Lasik eye surgery can be used to correct myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia. Presbyopia, which causes those of us in our late 40's to need reading glasses is actually a loss of flexibility of the eye lens and cannot be treated with lasik corrective eye surgery.
During lasik surgery the ophthalmologist actually reshapes the cornea with the use of a laser. How much reshaping you have done to your cornea depends entirely on your particular sight problem. The FDA first approved the excimer laser for eye correction in October of 1995. Lasik was approved in 1998.
The first thing you need to do before you see the doctor is homework. Read online about lasik, write down questions for your ophthalmologist. Talk to friends and family who have had the procedure. Ask them their experiences. As with any medical procedure there are real risks involved with lasik and you must weight the risks and benefits of the procedure based on your personal desires.
Some patients seeking lasik eye correction surgery come away with a worsening of their vision. Some come away fighting constant eye dryness. Some have bouts with severe infections. Some suffer from halos and double or triple vision.
Your doctor will evaluate you on an individual basis to see if he thinks you will be helped by lasik eye surgery. Not everyone is a candidate for lasik. Women who are pregnant or nursing are not. People with autoimmune or immunodeficient diseases are not candidates. People who form keloids are not good candidates for lasik. People who suffer from cataracts cannot have lasik. Your ophthalmologist will also most likely want you to have no change in your eye glass prescription for at least a period of one year prior to lasik.
The best way to help yourself obtain the best result from lasik is to arm yourself with knowledge.