The Lasik eye surgery procedure was possible because of earlier eye surgery procedures created by Dr. Jose Barraquer of Columbia who in 1960 developed the first microkeratome that was used to cut thin flaps in the cornea to alter its shape. Such procedures can be used to change patients' vision in cases of astigmatism.

Lasik eye surgery itself was developed by Dr. Lucio Buratto of Italy and Dr. Ioannis Pallikaris of Greece in 1990. Essentialy, Lasik eye surgery is a melding of two earlier techniques, namely photorefractive keratectomy and keratomileusis.

The extreme popularity of the Lasik eye surgery procedure is due to both its greater precision over other types of eye surgery as well as the very much lower frequency of complications when compared with either of the two prior eye surgery techniques.

Before undergoing the Lasik eye surgery procedure, patients are asked to quick wearing their soft contacts for anywhere from 7 days to a few weeks before surgery. Hard contact wearers are asked to stop wearing their contacts for anywhere from 6 weeks to an additional six weeks for every three years the hard contacts were worn by the patient.

Before the procedure begins patients' corneas are examined with the aid of a computer-controlled scanning device and a topographical image of the cornea is created to assist doctors in detecting astigmatism and various other kinds of irregularities in the cornea's shape. Then, portions of the corneal tissue are removed to even out the cornea shape and patient's eyesight.

The Lasik eye surgery procedure is carried out while the patient is awake and typically a mild sedative is used as well as anesthetic eye drops. Patients are also started on a course of antibiotics to minimize the possibility of infection during or after the procedure. Recovery is brief and painless. Patients are typically back to 100% in a matter of a day or two.