LASIK eye surgery can help eligible patients reduce their dependence on glasses or contact lenses by correcting common refractive errors. At The Bochner Eye Institute, LASIK care is guided by experienced ophthalmologists, including Medical Director Dr. Raymond Stein, Professor of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto. Dr. Stein has performed more than 200,000 eye surgeries and is internationally recognized for his contributions to refractive and implant surgery.
What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, commonly known as LASIK, is a form of laser eye surgery used to correct:
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Myopia, or nearsightedness
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Hyperopia, or farsightedness
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Astigmatism
During LASIK, a surgeon creates a thin protective flap in the cornea. An excimer laser then reshapes the underlying corneal tissue according to a customized treatment plan. The flap is returned to its original position, where it begins healing naturally.
Reshaping the cornea allows incoming light to focus more accurately on the retina. The goal is to improve vision and reduce reliance on corrective lenses, although some patients may still need glasses for certain tasks or as their eyes change with age.
Are You a Good Candidate for LASIK?
A detailed eye examination is required to determine whether LASIK is appropriate. A suitable candidate will generally:
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Be at least 21 years old
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Have a stable vision prescription
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Have healthy eyes without active infection or inflammation
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Have adequate corneal thickness
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Be in good overall health
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Have manageable dry eye symptoms
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Have realistic expectations about the outcome
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Be able to follow preoperative and postoperative instructions
LASIK may not be recommended for patients with certain corneal conditions, severe dry eye, unstable prescriptions, active eye disease, or medical conditions that can affect healing. Pregnancy-related vision changes and some medications may also require treatment to be postponed.
What Happens During a LASIK Consultation?
The LASIK consultation evaluates more than the strength of a glasses or contact lens prescription. The surgical team examines the shape, thickness, and health of the cornea, as well as the tear film and internal structures of the eye.
Testing may include:
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Measurement of the vision prescription
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Corneal topography or tomography
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Measurement of corneal thickness
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Evaluation of the corneal contour
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Tear-film and dry-eye assessment
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Pupil measurements
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Examination of the retina and internal eye structures
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Review of prescription stability
Computerized corneal analysis can identify irregularities that may affect treatment planning or indicate that another procedure is more appropriate. The results help the surgeon determine whether LASIK, PRK, or another vision-correction option best matches the patient’s eyes and visual goals.
How Should You Prepare for LASIK Eye Surgery?
Contact lenses can temporarily alter the shape of the cornea and interfere with accurate testing. Patients are instructed to stop wearing them for a designated period before their examination and surgery. The duration depends on the type of contact lenses worn and the surgeon’s recommendations.
Before surgery, patients should also:
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Arrange transportation home
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Follow instructions concerning eye drops and medications
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Avoid eye makeup, creams, and facial products as directed
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Discuss work, driving, exercise, and recovery plans
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Ask any remaining questions about benefits, risks, and expected results
These preparations support accurate measurements and enable the surgical team to develop a treatment plan tailored to the natural characteristics of each eye.
What Happens During the LASIK Procedure?
Anesthetic eye drops are applied before the procedure to numb the eye’s surface. An eyelid holder keeps the eye open, so patients do not need to worry about blinking.
LASIK generally involves the following steps:
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A femtosecond laser creates a thin corneal flap.
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The surgeon gently lifts the flap.
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An excimer laser reshapes the underlying corneal tissue.
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Eye-tracking technology monitors small eye movements.
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The surgeon returns the flap to its original position.
Patients may feel pressure and notice temporary dimming of vision while the flap is created. The laser treatment itself is brief, although additional time is needed for preparation and postoperative evaluation.
What LASIK Technology Is Used at The Bochner Eye Institute?
Advanced diagnostic and laser systems support treatment planning, flap creation, corneal reshaping, and eye-position monitoring. These technologies provide detailed information and precise treatment capabilities, while the surgeon’s experience and judgment remain central to the procedure.
The treatment plan is based on diagnostic examinations that identify the unique characteristics of each eye. These measurements help guide the laser pattern used to address myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and certain optical irregularities that may affect visual quality.
IntraLase iFS Femtosecond Laser
The IntraLase iFS femtosecond laser (opens in new tab) is used during the first stage of LASIK to create the corneal flap. Rather than using a mechanical blade, the system delivers rapid pulses of laser energy at a planned depth within the cornea.
The surgeon then lifts the flap so the excimer laser can reshape the underlying tissue. The dimensions and position of the flap are selected according to the patient’s corneal measurements and treatment plan.
WaveLight EX500 Excimer Laser
The WaveLight EX500 excimer laser reshapes the cornea according to the patient’s prescription and diagnostic measurements. Its eye-tracking technology monitors eye position during treatment and helps maintain alignment between the planned correction and the area being treated.
The system can be used to address myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Depending on examination findings, Wavefront-Optimized or Wavefront-Guided treatment may be considered to customize the laser pattern and address specific optical characteristics that affect visual quality.
What Is LASIK Recovery Like?
Many patients experience mild irritation, watering, light sensitivity, or a gritty sensation during the first several hours after LASIK. Vision may initially appear blurry or fluctuate as the cornea heals.
Patients receive detailed instructions and may be asked to:
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Use prescribed eye drops
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Avoid rubbing or pressing on the eyes
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Wear protective shields while sleeping
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Avoid swimming, eye makeup, and strenuous activity temporarily
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Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments
Many patients notice useful visual improvement soon after surgery, but recovery and stabilization vary. Driving, work, exercise, and other activities should only be resumed according to the surgeon’s guidance.
LASIK vs PRK
LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK, both use an excimer laser to reshape the cornea. The primary difference is how the surgeon accesses the tissue being treated.
