Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust : LASIK

The whole procedure takes about 20 minutes in total. Anaesthetic drops are applied to the eye about 5 minutes before the operation. This is all you will need to make the operation painless.

A device is used which creates a small 'flap' in the surface of the cornea, and laser treatment is the applied underneath. The computer-guided excimer laser beam is then focussed on the corneal surface for between 10-30 seconds. It permanently reshapes the cornea by precise selective tissue removal.

When the laser treatment is finished, the flap is repositioned, where it heals back into place very quickly, and the procedure is complete. The nurse will give you eye drops and instructions on how to use them. You will also need to book a follow-up appointment with the surgeon, usually within the next few days.

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust : LASIK