Meaning & use
LASIK
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountablemedical
A kind of eye surgery that uses a laser to correct vision, so glasses may not be needed.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun: 'LASIK is done...', 'have LASIK'. It is not usually used with 'a' or in the plural.
Patterns
- have LASIK
- LASIK surgery
- LASIK treatment
She had LASIK last year and no longer needs glasses for driving.
LASIK is a common procedure for people with short-sightedness.
The doctor explained the risks of LASIK before the operation.
abbreviationmedicalspecialist
Short for 'laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis', the full medical name of the procedure.
Grammar: The full form is technical and rarely used in everyday speech; most people just say 'LASIK'.
The abbreviation LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.
In medical papers, LASIK is often written out in full the first time.
Common combinations
- LASIK surgery
- LASIK surgery can reduce the need for glasses.
- have LASIK
- He decided to have LASIK to fix his short-sightedness.
- LASIK treatment
- The clinic offers LASIK treatment for both eyes.
- LASIK procedure
- The LASIK procedure takes only a few minutes per eye.
Synonyms and how they differ
- laser eye surgery
- A general term for several procedures; LASIK is one specific type.
- refractive surgery
- A broader medical term that includes LASIK and other methods of correcting vision.
Commonly confused: LASIK or Lasix?
LASIK vs Lasix
Lasix is a brand name for a diuretic medicine, not eye surgery. The spelling is different: LASIK has a K.
Practice
What does LASIK refer to?
Choose one answer.
LASIK is a laser eye surgery used to correct vision problems like short-sightedness. It is not a hearing aid, a contact lens, or a test.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “LASIK”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.