LASIK

Do you start every morning reaching for your glasses before you can even see the clock? Or have you watched friends ditch their contacts and wondered: “What is LASIK, and could it work for me?” At Corsini Laser Eye Center, the answer is simple: LASIK is a quick, permanent laser procedure, and for most patients, the clear vision it delivers lasts a lifetime. Find out how it works, who qualifies, what happens on procedure day, and how long your LASIK results will last.

What Is LASIK Eye Surgery

What Is LASIK, and Which Refractive Errors Can It Correct?

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is an FDA-approved outpatient procedure that permanently changes how your eye focuses light. Your cornea — the clear dome at the front of your eye — bends incoming light precisely onto your retina. Suppose its shape is even slightly off, and that light lands incorrectly, causing blurry vision. LASIK simply gives your cornea the shape it should have had all along, correcting for either:

  1. Myopia (nearsightedness): Your cornea is too steeply curved, so light focuses in front of the retina instead of on it, making distant things blurry and up-close objects clear. LASIK gently flattens the cornea’s curvature, pulling the focal point back onto the retina for sharp, clear distance vision.
  2. Hyperopia (farsightedness): Your cornea is too flat, so light focuses behind the retina rather than on it, causing blurry vision at both distance and near. LASIK steepens the curve to push that focal point forward onto the retina, where it belongs.
  3. Astigmatism: Instead of a smooth, symmetrical curve, your cornea is uneven, scattering light across multiple focal points and blurring vision at every distance. LASIK smooths the surface into a consistent curve so all light lands cleanly on the retina, restoring clarity near and far.

All three conditions are within LASIK’s correction range, and the results back it up. Over 90% of patients achieve 20/20 vision or better, with a 98.8% satisfaction rate across decades of research and millions of procedures worldwide.

What Happens During LASIK? A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

The full LASIK procedure takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes per eye. Every stage is carefully planned in advance — here’s what happens at each step, and what you’ll experience:

  1. Numbing drops are applied to your eyes. No needles, no general anesthesia. Just topical drops that take effect quickly, keeping you completely comfortable.
  2. A femtosecond laser creates a thin, hinged flap on your cornea using ultrafast light pulses. You’ll feel a brief, gentle firmness and notice your vision dim for a few seconds — both are expected and pass almost immediately.
  3. The flap is gently lifted, giving Dr. Corsini direct access to the underlying corneal tissue. This step is painless and takes only a matter of seconds, but it’s what makes the correction possible.
  4. An excimer laser reshapes your cornea to correct your vision. A controlled UV beam removes microscopic layers of corneal tissue based on your prescription. During this step, you’ll focus on a small blinking light while real-time eye-tracking automatically compensates for any eye movement, keeping the correction on target. The laser runs for approximately 10-20 seconds per eye.
  5. The flap is repositioned, and healing begins immediately. It bonds back into place naturally — no stitches, no adhesive. By the time you sit up in the chair, many patients can already read the clock on the wall across the room.

“The most powerful moment for my LASIK patients is when they wake up the next morning with the clear vision they were always meant to have.” — Dr. Jonathan Corsini, Corsini Laser Eye Center.

Who Is a Good Candidate for LASIK Eye Surgery?

LASIK is suitable for most healthy adults with refractive error, but before Dr. Corsini recommends it, he conducts a thorough evaluation — assessing corneal thickness, prescription stability, tear film health, and lifestyle demands to ensure LASIK delivers the lasting outcome you want. Strong candidates are:

  • 18 or older, with a stable prescription for at least one year. Shifting prescriptions can affect the predictability and longevity of your results.
  • Have adequate corneal thickness. Because LASIK removes tissue to reshape your cornea, Dr. Corsini needs enough tissue to work with safely, while leaving sufficient thickness intact afterward.
  • With healthy eyes free from active infections, keratoconus, or uncontrolled dry eye. Stable eye health ensures your cornea heals predictably and responds well to laser treatment for the best possible outcome.
  • Not actively pregnant or nursing. Waiting until hormones have fully stabilized means Dr. Corsini can take accurate measurements and deliver a correction that holds long-term.

For patients needing greater precision, Dr. Corsini offers Contoura Vision, a topography-guided treatment tailored to complex corneal needs and unique prescriptions. Not sure if you qualify? Take our LASIK Self-Test for a quick at-home assessment.

How Long Does LASIK Last? Is the Correction Permanent?

For patients curious about how long LASIK lasts, the answer is straightforward: the corneal reshaping is permanent, and nearly 95% of patients remain free from distance correction five years post-surgery, with most seeing clearly for decades.

Can Aging Affect Your LASIK Results?

Yes, but not in the way most patients expect. LASIK doesn’t stop your eyes from aging, so reading glasses may still be needed in your mid-40s as presbyopia sets in. Enhancements are available for the small percentage whose distance vision shifts meaningfully, but for most patients, the vision Dr. Corsini gives you on procedure day is the vision you’ll carry for life.

LASIK FAQ: Your Top Questions Answered.

These are the top 4 questions Dr. Corsini hears most at consultations, along with the straight answers patients deserve.

  1. Is LASIK Painful?

No, LASIK doesn’t hurt, as you’re given numbing drops to eliminate any pain. Most patients notice brief pressure during flap creation and mild scratchiness for a few hours afterward — both resolve on their own the same day.

  1. How Long Does LASIK Recovery Take?

Most patients can drive and return to work within 24 to 48 hours. Full visual stabilization typically occurs within 3-6 months.

  1. What Happens If I Move My Eyes or Blink During LASIK?

Modern LASIK tracks your eye’s movement thousands of times per second, automatically adjusting the laser to stay on target. If your eye moves beyond a safe range, the laser pauses and resumes once alignment is restored. You don’t need to hold perfectly still. And for added peace of mind, Dr. Corsini uses an eyelid holder to prevent you from blinking during the procedure. For a complete look at LASIK’s safety profile, read our 2025 LASIK safety breakdown.

  1. What Is LASIK’s Cost?

Corsini Laser Eye Center offers one simple, all-inclusive cost, regardless of your surgery or prescription. Most patients save on the cost of contacts and glasses within five years. Review our LASIK pricing details online, or ask during your complimentary consultation.

Ready to Find Out If LASIK Is Right for You? Book Your Complimentary Consultation.

Serving Wayne, King of Prussia, and the greater Philadelphia area, Corsini Laser Eye Center is where patients come for honest, personalized answers about LASIK. Schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. Corsini today, or call (484) 580-2166 to speak with our team and take your first step toward “20/happy” vision.

About Jonathan Corsini, MD

Dr. Jonathan Corsini is a military-trained, board-certified ophthalmologist and the region’s leading SMILE specialist. During his service in the U.S. Air Force, he became the military’s most prolific SMILE surgeon, performing thousands of procedures on servicemembers, including pilots and special forces. At Corsini Laser Eye Center, he provides premier, patient-centered vision correction, including SMILE, LASIK, and PRK, to the greater Philadelphia area.