While many people have heard the term Lasik, not very many people truly understand what it comprises. Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, which is obviously a very large mouthful. To most people, this means very little to you. In more simple terms, LASIK is when the surgeon uses a laser to change the shape of your cornea, which results in improved vision.

The cornea focuses light that enters your eye and then bends and focuses that light to produce an image on your retina. Unfortunately, sometimes a person's ability to focus light is diminished (usually due to a mismatch between the cornea's ability to focus light and the length of the eye). As a result, a person's vision may be blurred or distorted.

During the actual LASIK procedure, a tiny cut in made in the cornea, which results in a small flap. This flap is then folded back. Once this has been accomplished, a surgeon will use a laser to vaporize a small portion of the cornea (called a stroma). After enough of the stroma has been removed, the surgeon then folds the flap back up. As a result, the cornea is now reshaped resulting in an improved ability to focus and bend light, which results in an improved image on the retina.

When this occurs, a doctor will diagnose a patient with refractive errors. In order to remedy this situation, other than LASIK eye surgery, there are two other primary refractive procedures that one can undergo. The first is RK, which is Radial keratotomy. During this procedure, tiny incisions are made in the cornea to flatten it slightly. The second procedure is called PRK, which is Photorefractive keratotomy. This procedure is very similar to LASIK. The main difference is that in PRK, the laser is used on the outside of the cornea.

Tom Jenkins owns the Michigan LASIK Guide. This website provides information on the various facets of having LASIK in Michigan.