LASIK Eye Surgery — Spectacle Removal
Fifteen minutes for both eyes, painless, and most people are seeing clearly by the next morning. Our ophthalmologists offer LASIK, Femto-LASIK, SMILE and PRK — and, just as importantly, will tell you honestly if your corneas are not suitable. Not everyone is a candidate, and a proper screening is what keeps results excellent.
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What is Lasik Eye Surgery?
LASIK reshapes the cornea — the clear front window of the eye — so that light focuses precisely on the retina instead of in front of it or behind it. In a myopic eye the cornea is flattened slightly; in a hyperopic eye it is steepened; in astigmatism its irregular curvature is smoothed. The reshaping is done with an excimer laser, in a procedure that takes seconds per eye.
The technique creates a thin flap in the outer cornea, folds it back, applies the laser to the tissue underneath, and lays the flap back down, where it seals without stitches. The flap is what makes LASIK so comfortable and so fast to recover from — most patients see well enough to function the next morning. In Femto-LASIK the flap is made with a second laser instead of a blade, which gives a more uniform and predictable flap. In SMILE, no flap is made at all: a small lens-shaped piece of tissue is cut inside the cornea by laser and drawn out through a keyhole incision of two to four millimetres.
The results are genuinely excellent — the overwhelming majority of suitable patients achieve 6/6 vision or better. But the phrase carrying the weight in that sentence is suitable patients, and the honest version of this page is mostly about who is not.
Not everyone can have LASIK, and a good clinic will turn people away. The screening looks for corneas that are too thin to remove tissue from safely, for keratoconus or a tendency towards it — a condition where the cornea progressively thins and bulges, which laser surgery would accelerate dangerously — for a spectacle number that is still changing, for significant dry eye, and for other eye disease. A corneal topography scan is the central test, and any clinic offering you surgery without one is not screening you properly. If you are declined, that is the screening working. And if your corneas are unsuitable, an implantable collamer lens (ICL) often achieves the same goal by a different route.
One expectation that must be set plainly, because it disappoints more patients than any other: LASIK does not prevent presbyopia. Somewhere after the age of forty, the natural lens inside the eye stiffens and everybody loses the ability to focus up close. That happens inside the eye, not at the cornea, and no laser touches it. If you have LASIK at 30, you will still need reading glasses in your mid-forties, exactly like everyone else. Anyone implying otherwise is selling rather than informing.
Treatment information
| Condition | Refractive Error — Myopia, Hyperopia, Astigmatism |
|---|---|
| Procedure | LASIK / Femto-LASIK / SMILE Laser Vision Correction |
| Duration | 10 to 15 minutes for both eyes |
| Treated by | Ophthalmologist / Refractive Surgeon |
| Anaesthesia | Anaesthetic eye drops only |
| Success rate | 95–99% achieve 6/6 or better |
| Recovery time | 24 to 48 hours for functional vision |
| Hospital stay | Daycare — home within 2 hours |
Signs you may need Lasik Eye Surgery treatment
- Blurred distance vision, needing to squint to read signs or a board
- Dependence on spectacles or contact lenses for daily activity
- Headaches or eye strain after prolonged reading or screen work
- Difficulty driving at night, with glare and haloes around lights
- Contact lens intolerance, dryness or repeated infections
- Spectacles fogging, slipping or being impractical for sport and fieldwork
- Occupational restrictions — some services and roles have uncorrected vision standards
- Double vision or shadowing from significant astigmatism
- A spectacle number that has been stable for at least a year — the signal you are ready to be assessed
What causes it?
- Myopia — the eyeball is too long, or the cornea too steep, so light focuses in front of the retina
- Hyperopia — the eyeball is too short, or the cornea too flat, so light focuses behind the retina
- Astigmatism — the cornea is curved unevenly, like a rugby ball rather than a football
- Genetic predisposition; refractive error runs strongly in families
- Prolonged near work and reduced outdoor time during childhood, both linked to rising myopia
- Progressive elongation of the eye during the growing years
Who is more likely to be affected
- A parent or sibling with significant refractive error
- Extended near work and screen time, particularly in childhood and adolescence
- Limited time outdoors during the growth years
- Prematurity and low birth weight
- Diabetes, which causes fluctuating refraction
- A family history of keratoconus — relevant not as a cause of refractive error but as a reason LASIK may be unsafe
When to see a doctor immediately
- A spectacle number that has been stable for at least twelve months and you want to be assessed
- Contact lens intolerance, recurrent irritation or infection
- Vision that keeps deteriorating year on year despite a new prescription
- Increasing glare and haloes at night
- Occupational vision requirements you need to meet
- Any family history of keratoconus, before considering laser surgery
- Sudden vision loss, flashes, floaters or a curtain across the vision — this is an emergency, not a LASIK question
- Persistent eye pain, redness or discharge
How it is diagnosed
Refraction, including cycloplegic refraction
Your exact prescription is measured, and repeated after dilating drops that temporarily relax the focusing muscle. Cycloplegic refraction reveals the true refractive error without the eye's own focusing effort masking part of it — which matters enormously in younger patients.
