LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis. It is a type of laser vision correction procedure that allows patients to be free of glasses and contact lenses. There are different forms of laser vision correction including LASIK, PRK and SMILE, but people refer to laser vision correction collectively as LASIK.
LASIK involves the creation of a flap, acting like a bandage for the cornea to be reshaped underneath. In PRK, the surface layer of the cornea (or the epithelium) is removed, and the cornea is treated. A bandage contact lens is put in place until the epithelial layer regrows and protects the surface of the cornea. Finally, SMILE involves the creation of a small sliver, called a lenticule, inside the cornea that is then removed through a small incision in the cornea.