The introduction of laser eye surgery a number of years ago – first via the PRK procedure and then using LASIK (an acronym for Laser Assisted In-situ Keratomileusis) – marked a major step forward in vision correction without having to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Whilst the LASIK procedure has proven very popular with millions of successful operations carried out around the world, there has always been a slight risk of an unsuccessful operation or of complications. These risks are primarily associated with the first stage of the operation in which a hand-held microkeratome blade is used to create a corneal flap. This flap is of vital importance to the overall success of the operation. If it is too thick or too thin or incorrectly shaped it could adversely affect the quality of vision.