Corneal topography and tomography
The single most important screening test. It maps the curvature and thickness of the cornea across its whole surface and detects keratoconus or any early tendency towards it. Laser surgery on a cornea with subclinical keratoconus can cause progressive bulging and serious vision loss, so this scan is what makes the procedure safe. Never accept surgery without it.
Pachymetry — corneal thickness
Measures how thick the cornea is. Every dioptre of correction consumes tissue, so thickness sets a hard limit on how much correction can safely be done. A thin cornea with a high number may make LASIK unsafe while still allowing SMILE, PRK or an ICL.
Dry eye assessment
Tear film quality and volume are measured, because LASIK temporarily worsens dry eye and pre-existing dryness predicts a more uncomfortable recovery. Significant dry eye is treated first rather than ignored.
Pupil size measurement in dim light
Large pupils in the dark are associated with more night glare and haloes after surgery. Measuring this in advance allows the treatment zone to be planned and your expectations set honestly.
Dilated retinal examination
Highly myopic eyes carry a higher risk of retinal thinning, holes and detachment. The retina is examined in full before surgery, and any weak areas are treated with laser first. LASIK does not change this underlying risk, which is why the examination continues to matter afterwards.
Contact lens holiday
Lenses reshape the cornea and distort the measurements. Soft lenses are stopped for about a week and rigid lenses for two to four weeks before the assessment, so the scans reflect your true corneal shape.
How the options compare
| Feature | LASIK / Femto-LASIK | SMILE |
|---|---|---|
| Corneal flap | Yes — flap created and folded back | No flap; 2–4 mm keyhole incision |
| Visual recovery | Very fast — often next morning | Fast, sometimes a day slower |
| Dry eye afterwards | More common | Less common — fewer nerves cut |
| Flap displacement risk | Small but lifelong with trauma | None |
| Suitable for contact sport or armed services | Less ideal | Better suited |
| Treats hyperopia | Yes | Limited availability |
| High astigmatism | Well established | Good, with some limits |
| Enhancement if needed | Flap can be lifted easily | Requires a surface procedure |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
Types of treatment
Non-surgical correction
Spectacles
Safe, reversible and effective, with no surgical risk at all. For anyone whose number is still changing, who is under 18, or who simply prefers not to have surgery, this remains an entirely sound choice rather than a fallback.
Contact lenses
Give a wider field of view than spectacles and suit sport well. They carry a small but real risk of corneal infection, particularly with poor hygiene or overnight wear, and many people become intolerant of them over the years — which is one of the commonest reasons for considering LASIK.
Laser vision correction
LASIK
The established procedure. A microkeratome creates a corneal flap, the excimer laser reshapes the tissue beneath, and the flap is repositioned without stitches. Fast, comfortable and highly predictable in suitable eyes.
Femto-LASIK (bladeless)
The flap is created by a femtosecond laser rather than a blade, giving a flap of more uniform and predictable thickness. This is safer in thinner corneas and is now the default at most good centres.
Contoura Vision / topography-guided LASIK
The treatment is guided by a detailed map of thousands of points on your own cornea, correcting subtle irregularities as well as the spectacle number. Often produces sharper quality of vision, particularly for patients with higher-order aberrations or night vision complaints.
SMILE
A flapless technique. A femtosecond laser cuts a small lens-shaped piece of tissue inside the cornea, which is removed through a 2 to 4 mm incision. Preserves more corneal nerves, so dry eye is less of a problem, and there is no flap to displace — which makes it attractive for contact sports and the armed services.
PRK / Trans-PRK
The surface layer is removed and the laser applied directly to the corneal surface, with no flap at all. The recovery is slower and more uncomfortable — three to five days of significant discomfort — but it is the safest choice in thin corneas and for people in high-impact occupations.
