Also called: Keratectomy · LASIK · LTK · PRK
Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Laser Eye Surgery
For many people, laser eye surgery can correct their vision so they no longer need glasses or contact lenses. Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. This changes its focusing power.
There are different types of laser eye surgery. LASIK - laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis - is one of the most common. Many patients who have LASIK end up with 20/20 vision. But, like all medical procedures, it has both risks and benefits. Only your eye doctor can tell if you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery.
It sits within Eyes and Vision and Surgery and Rehabilitation.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Eye Institute.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Laser Eye Surgery
217 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Comparison of Ketorolac Tromethamine 0.5%-Soaked Bandage Contact Lenses Versus Non-Medicated Bandage Contact Lenses on Postoperative Pain Control After Photorefractive KeratectomyMadina Teaching Hospital Faisalabad
- Comparison of PRESBYOND Laser Blended Vision and Conventional Monovision LASIK in Individuals With Presbyopia: A Randomized Clinical StudyZhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University
- The Impact of 'A Miss Is as Good as a Mile': Is Compensation Necessary for Minimal Ocular Deviation in Myopic Laser Surgery?Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University
- KLEx Versus FS-LASIK for the Treatment of Myopia and Compound Myopic AstigmatismInstituto de Oftalmología Fundación Conde de Valenciana
- Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of ELIOS in Patients With Open-Angle Glaucoma Undergoing Cataract SurgeryElios Vision, Inc.
- Tear Interleukin Biomarkers After Glaucoma TreatmentKazakh Eye Research Institute
Research already completed
- Excimer Laser Trabeculostomy Glaucoma Treatment StudyElios Vision, Inc.
- Nursing Intervention Based on Stress Adaptation Theory for Patients Undergoing Diabetic Retinal Laser SurgeryJoint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong
- DEXTENZA in Pediatric Patients Following Retinal Surgery or Laser Treatment Under AnesthesiaLejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS
- Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Lagricel® Ofteno PF Compared to Thealoz® Duo After Photorefractive KeratectomyLaboratorios Sophia S.A de C.V.
- FS-LASIK Versus TransPRK for Mixed AstigmatismAssiut University
- Accuracy of IOLMASTER 700 Total Keratometry (TK)Advanced Vision Care
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- LASIKFood and Drug Administration
- LASIK -- Laser Eye SurgeryAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology
- LASIK Eye SurgeryMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Shaping Clearer Vision: Is Eye Surgery Right for You?National Institutes of Health
Related Issues
- What Should I Expect Before, During, and After Surgery?Food and Drug Administration
Statistics and Research
- Eye Health Data and StatisticsNational Eye Institute
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Corneal Surgery, LaserNational Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Photorefractive KeratectomyNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Corneal Surgery, Laser. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Laser Eye Surgery, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.