During LASIK, a thin corneal flap is created and repositioned after the laser correction. This method generally provides faster initial visual recovery and less early discomfort.
During PRK, the corneal surface layer is removed before the excimer laser treatment. A soft contact lens is typically worn for approximately five days while the surface layer regenerates. Vision improves more gradually and may continue refining over several weeks or months.
The eventual visual result can be similar with either procedure. PRK may be recommended when corneal thickness, lifestyle, or other eye characteristics make a flap-based procedure less suitable.
What Are the Possible Risks and Limitations of LASIK?
LASIK has helped many patients reduce their dependence on glasses and contact lenses, but no surgical procedure can guarantee a specific result. Potential side effects and complications should be reviewed carefully before treatment.
Possible concerns include:
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Dry eye symptoms
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Glare, halos, or starbursts around lights
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Temporary fluctuations in vision
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Light sensitivity
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Undercorrection or overcorrection
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Difficulty with night vision
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Inflammation or infection
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Corneal flap complications
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Reduced visual quality in some circumstances
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The possible need for glasses, contact lenses, or additional treatment
Some patients may require an enhancement after their prescription has stabilized. LASIK also does not prevent normal age-related changes such as presbyopia, which may eventually create a need for reading glasses.
Frequently Asked Questions
LASIK can treat many levels of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, but suitability is not determined by prescription alone. Corneal thickness, corneal shape, eye health, prescription stability, age, and the amount of tissue required for treatment must all be considered.
Patients with prescriptions or corneal measurements outside an appropriate LASIK range may be better suited to PRK, an implantable contact lens, refractive lens exchange, or another form of vision correction.
LASIK can correct many forms of regular astigmatism. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens has an uneven curvature that prevents light from focusing properly on the retina.
The excimer laser reshapes selected areas of the cornea to create a more regular optical surface. The amount and type of astigmatism that can be treated depend on the patient’s measurements and overall eye health.
Patients should generally be at least 21 years old and have a stable prescription before undergoing LASIK. There is no single upper age limit because eye health, corneal condition, lens clarity, and visual goals are more important than age alone.
Older adults may have cataracts or age-related lens changes that make cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange more appropriate. A comprehensive examination identifies the underlying cause of reduced vision and helps determine which procedure is most suitable.
Numbing eye drops are used before LASIK, so significant pain is not expected during the procedure. Patients may feel pressure while the corneal flap is created, and vision may briefly become dim.
Temporary burning, watering, irritation, or a gritty sensation may occur during the early recovery period. Prescribed eye drops and postoperative instructions help support comfort and healing.
The WaveLight EX500 excimer laser includes eye-tracking technology that follows small eye movements during treatment. This helps keep the laser correction aligned with the planned treatment area.
Patients are still asked to look toward a fixation light and follow the surgeon’s instructions. An eyelid holder prevents blinking during the procedure.
Some patients notice glare, halos, starbursts, or changes in contrast sensitivity after LASIK, particularly during the early healing period. These symptoms may be more noticeable when driving at night or looking at bright lights in dark surroundings.
Many night-vision symptoms improve as the eyes heal, but persistent changes can occur. Pupil size, prescription strength, dry eye, pre-existing optical irregularities, and treatment design may influence the risk.
Vision is often stable after healing, but the eyes can continue to change over time. Younger patients with higher prescriptions may experience further progression of nearsightedness, while adults commonly develop presbyopia and may eventually require reading glasses.
If a residual or recurring prescription develops, an enhancement may be considered after the vision has stabilized. Additional treatment is only recommended when the eye is healthy, and the cornea can safely support another procedure.
Serious complications are uncommon, but LASIK is still a surgical procedure. Infection, inflammation, corneal irregularity, flap problems, and changes in visual quality are among the complications that may occur.
Careful screening, experienced surgical care, informed consent, and prompt attention to postoperative symptoms are important parts of reducing and managing risk. Patients should contact the surgical team promptly if they experience worsening pain, sudden vision changes, increasing redness, or other concerning symptoms.
Patients who are not candidates for LASIK may still have options for reducing their dependence on glasses or contact lenses. Recommendations depend on age, prescription, corneal characteristics, lens clarity, and overall eye health.
Alternatives may include:
An implantable contact lens is positioned inside the eye without removing the natural lens. Refractive lens exchange replaces the natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens through a procedure similar to cataract surgery. Because these are intraocular procedures, their benefits and risks differ from those of laser vision correction.
Why Choose The Bochner Eye Institute for LASIK Eye Surgery?
Founded by Dr. Maxwell Bochner in 1929, The Bochner Eye Institute is Canada’s oldest and most established eye care facility. Its surgeons have performed more than 400,000 procedures over the past 30 years and have treated patients from more than 70 countries. Medical Director Dr. Raymond Stein is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto and a former president of the Canadian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. He has received professional honours from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Contact Lens Association of America, and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. The institute’s LASIK program combines experienced surgical judgment, detailed diagnostic testing, modern laser technology, and attentive follow-up care. The Bochner Eye Institute has also been voted Toronto’s Top Choice for Laser Vision Correction 14 times.
Explore LASIK Eye Surgery in Toronto and Scarborough, ON
LASIK may offer greater visual freedom for patients who are suitable candidates for laser vision correction. The ophthalmologists at The Bochner Eye Institute provide comprehensive testing and personalized recommendations based on each patient’s prescription, eye health, and visual goals. To explore LASIK eye surgery in Toronto or Scarborough, ON, schedule a consultation with The Bochner Eye Institute by calling (416) 960-2020.
Additional Information
In this video, Dr. Raymond Stein discusses the advantages and disadvantages of LASIK versus SMILE.