Lens-based options
Implantable collamer lens (ICL)
A soft lens is implanted inside the eye, in front of the natural lens, with no corneal tissue removed at all. The answer for very high numbers, thin corneas and patients disqualified from laser surgery. It is reversible, gives excellent optical quality, costs more, and involves entering the eye rather than working on its surface.
Refractive lens exchange
The natural lens is replaced with an artificial one, as in cataract surgery. Considered in older patients with high refractive error, particularly where early lens changes are already present, and it addresses presbyopia at the same time.
What happens, step by step
- 1
Screening and candidacy assessment
2–3 hours- Contact lenses stopped in advance so the cornea returns to its true shape
- Full refraction, including a cycloplegic refraction after dilating drops
- Corneal topography, tomography and thickness measurement
- Dry eye assessment, pupil measurement and a dilated retinal examination
- An honest conversation about which technique suits you — or whether none of them do
- 2
Counselling and consent
30 minutes- Realistic outcomes explained, including the possibility of needing glasses for some tasks
- Presbyopia explained clearly — reading glasses will still be needed after about 40
- Night glare, haloes and temporary dry eye discussed openly
- Full cost including follow-up and medication given in writing
- 3
The procedure
10–15 minutes for both eyes- Anaesthetic drops only — no injection and no general anaesthesia
- A lid holder keeps the eye open; you look at a fixation light throughout
- The flap is created, or in SMILE the lenticule is cut inside the cornea
- The excimer laser reshapes the cornea — typically 10 to 30 seconds per eye
- The flap is repositioned, or the lenticule withdrawn through the keyhole incision
- No stitches, no bandage in most cases; protective shields are given for sleeping
- 4
Immediate recovery
1–2 hours- Rest with the eyes closed for a while after the procedure
- Vision is hazy at first and clears substantially within hours
- Watering, grittiness and light sensitivity for four to six hours are normal
- Discharge home the same day with a drop schedule and protective shields
- Review the next morning, when most patients are already seeing well
How to prepare
- Stop soft contact lenses about a week before the assessment, and rigid lenses two to four weeks — lenses distort the measurements
- Bring your spectacle prescription records from the last two years so stability can be confirmed
- Tell your surgeon about dry eye, previous eye injury, or any family history of keratoconus
- Report autoimmune conditions and any medication, including isotretinoin for acne
- Do not use eye make-up, perfume, aftershave or hair spray on the day
- Eat normally — only anaesthetic drops are used, so there is no fasting
- Arrange someone to drive you home; you must not drive on the day
- Take two to three days off work, and plan a screen-light first week
Why patients choose this procedure
Spectacle independence for distance
The great majority of suitable patients achieve 6/6 vision or better and no longer need glasses or lenses for driving, work and sport.
Quick and painless
Ten to fifteen minutes for both eyes, under anaesthetic drops only. Patients consistently report pressure and awareness rather than pain.
Rapid visual recovery
Most people see well enough to function the next morning and return to desk work within two to three days.
No more contact lens problems
The daily routine, the recurring cost, the dryness and the risk of corneal infection from lens wear all end.
Stable, lasting results
In eyes with a stable prescription before surgery, the correction holds well over the long term.
Practical freedom
Sport, swimming, travel, fieldwork and shift work all become simpler — and for some occupations with uncorrected vision standards, it is what makes the job possible.
Possible risks and side effects
Dry eye
The commonest side effect. Corneal nerves are cut during the procedure and take months to regenerate, so the eye signals tear production less effectively. Almost everyone has some dryness for weeks to months; lubricating drops manage it, and SMILE causes less of it than LASIK.
Night glare and haloes
Rings around lights and starbursts when driving at night, most noticeable in the first months and usually settling. More likely with large pupils and higher corrections, which is why pupil size is measured before surgery.
Under-correction or over-correction
The result may not land exactly on target, leaving a small residual number. An enhancement procedure can usually be done after the prescription stabilises, and is straightforward where a flap can be lifted.
Regression
Some of the correction can drift back over years, particularly after high corrections. It is uncommon in eyes whose prescription was genuinely stable before surgery, which is why twelve months of stability is insisted upon.
Flap complications
Wrinkles, displacement or debris under the flap. Uncommon, and treatable if identified early. The flap never regains full original strength, so a significant blow to the eye years later can still displace it — the reason SMILE or PRK is preferred for boxing, martial arts and the armed services.
