Laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses (LASIK) also called Laser Vision Correction is the best-known eye surgery as an alternative to eyeglasses or contact lens.
The cornea is responsible for refracting light onto the retina at the back of the eye. However, conditions such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism, causes the light to bend incorrectly. This leads to blurring of vision, which is corrected by eyeglasses or lens.
LASIK surgery involves reshaping the cornea to correct the refraction of light. Thus, restore normal vision.
LASIK also called Laser Vision Correction is the best-known eye surgery for removal od spectacles. Conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism (blurred vision) get corrected, thus restoring normal vision
Before the LASIK surgery, the doctors generally study a topographic map of the eye. Hence it is important to get a Topography or a Pentacam test done for the Doctors to know the thickness of cornea, shape, thickness, contour, and any additional irregularities
Step 1 : The eye is anesthetized with topical eye drops Step 2 : The surgeon creates a corneal flap on the outer layer of the eye. It is cut and flipped open like a cover of a book Step 3 : An excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea Step 4 : The corneal flap is replaced like closing the cover of a book
The doctor may prescribe medications and/ or eye drops to dull the discomfort from the surgery. The vision is expected to be blurry immediately after the surgery, however, it improves over a period of 5-14 days as the eye heals.
Lasik is not recommended for anyone under the age of 18. Vision can change dramatically during the adolescent years. For this reason, results of Lasik may be temporary or unpredictable.
LASIK procedure will depend on how old you are when you have progressive eye conditions. We can help you connect to Doctor(s) with high success rate to get their best opinion.
The best suitable technique is usually suggested by an expert based on various factors-cornea thickness, cornea surface, pupil diameter, exact spectacle power, budget, age or any other health condition
NO- all the Lasik surgeries are meant to correct the refractive errors in the cornea to finally correct the Vision problems such as Near-sightedness, Farsightedness and Astigmatism (Blurry vision)
The recovery time would depend on the kind of Lasik surgery performed on your eyes, while PRK has the longest recovery period of 7-14 days, the After a conventional Lasik, you may be required to take rest for 5-7 days whereas use of Femto Laser (excimer beams) can reduce it to 5-6 days. Contoura has the shortest one for just 72 hrs
The price quoted for any kind of Lasik is always for both the eyes
Because it’s considered an cosmetic procedure, LASIK isn’t covered by most insurance companies. However, the eligibility would depend on two variables here : A)Terms of the policy be it Individual or Corporate , and B) the eye power as per the latest report.
Medfin can connect you to an expert who can analyse the type of Lasik suitable for you and apply for Insurance through the respective Insurance Desk based on the facts. Ultimately, it depends on your TPA to approve reject the request
You won’t have to wear your glasses or contacts anymore after you have LASIK, however, Lasik procedure can’t stop eye changes that are part of the normal aging process. At a later stage of life, you might need reading glasses, because of the changes in the vision
No - LASIK surgery involves reshaping the cornea to correct the refraction of light, this is done with the help of excimer beams
Anyone is good to go for a lasik after 7 days of vaccination, irrespective of the type of vaccine or whether it was first / second or the booster doze
Anyone who wears contact lens should stop wearing the same for a week before going for Topography scans as the report may not come out accurate due to the pressure on the cornea
PRK has the highest recovery time of around 7-10 days, whereas anyone is good to be back to work in 3-5 days in case of other procedures
1.Overview: It is an outpatient procedure, where the doctor numbs the eyes with anesthetic drops and uses a laser, brush, blade or alcohol to the remove the epithelium or the outer layer of the cornea. The laser reshapes the cornea and then the surgeon puts a contact lens over the eye to act as bandage.
