The shape of the cornea will give a clue as to whether someone has nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. LASIK can help fix astigmatism as it will eliminate the need to wear glasses or contact lenses and is a painless procedure that only takes ten to twenty minutes. The procedure involves the surgeon lifting the thin layer of the cornea with an instrument called a microkeratome that glides across the cornea. Then, taking less than one minute, cool and ultraviolet laser pulses emanating from the excimer laser will help to reform the internal cornea with accuracy levels of up to 0.25 microns. Through the adjustment of the pattern of the laser beam with the help of a computer, it becomes possible to treat high levels of astigmatism. After reshaping the tissue, the flap gets put back in its original position and due to the cornea’s natural Velcro-like bonding qualities, the process of healing is very quick and also may not require any stitches. The procedure is usually quick in terms of surgical procedures and can take anywhere from 20-30 minutes to perform. There is always a risk of complication but the risk is minimal. Some discomfort may be present for the patient following LASIK. To learn more about LASIK, please contact Clearview Eye and Laser Medical Center in San Diego today.