LASIK vision correction surgery is advertised everywhere. The essential requirements of any surgical intervention are safety, effectiveness and predictability and LASIK is certainly being sold as right for you on all three counts.

FDA-approved and constantly being improved by advances in laser technology, who wouldn't be tempted by the prospect of never having to wear contact lenses or eye glasses again? However, appealing as this might sound, LASIK surgery might not be right for you.

Understanding LASIK Surgery.

LASIK is the acronym of laser in situ keratomileusis. It is a surgical procedure fundamentally different from surface-based techniques, such as photorefractive keratectomy, where the laser beam is applied directly to the surface of the cornea after the layer of surface cells (epithelium) has been removed.

In LASIK, by contrast, a thin hinged flap of the cornea is created and lifted to one side in order to allow direct laser treatment to the deeper part of the cornea (stroma). The corneal flap is repositioned after the excimer ablation (removal of tissue) has been completed. This is the technique referred to as "flap and zap".

No stitches are required and the flap usually settles into position within 3-5 minutes. Topical drops are applied to the eye which is then covered by a pad or shield. Reassuringly, although a very fine surgical blade is used to make the incision, anaesthetic eye drops are administered and the procedure is usually painless. Most people experience only a sensation of fullness or mild pressure within the eye.

Although treatment involves cutting into the deeper part of the cornea, LASIK is painless compared to the greater discomfort experienced post-PRK surgery. The pain results from the large abrasion of the corneal surface which occurs in the PRK procedure.

It seems paradoxical but the LASIK procedure which is used to treat more severe forms of myopia (shortsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism involves less discomfort than a procedure designed to correct milder forms of these eye disorders. The relative painlessness of LASIK might well be the deciding factor which helps you decide the procedure is right for you.

Deciding on LASIK Surgery.

Two major factors have to be taken into account when considering if LASIK surgery is right for you: affordability and suitability.

Looking at affordability first, this type of eye surgery is categorized as a non-essential or cosmetic procedure. Accordingly, many health insurance plans won't provide coverage. As your eyes are a very precious asset you will want to ensure that only a skilled and very experienced ophthalmologist carries out the surgery. Such skills do not come cheap and you are looking at a cost of several thousand dollars - per eye!

Even if you don't find the cost prohibitively expensive it could be that you aren't a suitable candidate for the procedure, and the eye doctor will decide that LASIK isn't right for you. Before your doctor visit you should check out the following:

Are your eyes healthy? Infection, glaucoma, cataracts and dry eye would preclude your having surgery as your postoperative healing would be compromised.

Do you have a degenerative condition or a disease of the immune system? If so, you would not be considered a candidate for LASIK as an individual's healing characteristics are one of the two major factors determining a successful outcome. The magnitude of the attempted correction is the other important factor.

Your vision must be stable for at least a year before surgery. Long-term wearing of contact lenses, hard and soft, can alter the shape of the cornea. Sufficient time, sometimes up to a few months, needs to elapse before surgery can proceed.

Are you pregnant or nursing? If so, you'll need to wait until your hormone levels are normalised before going ahead. Hormonal levels can affect the shape of the eye.

In summary, then, if the procedure is affordable and you can meet the eligibility criteria, LASIK surgery might be right for you and could be a good option to pursue. With a very high success rate, it's probably a good idea to go ahead with this relatively painless procedure.

The next section will review the different types of LASIK surgery that are available along with the possible risks and complications of each procedure.