Lasik is an acronym for Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, the last term literally meaning "to shape the cornea". Lasik eye surgery is a hybrid of two techniques in surgery for the purpose of laser vision correction. The first technique uses a keratome blade to cut a thin layer in the cornea, leaving a flap. The flap is folded back to reveal the middle section of the cornea, known as the stroma, which will be sculpted by the laser. By cutting a flap to reach the stroma, the procedure allows for a rapid recovery with little pain.

The second technique uses a computer controlled laser pulse to sculpt the cornea by vaporizing a portion of the stroma, correcting the error in refraction, and vision. The flap is replaced, and the operation is over. The first Lasik eye surgery was performed in the U.S. in 1991, but before the hybrid procedure was created, there were earlier procedures that predated this form of laser vision correction, radial keratotomy and photorefractive keratectomy. While viable, it became necessary for science to search for a better way to make it easier on patients.

In the beginning, there was radial keratotomy, and the first practical application for it actually resulted from an accident. In the 1970s, Russian doctor Fyodorov found himself treating a boy who had once broken his glasses and cut his cornea in the process. His eyes had healed, but his vision had actually improved after the accident, and was less myopic than he had been before the accident. Because of this, Dr. Fyodorov researched cases of refractive surgeries, and was able to create a predictable formula for surgery.

The radial keratotomy procedure involved using a series of peripheral cuts radiating out from the central cornea, which resulted in a flattened central cornea. Compared to current laser vision correction, this procedure could only correct low degrees of myopia and astigmatism. Compared to today's Lasik eye surgery, it had significant risk, with lower results.

Photorefractive Keratectomy, or PRK, was the first ever laser vision correction procedure. In this procedure, the top layer of the cornea was scraped away to expose the stroma, rather than creating a flap, which is done today with Lasik eye surgery. Because there are nerve bundles present in the epithelium, the top layer, there was irritation and discomfort incurred. After the procedure, the patient had to wear bandages, and had blurry vision for three days afterwards. The vision eventually cleared as the eye healed, but something had to be improved, to ease the suffering of the patient.

As a result, Lasik was developed in 1990, combining the two previous procedures, but refining it with the use of the microkeratome to cut the flap, without irritation, and using the Excimer laser to sculpt the cornea to improve sight. Now, the recovery time is much faster, there is less pain for the patient, and vision improvement begins much quicker. Lasik is a prime example of the mistakes in the past creating a better future.

Correcting vision through surgery may have begun as the result of an accident, but the refinements in the technology have made it one of the most popular procedures done today. With newer technology always evolving, even the current Lasik operations are being made easier on the patient, and there are procedures being developed right now to help those that may not have been accepted as candidates for Lasik in the past.