To see clearly, the cornea and the lens must bend - or refract - light rays so they focus on the retina - a layer of light-sensing cells that line the back of the eye. The retina converts the light rays into impulses that are sent to the brain, where they are recognized as images. If the light rays don't focus on the retina, the image you see is blurry. This is called a refractive error. Glasses, contacts and refractive surgery like laser eye procedures attempt to reduce these errors by making light rays focus on the retina.
Refractive errors are caused by an imperfectly shaped eyeball, cornea or lens, and are of three basic types:

Myopia - nearsightedness; only nearby objects are clear.
Hyperopia - farsightedness; only objects far away are clear.
Astigmatism - images are blurred at a distance and near.

There is also presbyopia - "aging eye." The condition usually occurs between ages 40 and 50, and can be corrected with bifocals or reading glasses.

LASIK, the most popular laser eye procedure has proven to be an extremely effective treatment for those who have nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Over one million LASIK laser eye procedures are performed each year and almost all patients (over 96%) will see much clearer, at least 20-40, which allows one to drive legally in most states without glasses. According to the American Academy of Opthamology (AAO) about 7 out of 10 patients will even achieve 20/20 vision (although 20/20 does not always mean perfect vision)

Laser eye procedures are not effective in correcting presbyopia. This is why even after laser eye surgery, if you are over 40, you will still need to use glasses or contacts.

Only an eye doctor and laser eye specialist can assess your condition and determine if a laser eye procedure would be right for you.

Call 1-800-LASER-EYES (1-800-527-3739) to receive a free consultation or email a doctor by booking your free consultation online.