LASIK Surgery
What is LASIK Surgery?
LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) surgery is a popular refractive procedure to correct vision problems like nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism by reshaping the cornea with a laser, reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. In India, LASIK is performed in ophthalmology departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Since we’ve discussed related eye procedures like keratoconus cross-linking and IOL implantation, this overview complements that context. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) is essential for patients in India to make informed decisions.
Why do you need LASIK Surgery?
LASIK surgery is indicated for:
- Refractive errors:
- Myopia: Nearsightedness (-1 to -12 diopters, depending on corneal thickness).
- Hyperopia: Farsightedness (+1 to +6 diopters).
- Astigmatism: Irregular corneal shape (up to 6 diopters).
- Stable vision:
- Prescription unchanged for at least 1 year; typically for ages 18–40.
- Healthy eyes:
- No corneal diseases (e.g., keratoconus), severe dry eyes, or other contraindications (e.g., thin corneas, uncontrolled glaucoma).
- Goal:
- Improve vision to 6/6 or 6/9 (normal or near-normal) without glasses or contacts; enhance quality of life (e.g., for sports, convenience).
The procedure reshapes the cornea using an excimer laser to correct how light is focused on the retina, achieving clearer vision in 90–95% of cases.
Why Do LASIK Surgery Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹25,000 to ₹1 lakh per eye:
- Procedure Type: Standard LASIK (₹25,000–₹40,000); bladeless/custom LASIK (₹50,000–₹1 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS, ₹10,000–₹25,000, if offered).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced refractive surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Pre-op tests (e.g., topography, ₹3,000–₹5,000), medications (₹1,000–₹2,000), follow-up visits (₹500–₹1,000).
- Insurance: Rarely covered (cosmetic procedure); confirm with your provider.
LASIK Surgery Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Assessment:
- Corneal topography: Maps corneal shape and thickness (must be >480–500 microns).
- Refraction: Confirms prescription (e.g., myopia, astigmatism).
- Slit-lamp exam: Checks for dry eyes, corneal scars, or other abnormalities.
- Pachymetry: Measures corneal thickness.
- Pupil size: Large pupils (>6 mm) may increase risk of glare/halos.
- Blood tests: Not typically needed unless systemic conditions (e.g., diabetes) suspected.
- Medications: Stop contact lenses 1–2 weeks prior (to avoid corneal molding); antibiotic eye drops (e.g., moxifloxacin) 1 day pre-surgery.
- Consent: Risks, including dry eyes, are explained.
- Assessment:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Standard LASIK:
- Performed under topical anesthesia (e.g., proparacaine drops), lasting 10–15 minutes per eye.
- A femtosecond laser or microkeratome (blade) creates a thin corneal flap (100–150 microns thick).
- The flap is lifted to expose the corneal stroma.
- An excimer laser reshapes the stroma by removing precise amounts of tissue (e.g., flattens for myopia, steepens for hyperopia).
- The flap is repositioned, adhering naturally without stitches.
- Bladeless LASIK (Femto-LASIK):
- Uses only femtosecond laser for flap creation; more precise, slightly costlier.
- Custom LASIK (Wavefront-guided):
- Personalized laser treatment based on wavefront analysis (maps eye’s unique imperfections); reduces glare/halos.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Femtosecond laser: Creates corneal flap.
- Excimer laser: Reshapes cornea.
- Speculum: Keeps eyelids open.
- Standard LASIK:
- After Surgery:
- Observation: 30–60 minutes; same-day discharge.
- Eye care: Antibiotic drops (e.g., moxifloxacin) and steroid drops (e.g., prednisolone) for 1–2 weeks; artificial tears for dryness.
- Pain management: Mild discomfort or burning for 2–4 hours; managed with acetaminophen.
- Instructions: Avoid rubbing eyes, swimming, or makeup for 2 weeks; wear protective glasses for 1 week (esp. at night).
Recovery After LASIK Surgery
- Immediate Recovery: Same-day discharge; vision improves within 24–48 hours.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Vision: Clearer within 1–2 days; stabilizes in 1–3 months; 90–95% achieve 6/6 or 6/9 vision.
- Discomfort: Mild burning, tearing, or foreign body sensation for 2–4 hours; resolves by day 1.
