L-A-S-I-K: Breaking Down the Acronym
We use plenty of acronyms on a daily basis. You might’ve already texted an LOL to your BFF today, or visited an ATM on your way to the MD’s office. But if you are wondering what does LASIK stand for, the words that spell out the acronym aren’t as well known. It actually spells out Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, a mouthful of terms that we can break down for you to help you understand the overall procedure.
You can also schedule a FREE* exam at Loden Vision Centers™ today to learn more about LASIK from one of our skilled and experienced surgeons.
L for LASER
If you have the most basic understanding of LASIK eye surgery, you already know that it uses a laser. So it should come as no surprise to you that the L stands for laser! In LASIK procedures, doctors use an excimer laser to fix visual refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It uses a beam of high-energy ultraviolet light to remove microscopic amounts of corneal tissue. The excimer laser can remove a quarter of a micron of corneal tissue at a time. How small is that? Well, one micron is one thousandth of a millimeter! The laser reshapes your cornea in order to change the direction of light as it travels through your eye, so it can focus properly on your retina.
At Loden Vision Centers, the blade-free LASIK procedure uses the IntraLase Femtosecond Laser (IntraLase iFS™) and the VISX Star S4 excimer laser to ensure a precise and safe procedure. This incredible technology, along with our expert surgeons, has resulted in 20/20 or better outcomes in 99% of Loden Vision Centers’ LASIK patients.1
A-S for ASSISTED
The first word after laser is assisted, which is an essential part of your LASIK procedure. Your surgeon completes your LASIK procedure with the assistance of a laser, so you need to ensure that you have the expert guidance of a qualified LASIK surgeon.
No matter how good the technology is, the surgeon who performs your procedure is absolutely necessary in order to achieve a successful outcome. Loden Vision Centers uses only the most skilled, experienced, and credentialed LASIK surgeons. Our ophthalmologists have been in practice since 1999 and have performed more than 100,000 refractive vision procedures. Our advanced technology and unmatched experience sets Loden Vision Centers apart from other LASIK practices.
I for IN SITU
Just to keep things interesting, the LASIK acronym throws in a Latin term too! Pronounced “in-sight-ooh,” In Situ is a Latin term that means “in its place.” To better understand this word, we’ll need to fast-forward to K.
K for KERATOMILEUSIS
Now we’re moving on to Greek! Pronounced “carrot-oh-mill-ooh-sis,” keratomileusis comes from the Greek words “kerat” (which means “cornea”) and “smileusis” (to carve). The term basically means to reshape the cornea. When we add it to the term In Situ, the phrase translates that this reshaping is done “in its place,” or in the actual eye.
Letter by letter, we hope this acronym breakdown gives you a better understanding of LASIK as a whole! Each letter represents the cutting-edge technology, precise process, and expert assistance you need to have a successful LASIK procedure.
To learn more about LASIK, and to see if you are a candidate, go online to schedule a FREE* exam at Loden Vision Centers or give us a call at (615) 559-4242.
*No-Show Fee: There is a $50 no-show fee if you are unable to keep your appointment and do not cancel 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment time.
1. Data on file. Loden Vision Centers.
