What is Lasik eye surgery?

LASIK (Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery is a laser refractive surgery which uses a special cutting laser to accurately change the shape of dome-shaped clear tissue at the front of your eyes (cornea), thereby correcting the vision problems.

Why is Lasik surgery done?

LASIK surgery may be recommended if you have the following vision problems:

Myopia (Nearsightedness): In this type of condition you will be able to clearly see the objects which are closer to you, but not the objects that are far away from you. This occurs when you have a longer eyeball or when the cornea is too sharply curved which leads the light rays to focus in front of the retina and blur distant vision. 

Hyperopia (Farsightedness): This condition makes a blurry near vision and sometimes the distant vision. This happens when you have a shorter than average eyeball or when the cornea that is too flat which leads the light to focus behind the retina instead of on it. 

Astigmatism: This condition disrupts the focus of both the near and distant vision which occurs when your cornea curves or flattens unevenly.

How is it done, the LASIK surgery?

The surgeon will numb your eyes and will use an instrument to hold your eyelids open during the procedure. Then a small hinged flap is folded away from the front of your eyes by using a cutting laser, which improves accessibility for your surgeon to reshape your cornea by using a programmed laser. After the procedure, the surgeon lays the flap back in position, which will usually heal without stitches. The surgery is usually performed in less than 30 minutes. After the surgery, your doctor will prescribe you pain medication or eyedrop to make you comfortable for several hours. The vision won’t be clear soon after the surgery. It takes approximately two to three months for your eyes to heal and stabilize after the procedure. You might be able to lead your normal activities without using the eyeglasses or contact lenses.

How much does LASIK procedure cost?

In India, the cost of LASIK surgery varies from INR 20,000 to INR 90,000.