2. Snapshots:
Procedure Type: LASER
Anesthesia: Anesthetic eye drops
Hospitalization: Day care
Procedure time: 20-30 minutes
Recovery Time: 1-2 weeks
3. Post-Surgical Care:
•Follow your doctor’s instructions and take the prescribed eye drops to prevent infection, fight pain and aid healing
•Wear sunglasses outside as sun exposure can scar the cornea after surgery
•Take rest, avoid strenuous physical activities
•Stay away from products that may irritate the eye
4. Advantages of this Procedure: PRK may be a suitable option for people not good fit for LASIK. It may be better than LASIK for athletes and can achieve same long-term benefits as LASIK. You can achieve great vision without wearing glasses/contacts. However, glasses may be required for reading, nightime activities or as vision declines with age.
The patient considering LASIK must consider the cost of the surgery. Many insurance companies may not cover the expense of the surgery. This then could be an expense from the patient's pocket.
It is an outpatient procedure, where the patient, once stable, is sent back home. Arranging for someone to accompany the person undergoing the procedure is essential.
Immediately after the surgery the patient is expected to experience the effect of the medications and still have blurry vision.
A few days before the surgery the doctor will instruct the patient how to take care of the eye and prepare it for the surgery. The general recommendations include avoiding:
Makeup
Creams
Lotions
Perfumes
Before and after undergoing the procedure.
The doctor may also instruct to daily clean the eyelashes, a few days before the surgery. This is to ensure the removal of any kind of accumulated debris and cut down the risk of infection.
Other important directives before the procedure:
The doctor before deciding whether it's a preferred procedure for the concerned patient does a thorough evaluation. This increases the chances of the long-term success of the correction addressed by the surgery.
Once decided, the patient is advised to completely stop using contact lenses and only wear glasses until the day of surgery. This is even for the duration of a thorough evaluation, followed by surgery.
The doctor does a thorough evaluation of medical and surgical history if any. Following are the signs the doctor evaluates to ensure the safety of the procedure:
Dry eyes
Eye infection
Inflammation
Large pupils
High eye pressure
Other evaluations include:
The thickness of cornea, shape, thickness, contour, and any additional irregularities.
The locations and exact expanse on the cornea that needs reshaping
Before the LASIK surgery, the doctors generally study a topographic map of the eye. The most commonly used technique used to generate this map is wavefront-guided technology. The accuracy of the measurements made allows the doctor to remove the exact amount of corneal tissue required for the correction.
Depending on these evaluations made before the surgery, the doctor communicates the benefits and risks involved in the procedure. The doctor also addresses the additional doubts the patient may have.
1.Overview: Conventional LASIK uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea so it can refract light properly, restoring clear vision.
2.Snapshots:
Procedure Type: Blade Lasik
Anesthesia: Anesthetic eye drops
Hospitalization: day care
Procedure time: 35-40 minutes
Recovery Time: up to 1 week
3. Post-Surgical Care:
- Follow your doctor’s instructions and take the prescribed eye drops to prevent infection, fight pain and aid healing
- Wear sunglasses outside as sun exposure can scar the cornea after surgery
- Take rest, avoid strenuous physical activities
- Stay away from products that may irritate the eye
4. Advantages of this Procedure: Highly effective for lower vision aberrations, like myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. It is safe, painless and presents minimal discomfort. It helps people achieve 20/20 vision.
The procedure is carried out on a reclining chair and the patient may be given a sedative before the procedure. The LASIK procedure is generally completed in 30 minutes or even less.
The patient is then given local anesthesia. The doctor immobilizes with an instrument to hold back the eyelids in position to keep the eye open during the procedure.
A flap of the cornea is now cut and held by a suction ring in position on the eye. The patient may feel pressure and experience the vision going dim.
The small-hinged flap is cut from the front of the eye, using either a blade or a cutting laser. This allows the doctor to access the part of the corneal that requires reshaping.
The surgeon uses a programmed laser to reshape the cornea in identified locations of the cornea. Each pulse of the beam of the laser removes a small amount of corneal tissue. Once the reshaping is completed, the surgeon positions the flap back into position. This flap usually does not need stitches.
During the procedure, the doctor may ask to look at a point. This helps in keeping the eye from moving while the laser reshapes the cornea. The removal of the corneal tissue releases a distinct odor.
If LASIK is being considered for both the eye, it generally is performed on the same day.
