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Eye Surgery for Refractive Error

Eye surgery to correct refractive error is an increasingly popular alternative to eyeglasses or contact lenses for most people, including those with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Eye surgery to correct presbyopia is not available in the United States.

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Ophthalmologists at NYU Langone offer corrective procedures to change the shape of the cornea and shift the focus of incoming light directly onto the retina, improving the clarity of your vision. In general, our doctors only perform these eye surgeries on people age 21 and older. This is because the shape and size of the eye may change before adulthood, affecting how much correction is needed to help a person see clearly.

If you have refractive error in only one eye, surgeons correct just the affected eye. However, people often have refractive error in both eyes. Our doctors typically perform surgery on both eyes during the same procedure.

Long-term outcomes from both LASIK and surface ablation surgeries are generally excellent. These procedures are both very safe and predictable for most types of refractive error. Sometimes, however, the procedure does not fully correct refractive error. Doctors can often determine within three to six months of surgery if an improvement in eyesight is unlikely to occur. If blurriness persists at that time, your surgeon may consider a second laser procedure to further reshape the cornea.

LASIK

LASIK, which stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is the most widely performed surgery to correct refractive error. In this technique, lasers are used to make subtle changes to the shape of the cornea, which is the clear outermost part of the eye. When the cornea is reshaped correctly, it can refract light directly onto the retina, eliminating blurred vision. 

An eye surgeon performs LASIK in the office or at an eye center. Your doctor may offer you a sedative to help you relax.

First, the surgeon applies anesthetic eyedrops to numb the eyes. These take effect in about a minute. The surgeon uses a small instrument to hold the eyelids open. 

He or she then uses a laser or a small blade to separate the thin outer flap of the cornea from the rest of the eye. This part of the procedure may feel awkward, but it is not painful. While this occurs, you are asked to look at a small light to keep your eyes still. 

Then the surgeon uses a laser to reshape the exposed area of the cornea, so it bends, or refracts, light correctly. This reshaping is precise and based on the three-dimensional images of your cornea the doctor obtained during diagnostic corneal mapping

After the cornea has been reshaped, the surgeon replaces the outer flap and the procedure is finished. Your surgeon may place a clear contact lens that acts as a bandage on your eyes. The doctor removes these during a follow-up appointment a few days later. 

LASIK takes less than a half hour for both eyes, and you can return home after surgery. Your vision may be blurred for several hours, and you should arrange for someone to drive or escort you home after the procedure. Most people do not experience any pain after LASIK. 

Your surgeon sees you for a follow-up visit the day after surgery and schedules subsequent follow-up visits based on your healing progress and the type of refractive error that was corrected.

Your vision improves within one or two weeks. Most people have 20/20 vision for years after this procedure.

Surface Ablation

Surface ablation, commonly called PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, is very similar to LASIK except that surgeons do not separate a thin flap of corneal tissue before reshaping the cornea with a laser. Surface ablation is an excellent alternative to LASIK for people who have abnormalities of the cornea, such as thinning or scarring, and may be better suited for people who have dry eye syndrome

In this procedure, the same laser that is used for LASIK is used to reshape the corneal surface directly. Surface ablation takes a few minutes per eye to complete—similar to the amount of time it takes to perform LASIK—and the treatment is also planned using a three-dimensional image of your cornea obtained during diagnosis. After the treatment is complete, the surgeon applies a clear bandage contact lens to protect your eyes while they heal.

You can return home after surgery. Because your vision may be blurred for several hours, you should arrange for transportation home.

Recovery from this procedure takes a bit longer than with LASIK, because new corneal cells must grow to cover the surface of the eye. You may feel a slight burn or ache in your eyes for a day or two after the procedure, and it may take up to a week for your vision to improve.

Most people are fully healed and have corrected vision within a couple of weeks. This procedure enables most people to have 20/20 vision for years.

Our Research and Education in Refractive Error

Learn more about our research and professional education opportunities.