are receiving the best possible standard of care.

What happens during the LASIK consultation?

All our patients are carefully evaluated at their appointment before undergoing corrective eye surgery to ensure they are good candidates for a LASIK eye procedure. During the consultation, the team (led by your surgeon) will ask about your medical and surgical history and undertake a comprehensive eye examination.

In the eye examination, your surgeon will evaluate your vision and look for signs of eye infections, inflammation, dry eyes, large pupils, high eye pressure and other eye-health conditions. They will also measure your cornea, noting the shape, contour, thickness and any irregularities. This helps them to assess whether you can undergo the procedure safely and evaluate which areas of your cornea need reshaping. They will calculate and determine the precise amount of tissue to remove from your cornea.

If you wear contact lenses, which can change the shape of your cornea, you’ll need to completely stop wearing them and wear only your glasses for at least one week before your evaluation and surgery. The team will provide specific guidelines depending on your situation and how long you’ve been a contact lens wearer.

Before laser eye surgery, your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure, alternative treatment options, what to expect before and after surgery, and answer any questions you may have.

What happens during the LASIK procedure?

LASIK eye surgery is usually completed in 10 minutes or less and does not require anesthesia. During the laser procedure, you lie on your back in a reclining chair. You may be given medicine to help you relax. After numbing drops are placed in your eye, an instrument is gently positioned to hold your eyelids open.

The femtosecond laser creates a small hinged flap which is carefully lifted to allow the structure of the cornea to be reshaped. Short pulses of energy from the Schwind Amaris 1050RS laser remodel the surface to the desired profile. Finally, the flap is gently positioned back into place and will heal without the need for stitches.
The vast majority of patients will have both eyes treated on the same day.

What happens after the LASIK procedure? A Guide to Aftercare

You will be given a set of eye drops to take at home that vastly reduce the risk of infection and inflammation. These generally last for the first 4 weeks but some patients may require lubrication drops for the first few months. Although you will be able to see immediately after LASIK surgery, your vision will improve over time. Whilst you should be legal to drive the next day, it may take between 4 and 12 weeks after your laser eye surgery before your eye heals and your vision stabilises. Your doctor will ensure that you are progressing normally at a series of planned follow-up appointments. It might be a few weeks before you can start to use cosmetics around your eyes again.

You might also have to wait several weeks before resuming strenuous contact sports or swimming.

Although complications are rare, it should not be forgotten that laser eye surgery is a surgical procedure. No procedure is risk-free but steps are taken throughout the process to keep these risks to a minimum

The vast majority of patients who need LASIK surgery in both eyes will have both eyes treated on the same day.

What are the risks of LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK eye surgery is considered to be one of the safest laser eye procedures available. Comprehensive screening of our patients by our eye doctors means that surgery can only be performed on eyes which have been deemed suitable. The experience of our clinical team minimises the small associated risks of lasik surgery procedures which include dry eyes, blurry eyes, haloes, glare and under or over-correction.

Your eye doctor will ensure that you are fully informed of all potential risks prior to laser eye treatment. Our team of consultant ophthalmologists are dual-trained in cornea and refractive surgery to ensure that you receive the most effective care