What is LASIK eye surgery?
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a quick, safe, and effective procedure that corrects common vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It works by reshaping the cornea, the clear front part of your eye so light focuses properly on the retina, giving you clearer vision.
During the procedure, a thin flap is created on the surface of the cornea. This flap is gently lifted, and a precise laser reshapes the underlying tissue. The flap is then repositioned, where it heals naturally without stitches.
Most people are awake during the surgery, feel little to no pain, and notice improved vision within 24 to 48 hours. The entire process takes about 15 minutes for both eyes, and most patients return to normal activities within a day or two.
LASIK is not for everyone, but for healthy candidates with stable vision, it can greatly reduce or even eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses.
What are the types of LASIK eye surgery?
Not all LASIK procedures are the same. Advances in technology have led to several techniques, each designed to improve precision and outcomes based on your unique eyes.
Traditional LASIK (Conventional LASIK)
In this standard approach, a thin flap is created using a small handheld blade called a microkeratome. Then, an excimer laser reshapes the cornea to correct your vision.
Best for: People with common refractive errors who have healthy, regular corneas.
Bladeless LASIK (Femto LASIK or All-Laser LASIK)
Instead of a blade, a femtosecond laser creates the corneal flap. This allows for greater precision, consistency, and safety.
Best for: Patients who prefer a fully laser-based procedure with potentially lower risk of flap complications.
Wavefront-Guided LASIK (Custom LASIK)
This method uses a detailed 3D map of your eye to guide the laser. It corrects not only basic vision problems but also subtle visual imperfections called higher-order aberrations like glare, halos, or night vision issues.
Best for: People with irregular optical systems or those who want the most personalized treatment.
Topography-Guided LASIK
This technique uses a detailed surface map of the cornea (called corneal topography) to guide the laser. It's especially helpful for eyes with uneven surfaces.
Best for: Patients with irregular corneas, such as those who've had prior eye surgery, injury, or conditions like mild keratoconus.
Contoura Vision LASIK
A highly advanced form of topography-guided LASIK, Contoura Vision corrects both vision errors and microscopic irregularities across the cornea. It's FDA-approved to potentially improve vision beyond what glasses or contacts can provide.
Best for: Those seeking the most precise, high-definition visual outcome available.
Your eye doctor will evaluate your corneal thickness, pupil size, and overall eye health to recommend the best type of LASIK for your needs.
15 to 30 Minutes
Surgery Duration
Eye Drops
Anesthesia Used
1-2 Days
Full Recovery Timeline
What are the indications for LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK Eye Surgery is primarily indicated for individuals with refractive errors problems with how light focuses on the retina due to the shape of the cornea. The most common indications include:
- Nearsightedness (Myopia): If you see nearby objects clearly but distant ones appear blurry, LASIK reshapes the cornea to allow light rays to focus correctly at the back of the eye.
- Farsightedness (Hyperopia): If distant objects are clearer than those up close, LASIK can improve near vision by adjusting the curvature of the cornea.
- Astigmatism: If your vision is distorted or blurry at all distances due to an uneven corneal surface, LASIK can smooth the cornea and improve clarity.
- Stable Vision Prescription: LASIK is generally recommended only if your eyeglass or contact lens prescription has remained stable for at least 12 months.
What conditions does LASIK Eye Surgery treat?
LASIK Eye Surgery is used to treat common vision correction problems, including:
- Myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism
- Blurry or distorted vision caused by irregular corneal shape
- Dependence on corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses
- Visual disturbances like glare, halos, or double vision in some cases (especially with advanced techniques like Wavefront-guided or Contoura Vision LASIK)
By correcting these conditions, LASIK allows light to focus properly on the retina, leading to sharper, clearer vision.
When would a doctor recommend LASIK Eye Surgery?
An ophthalmologist may recommend LASIK Eye Surgery under the following circumstances:
- Age and Eye Maturity: You are at least 18 years old (in some cases, 21) and your eyes have fully matured.
- Healthy Corneas: Your corneas are thick, healthy, and free of scarring or severe irregularities.
