Much of the confusion and concern over LASIK eye surgery stems from lack of understanding or insufficient research. While a consultation with your eye doctor or LASIK surgeon is the best way to decide if laser eye surgery is for you, there are a few terms you should be familiar with before doing any extensive research on your own. Knowing what the doctor is talking about will also help you as more personal questions related directly to your surgery.

LASIK Terms to Know

A glossary of LASIK eye surgery definitions and descriptions you need to know when before researching or undergoing laser eye surgery.

20/20 Vision

Common expression of normal eyesight. The first number refers to the distance, in feet, between an eye chart and an eye whose vision is being tested. The second number is a comparison of a normal eye and the tested eye. The higher the second number, the more impaired the vision. For example, if a person’s vision is assessed at 20/100, it means that this person must be only 20 feet from the chart for it to look as clear as it does to a normal eye 100 feet away.

Ablate

In surgical terms, to remove. The “ablation zone” refers to the area of tissue that is removed during laser surgery.

Blade-Free LASIK

Also referred to as “All-laser LASIK” or “Bladeless LASIK.” This is a type of corrective corneal surgery that uses a laser keratome device to cut a corneal flap for LASIK surgery, instead of a scalpel.

Cornea

The clear, front part of your eye that bends (or focuses) the light and provides most of the focusing power; the cornea is the primary focus in vision problems, particularly with nearsighted or farsighted patients.

Keratectomy

The surgical removal of corneal tissue.

Keratotomy

The surgical incision (cut) of a cornea.

LASIK

Acronym for “Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis;” a type of laser eye surgery that requires creating a flap in the cornea with a microkeratome and using a laser to reshape the underlying cornea to improve vision.

PRK

Acronym for “PhotoRefractive Keratectomy,” a different type of laser eye surgery that involves the removal of the surface layer of the cornea (epithelium) by gentle scraping and use of a computer-controlled excimer laser to reshape the stroma.

Visual Acuity

Manner of referring to the clearness of vision or the ability to distinguish details and shapes or objects.

For more information on LASIK eye surgery or other vision correction procedures, as well as an expanded definition of terms, please visit FDA.gov.