- Eye care: Antibiotic/steroid drops for 1–2 weeks; artificial tears for 1–3 months (dryness common).
- Activity: Avoid rubbing eyes, swimming, or dusty environments for 2 weeks; normal activities (e.g., reading) in 1–2 days; driving in 2–3 days (if vision meets legal standards).
- Light sensitivity: Temporary for 1–2 days; sunglasses help.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, then 3–6 months to monitor vision and corneal healing.
- Refraction: Confirms final vision at 1–3 months.
Most resume normal activities in 1–2 days; full recovery takes 1–3 months. Success rate: 90–95% achieve target vision; 5–10% may need enhancement (repeat LASIK) for residual refractive error.
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Flap complications (1–2%): Flap displacement or wrinkles (microstriae); may need repositioning.
- Infection (<0.1%): Rare; treated with antibiotics, may lead to scarring.
- Under/Overcorrection (5–10%): Residual refractive error; may need glasses or enhancement.
- Post-Surgery:
- Dry eyes (20–30%): Common for 1–3 months; managed with artificial tears; severe cases rare.
- Glare/Halos (5–10%): Night vision issues, esp. with large pupils; usually improve in 3–6 months.
- Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK, 1–2%): Inflammation under the flap; treated with steroids.
- Epithelial ingrowth (<1%): Cells grow under the flap; may need flap lift and removal.
- Long-Term:
- Corneal ectasia (<0.1%): Rare; corneal bulging if too much tissue removed or undiagnosed keratoconus; may need cross-linking or transplant.
- Regression (2–5%): Vision changes over years; may need enhancement.
- Flap vulnerability: Flap can dislodge with trauma (e.g., eye injury) even years later.
Report severe pain, sudden vision loss, or redness promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is a candidate for LASIK?
Age 18–40, stable vision for 1 year, healthy eyes, and refractive errors within treatable range; not suitable for thin corneas, severe dry eyes, or keratoconus.
Can I avoid LASIK?
Yes, alternatives include glasses, contact lenses, or other refractive surgeries (e.g., PRK, SMILE, or IOL implantation for high refractive errors).
Is LASIK painful?
No, performed with anesthesia; mild discomfort for a few hours post-surgery, managed with medication.
How soon can I resume activities?
Light activities in 1–2 days; normal routines in 1 week; full recovery in 1–3 months.
Is LASIK covered by insurance in India?
Rarely, as it’s considered cosmetic; confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Severe pain, sudden vision loss, or increased redness.
Will I never need glasses after LASIK?
90–95% achieve 6/6 or 6/9 vision; some may need glasses for night driving or reading (esp. after age 40 due to presbyopia).
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Avoid rubbing eyes for 2 weeks, use prescribed drops, wear sunglasses for UV protection, avoid swimming for 2 weeks, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
LASIK surgery is a safe, effective procedure to correct refractive errors, offering quick recovery and high patient satisfaction. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable, expert care, though insurance coverage is limited. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult a refractive surgeon for personalized guidance and optimal outcomes.
Looking for Best Hospitals for LASIK Surgery
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Ahmedabad |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Ajmer |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Aligarh |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Allahabad |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Amritsar |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Aurangabad |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Bangalore |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Bareilly |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Belgaum |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Bhopal |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Bikaner |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Chandigarh |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Chennai |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Coimbatore |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Dehradun |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Delhi |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Dhanbad |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Durgapur |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Faridabad |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Ghaziabad |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Gorakhpur |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Guntur |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Gurgaon |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Guwahati |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Gwalior |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Hyderabad |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Indore |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Jabalpur |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Jaipur |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Jalandhar |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Jamshedpur |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Jodhpur |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Kanpur |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Kochi |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Kolkata |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Kollam |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Lucknow |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Ludhiana |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Madurai |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Mangalore |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Meerut |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Moradabad |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Mumbai |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Mysore |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Nagpur |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Nashik |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Noida |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Patna |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Pune |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Raipur |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Rajkot |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Ranchi |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Surat |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Thane |
30,000 |
1,00,000 |
Vadodara |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Varanasi |
20,000 |
90,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
25,000 |
95,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.