- No Major Eye Conditions: You do not have active eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, severe dry eye, or keratoconus.
- Stable Prescription: Your glasses or contact lens prescription has not changed significantly in the past 12 months.
- Good General Health: You are not pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications that may affect healing.
- Lifestyle Considerations: You want to reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses or contact lenses for daily activities like driving, reading, or sports.
In many cases, LASIK delivers quick results with clearer vision within 24 to 48 hours and a high success rate when performed by an experienced eye surgeon.
How should I prepare before the LASIK Eye Surgery procedure?
Preparing for LASIK Eye Surgery is an important step to ensure a safe procedure and smooth recovery. Here's what you should do:
- Consultation with an Eye Surgeon: Schedule a comprehensive consultation with a qualified refractive surgeon. This visit helps determine if you're a good candidate for LASIK and gives you the chance to discuss your expectations.
- Medical History Review: Share your complete health history, including past eye problems, medications, allergies, or systemic conditions (like diabetes or autoimmune diseases). This information is crucial, as certain conditions may affect healing.
- Discontinue Contact Lenses: If you wear contact lenses, you may need to stop wearing them days to weeks before surgery. Contact lenses can change the natural shape of your cornea, and accurate corneal measurements are essential for precise laser correction.
- Follow Pre-Op Instructions: Your doctor will provide guidelines, such as avoiding makeup, creams, perfumes, or lotions on the day of surgery, since these can interfere with the procedure or increase the risk of infection.
- Stay Well-Rested and Hydrated: A good night's sleep and proper hydration help your eyes and body recover faster.
- Prepare Transportation: Arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure, since you will not be able to drive immediately afterward.
What tests are done before LASIK Eye Surgery?
Before the procedure, your eye surgeon will perform several preoperative tests to ensure your eyes are healthy and suitable for LASIK. These may include:
- Corneal Thickness Measurement (Pachymetry): Ensures your corneas are thick enough for safe reshaping.
- Corneal Topography/Mapping: Creates a detailed map of your cornea's shape and curvature to guide the laser.
- Pupil Size Measurement: Large pupils may increase the risk of glare or halos after surgery.
- Tear Film Evaluation: Assesses for dry eye syndrome, which could affect healing.
- Refraction Test: Confirms the stability of your prescription for nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
- Dilated Eye Exam: Evaluates the retina and optic nerve to rule out other eye diseases.
Should I stop eating, drinking, or taking medicines before LASIK Eye Surgery?
- Food & Drink: Unlike some surgeries, LASIK usually does not require fasting. In fact, patients are encouraged to eat a light meal before the procedure so they are comfortable.
- Medications: Tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, and supplements you are taking. In most cases, you can continue your regular medicines, but certain blood-thinning drugs or eye medications may need adjustment.
- Alcohol & Caffeine: Avoid alcohol the night before and the day of surgery, as it can cause dehydration. Minimize caffeine intake on the day of surgery to avoid eye dryness or jitteriness.
- Eye Drops/Prescriptions: Your surgeon may prescribe antibiotic or lubricating eye drops before the procedure. Use them exactly as directed.
What Happens Before LASIK Eye Surgery?
Lasik eye surgery is a final resort after a thorough eye examination to determine your vision and the thickness of your cornea, as well as advice on your overall eye health.
Your physician will then take you through your medical history, explain the procedure, and give you preoperative instructions (like not wearing contact lenses for a few days before).
Steps Involved in the Lasik Eye Surgery Procedure
Lasik (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a sophisticated and precise surgical procedure that aims to correct refractive vision problems by reshaping the cornea.
Here's an overview of the steps involved in a typical Lasik eye Surgery procedure:
- Anesthetic Eye Drops: On the day of the surgery, you'll be given numbing eye drops to ensure you're comfortable during the procedure. You'll be awake, but your eyes will be numb, minimizing any discomfort.
- Creating the Corneal Flap: The surgeon uses a specialized instrument (microkeratome or femtosecond laser) to create a thin protective flap on the outermost layer of the cornea. The flap is lifted in a gentle manner to reveal the corneal tissue underneath.
