How exactly does eye correcting surgery work?

By reshaping : Laser vision correction (such as lasik or prk) utilizes a cold laser (excimer laser) to permanently reshape your cornea (the front part of the eye, where a contact lens rests on) corrrecting your nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. Think of it as permanently "engraving" your contact lens or glasses prescription into your eye.

Various ways: If not a candidate for lasik/prk, there are others to correct refractive errors such as phakic intraocular lens, clear lens extraction, intracorneal rings, etc. The basic premise is to change the corneal or lens power to focus it directly on the retina instead of in front or behind.