1.Overview: The initial cut into the cornea is done using laser, which creates a flap. The second laser uses an excimer system to reshape the exposed corneal tissue (called stroma).
2.Snapshots:
- Procedure Type: Femto LASER
- Anesthesia: Topical anesthetic drops
- Hospitalization: Day care
- Procedure time: 30-45 minutes
- Recovery Time: up to 6 days
3.Post-Surgical Care:
- Wear an eye shield for a day or 2 to prevent scratching/running of the eye and dislodging the flap
- Do not miss the follow-up appointment with your doctor
- Take the prescribed eye drops and use them as instructed
- Avoid lotions, creams and cosmetics for 2 weeks after surgery
- Limit activities like non-contact sports and strenuous activities
- Avoid swimming or hot tub use for 1-2 weeks
4.Advantages of this Procedure: Fewer risks of complications during the procedure, thinner flaps and greater stability to the cornea over time.
Immediately after the surgery, the patient may have a burning sensation or an itch. A little pain is expected.
The doctor may prescribe medications and/ or eye drops to dull the discomfort from the surgery. The doctor may recommend the wear of protective eyeglasses until the eye heals from the surgery.
The vision is expected to be blurry immediately after the surgery. It improves over a period of two to three months as the eye heals. The clarity of vision after the surgery, to a certain extent, is also dependent on how the clear vision was before surgery.
The patient has advised a regular checkup schedule for six months after the surgery, to ascertain healing, recovery, and clarity of vision.
For ladies, they will have to wait for up to a couple of weeks before they can resume wearing cosmetics. This applies to rigorous contact sports as well. The doctor may also advise against the use of hot tubs.
It is advised to stick to the doctor's recommendation to resume daily activities.
1.Overview: The surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to create a small, lens-shaped bit of tissue (lenticule) within the cornea. With the same laser, a small arc-shaped incision is made in the surface of the cornea. The surgeon then extracts the lenticule through the cut and discards it. The shape of the cornea is altered, correcting nearsightedness.
2.Snapshots:
- Procedure Type: Smile LASER
- Anesthesia: Topical anesthetic eye drops
- Hospitalization: day care
- Procedure time: 15 minutes
- Recovery Time: up to 1 week
3.Post-Surgical Care:
- Do not rub the eyes for at least 3 months after surgery
- Wear high-quality sunglasses with 100% UV protection for a week regularly
- Avoid smoky, dusty areas, including dirt roads, campfires
- Do not miss the follow-up appointments and do not drive for at least 24 hours after surgery
- Apply no makeup and avoid heavy reading for a few days to prevent stress on the eyes
4.Advantages of this Procedure: The corneal incision heals within a few days without stitches and sharper vision occurs very quickly. There is less risk of dry eye symptoms after SMILE. SMILE also leads to better biochemical stability and there’s less risk of needing additional procedure after SMILE. It is a quick, painless, bladeless and minimally invasive procedure.
1.Overview: It is a computer-aided topographic mapping method, that maps microscopic contours on the clear front of the eye (that’s the cornea). It cures the anomalies of the curvature of the cornea as well as optics. This treatment is based on virtual axis of the eye.
2.Snapshots:
- Procedure Type: Contoura LASER
- Anesthesia: Anesthetic eye drops
- Hospitalisation: Day care
- Procedure time: 15-20 minutes
- Recovery Time: up t0 5 days
3.Post-Surgical Care:
- Do not drive until your vision gets clear and you’re feeling fit for driving
- Do not exercise for 1-2 weeks, or swim for at least 15 days
- Engage in contact sports only after a month, that too, with protective glasses
4.Advantages of this Procedure: Better, sharper visual outcomes than SMILE and LASIK. Contoura means no blade, pain, stitches, injections, bandage or hospitalization. It can correct the corneal irregularities besides working on visual axis. Quickest recovery.
3 Unit Bridge
ACL Reconsctruction
Fissure
Fistula
Gallbladder stone surgery
PCL Reconsctruction
Total Knee Replacement
Uterine Fibroid Embolization