- Reshaping the Cornea: A computer-controlled excimer laser is used to precisely reshape the corneal tissue based on your specific refractive error. The laser removes microscopic layers of tissue, altering the curvature of the cornea to correct the focusing of light onto the retina.
- Flap Replacement: After the cornea is reshaped, the protective flap is carefully repositioned. The natural adhesion of the flap generally eliminates the need for stitches.
- Healing and Recovery: The cornea's ability to heal quickly is one of the remarkable aspects of Lasik. Most patients notice a swift improvement in vision after the procedure, although there may be some initial blurriness or discomfort. Your surgeon will provide instructions for post-operative care, including the use of medicated eye drops and protective eyewear.
Who Will Perform the LASIK Eye Surgery Procedure?
Lasik eye Surgery is typically performed by an ophthalmologist who specializes in refractive surgery. Ophthalmologists are specialized medical professionals who diagnose and treat various eye conditions and diseases, as well as perform eye surgeries.
Within the field of ophthalmology, there are subspecialists, and refractive surgeons are those who focus on vision correction procedures such as Lasik.
Recovery after the Lasik Eye Surgery Procedure
Recovery after Lasik eye Surgery is generally swift and well-tolerated, but it's essential to follow your surgeon's post-operative instructions to ensure the best outcomes. Here's a general overview of what to expect during the recovery period:
You might have some slight discomfort, blurriness, and dryness right after the surgery, but that subsides in a couple of days. You'll be required to use prescribed eye drops, refrain from rubbing your eyes, and attend follow-up visits to track your healing and achieve the best results.
The First Few Days
- Rest: Give your eyes ample rest in the first 24 to 48 hours. It's important to limit the amount of time you spend on screens, reading and other activities that can cause strain on your eyes.
- Prescribed Eye Drops: Follow your surgeon's instructions for using prescribed eye drops. These drops help with healing and prevent infection.
- Protective Eyewear: Use any protective eyewear provided by your surgeon, especially at night, to prevent accidental rubbing.
- Avoid Makeup: Avoid using makeup around the eyes for a few days to minimize the risk of infection or irritation.
First Week
- Follow-Up Appointments: Ensure that you attend all scheduled follow-up appointments with your surgeon to allow them to track your healing progress and address any questions or worries you might have.
- Mild Discomfort: Some mild discomfort, dryness, and fluctuations in vision are normal during the initial days, but these should improve over time.
- Avoid Strenuous Activities: Refrain from strenuous physical activities, swimming, hot tubs, and activities that might introduce contaminants to your eyes for at least a week.
Longer-Term Recovery
- Gradual Improvement: Most patients experience significant vision improvement in the days following the surgery, with continued improvement over the following weeks.
- Resume Normal Activities: You can typically resume regular daily activities within a few days, but avoid activities that could put your eyes at risk or strain them excessively.
- Follow Instructions: Continue to use prescribed eye drops as directed and follow any other post-operative care instructions provided by your surgeon.
- Protect Your Eyes: Wear sunglasses with UV protection when outdoors, and consider wearing protective eyewear for sports or activities that could impact your eyes.
- Attend Follow-Up Appointments: Continue attending follow-up appointments as recommended by your surgeon to ensure your eyes are healing as expected.
Lifestyle Changes after laser treatment for the eyes Procedure
After Lasik Eye Surgery, many individuals experience a significant improvement in their vision, reducing or even eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses.
While the procedure itself doesn't require drastic lifestyle changes, there are a few considerations to keep in mind to ensure a smooth recovery and maintain the benefits of the surgery:
- Eye Protection: While your eyes are healing, it's crucial to avoid activities that could expose your eyes to potential harm or irritants. It is important to wear protective eyewear during sports and other activities that may result in eye injury.
- Sunglasses: Invest in high-quality sunglasses with UV protection. Your eyes may be more sensitive to light in the early weeks after surgery, and UV protection helps prevent damage from sunlight.
