Laser eye surgery. Artwork showing how laser eye surgery is performed. An incision is made into the cornea,the clear dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye, and a portion of it is folded back. A laser is then used to reshape the remaining cornea, before the flap is replaced. This procedure can be used to treat nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism (an unspherical cornea).