What conditions does LASIK treat?

LASIK effectively treats three main refractive errors that cause blurry vision.

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

What it is: The eyeball is too long or the cornea too curved, causing distant objects to appear blurry while near objects remain clear.

How LASIK helps: The laser flattens the central cornea, reducing its focusing power so light focuses properly on the retina.

Treatment range: Up to -12.00 diopters (FDA approved)

Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

What it is: The eyeball is too short or the cornea too flat, causing near objects to appear blurry (and sometimes distant objects too).

How LASIK helps: The laser steepens the central cornea by removing tissue from the periphery, increasing its focusing power.

Treatment range: Up to +6.00 diopters (FDA approved)

Astigmatism

What it is: The cornea has an irregular shape (like a football rather than a basketball), causing blurred or distorted vision at all distances.

How LASIK helps: The laser selectively reshapes the cornea to make it more uniformly curved.

Treatment range: Up to 6.00 diopters (FDA approved)

What LASIK Does NOT Treat

• Presbyopia: Age-related loss of near focusing (reading glasses after 40)
• Cataracts: Clouding of the eye's natural lens
• Glaucoma: Optic nerve damage from eye pressure
• Macular degeneration: Retinal disease affecting central vision