To correct farsightedness, the curvature is increased, or made steeper. For astigmatism, the curvature is made more uniform in all directions. The re-shaping is accomplished by focusing the energy of the laser to remove very small amounts of tissue from the cornea. The corneal tissue beneath the flap is then reshaped using the high energy pulses of the Excimer laser. The flap is then folded back in place and heals without the need for sutures.
Patients are awake and alert during the procedure.
Typically, anaesthetic eye drops are all that is required to avoid discomfort. The entire procedure usually takes just 10 to 15 minutes. Most often, patients can return to work the following day. No one can guarantee that you will never need to wear eyeglasses again. Patients can expect to reduce their dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses, if not eliminate them entirely.