The goal is to shape the cornea so it does a better job of focusing images onto the retina for sharper vision. An estimated 960,000 American eyes received laser vision correction treatment in 1999. Most patients report no more than mild discomfort for a day or so, similar to having an eyelash in the eye.
Patients can return to work within three days of the surgery, and often sooner.
The laser itself has been in use since 1989. The flap has been around for about half a century. The results appear to be stable and do not significantly regress over the long run. We live in a litigious world. Many of the people who have this surgery are young and have vision-intensive occupations.