- Avoid Rubbing Eyes: Resisting the urge to rub your eyes is essential during the healing period. Rubbing can disrupt the healing process and increase the risk of complications.
- Eye Drops: Follow your surgeon's instructions regarding the use of prescribed eye drops. These drops may be necessary to promote healing and prevent dryness.
- Limit Screen Time: During the initial days of recovery, it's important to take regular breaks from screens. Excessive screen time can lead to fatigue and dryness in the eyes.
- Follow-Up Appointments: Make sure to participate in all the scheduled follow-up appointments with your surgeon. These sessions are crucial for your surgeon to track your recovery and address any questions or concerns you may have.
- Hygiene: Maintain good eye hygiene to reduce the risk of infection. Follow the guidelines provided by your surgeon for cleaning your eyes and avoiding potential contaminants.
- Regular Checkups: Even though your vision may be significantly improved, continue to schedule regular eye exams with your eye care professional. Routine eye checkups are essential for overall eye health.
- Healthy Lifestyle: Adopting a healthy lifestyle can indirectly benefit your eye health. Proper nutrition, staying hydrated, managing chronic conditions, and avoiding smoking can all contribute to maintaining good eye health.
What are the benefits of LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK Eye Surgery offers several important advantages, making it one of the most popular vision correction procedures worldwide:
- Improved Vision: Most patients achieve 20/25 vision or better, reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses.
- Quick Results: Vision improvement is often noticeable within 24-48 hours after surgery.
- Fast Procedure & Recovery: The surgery itself takes about 15 minutes for both eyes, and recovery is typically rapid compared to other surgeries.
- Long-Term Results: Once your prescription is stable, the results are usually permanent, though age-related vision changes (like presbyopia) may still occur later in life.
- Enhanced Lifestyle: Many patients enjoy more freedom for sports, swimming, outdoor activities, and daily routines without glasses or contacts.
What are the risks and complications of LASIK Eye Surgery?
Although LASIK is considered safe, complications may occur in some cases. Serious risks are rare but can include:
- Infection or Inflammation: Though uncommon, infection or corneal inflammation may require treatment with antibiotics or additional procedures.
- Flap Complications: Problems with the corneal flap (wrinkles, displacement, or irregular healing) can affect vision quality.
- Overcorrection or Undercorrection: The laser may remove too little or too much corneal tissue, requiring a follow-up "enhancement" surgery.
- Regression: In some patients, vision may gradually shift back toward the original prescription over time.
- Vision Loss (Rare): Extremely rare but possible if severe complications occur.
What are the side effects of LASIK Eye Surgery?
Most LASIK surgery side effects are temporary and improve within days to weeks as the eyes heal:
- Dry Eyes: One of the most common laser eye surgery side effects, often managed with artificial tears or prescribed lubricating drops.
- Glare, Halos, and Starbursts: Especially noticeable at night around lights, but typically fade over time.
- Light Sensitivity (Photosensitivity): Eyes may be more sensitive to sunlight and bright lights in the first few weeks.
- Fluctuating Vision: Blurriness or variable clarity is normal during the healing phase.
- Need for Glasses in Some Cases: Some patients may still require glasses for certain activities (e.g., reading fine print, night driving, or age-related vision changes).
How Much Does Lasik Surgery Cost In India?
The cost of LASIK eye surgery in India depends on the type of procedure and city:
- Basic LASIK: Rs. 20,000 - Rs. 40,000 per eye
- Custom/Wavefront LASIK: Rs. 40,000 - Rs. 70,000 per eye
- Bladeless/Femto LASIK: Rs. 65,000 - Rs. 1,20,000 per eye
- Contoura Vision / Topography-Guided LASIK: Rs. 80,000 - Rs. 1,50,000 per eye
- SMILE surgery: Rs. 80,000 - Rs. 1,60,000 per eye
In metro cities like Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, prices are usually on the higher side due to advanced technology and reputed surgeons.
Always check if the quoted price includes tests, post-op eye drops, and follow-ups.
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