Corneal ectasia
The most serious complication — progressive thinning and bulging of the cornea, causing significant vision loss. It is rare, and it is precisely what the topography screening exists to prevent by excluding eyes with thin corneas or subclinical keratoconus. This is why the screening is not a formality.
Infection or inflammation
Rare, and managed with intensive drops. Following the post-operative drop schedule exactly and keeping water out of the eyes for the first two weeks matters.
Presbyopia is unaffected
Not a complication but a certainty, and the most common source of disappointment. LASIK corrects the cornea; presbyopia happens in the natural lens inside the eye. You will need reading glasses after your mid-forties regardless.
What recovery looks like
Recovery after LASIK is among the fastest in surgery. Most patients are functioning normally within a day or two — but the drops and the eye protection matter for considerably longer than the discomfort does.
Day 0: vision is hazy immediately after the procedure and clears substantially over the following hours. Expect watering, grittiness and light sensitivity for four to six hours. Go home and sleep — sleeping through the first evening is the easiest way to pass this phase. Wear the protective shields and do not rub the eyes under any circumstances.
Day 1: the first review. Most patients are already seeing 6/6 or close to it and are astonished by the change. The drop schedule begins in earnest: antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and lubricating drops, each on its own timetable. Set alarms — this is the part people get wrong.
Days 2 to 7: return to desk work at two to three days for most. Vision may fluctuate through the day, which is normal. Keep water out of the eyes: no swimming, no splashing water on the face, and no rubbing. Wear the shields at night for a week so you do not rub the eye in your sleep. Use lubricating drops generously and take deliberate screen breaks.
Weeks 2 to 4: eye make-up may usually be resumed after two weeks. Swimming, gym work and non-contact sport typically at two to four weeks on your surgeon's advice. Dryness and mild night glare are still common and improving.
Months 1 to 6: vision stabilises fully and dryness resolves as the corneal nerves regenerate. Night haloes settle progressively. Contact sport is avoided for at least a month after LASIK, and permanent protective eyewear is sensible for high-impact activity given the flap.
Contact your care coordinator immediately for severe eye pain, a sudden drop in vision, increasing redness or discharge, or the sensation that something has moved in the eye after a knock.
What to eat and what to avoid
Recommended
- Omega-3 rich foods — fish, walnuts, flaxseed — which genuinely help the tear film and post-LASIK dryness
- Vitamin A sources: carrots, sweet potato, spinach and other dark leafy greens
- Lutein and zeaxanthin from spinach, methi, corn and eggs
- Vitamin C and E from citrus, amla, nuts and seeds
- Zinc from pumpkin seeds, chana and cashews
- 2 to 3 litres of water daily — systemic hydration affects tear production
- Protein for tissue healing
Best avoided
- Smoking and smoky environments, which irritate a healing, dry ocular surface
- Alcohol in the first week, since it is dehydrating and worsens dry eye
- Dusty and windy environments for the first two weeks
- Long unbroken screen sessions — blink rate drops sharply and dryness worsens
- Swimming pools, sea water and steam rooms for at least two weeks
- Rubbing the eyes, at any point — this is the single most important restriction
Post-operative care, at no extra cost
- Diet and lifestyle consultation with a nutritionist
- Scheduled follow-up calls until you are fully recovered
- Free cab for the follow-up visit
- 24×7 access to your care coordinator for any concern
Lasik Eye Surgery treatment cost
₹45,000 – ₹1,60,000
Priced for both eyes together. The range depends on the technology — standard LASIK, bladeless Femto-LASIK, Contoura Vision or SMILE — your corneal measurements, the surgeon and the city. Be aware that laser vision correction is treated as an elective, non-medical procedure by virtually every health insurer in India and is not covered. No-cost EMI is available, and our coordinator will give you the full cost including all follow-up visits and medication in writing before you book, so there are no surprises.
Inside the care journey
Lasik Eye Surgery — your questions answered
No. Anaesthetic drops numb the eye completely, and patients report pressure and awareness rather than pain during the procedure, which lasts around ten to fifteen minutes for both eyes. For four to six hours afterwards the eyes water, feel gritty and dislike bright light — most people simply sleep through this. By the next morning the discomfort has gone. PRK is the exception: it involves three to five days of genuine discomfort, which is why it is reserved for specific situations.