We know it can be frustrating to depend on glasses for almost every task, like reading, driving, working on a computer, or even recognising faces at a distance. Although many people consider contact lenses as an alternative to glasses, the discomfort, extra hassle, and fear of infections can’t be neglected.
So, what should one do? LASIK eye surgery can be a good option to get rid of glasses and be able to see clearly. But again, some common fears like post-surgery vision problems, errors occurring during the surgery, or the very thought of a laser going into the eye, make people somewhat reluctant, and they continue to bear the daily struggle.
If you are also thinking of LASIK eye surgery but still have some doubts, this blog is for you. Here, you will get everything you need to know about LASIK surgery – the procedure, fitness criteria, post-op recovery, hospitals offering the surgery, cost, and more.
That being said, let’s start with what LASIK surgery actually is and whether there is any reason to be afraid of it.
What is LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis is refractive surgery performed to correct vision problems like hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism. In this procedure, the surgeon uses a laser to reshape the cornea of your eyes and give you clear vision. It takes around 10-15 minutes to complete the procedure, and most patients see clearly within 24 hours of the surgery.
The idea of a laser being targeted at your eyes might be frightening at first, but during the surgery, you won’t feel anything in your eyes as they are numbed. Moreover, being a less invasive and quick procedure, patients may experience nothing more than mild discomfort after the surgery, which goes away within a few hours.
LASIK surgery has a 98.5% patient satisfaction rate, making it one of the most trusted refractive surgeries in the world.
To help you understand better, let’s have a look at how this surgery corrects three major types of refractive errors:
Myopia or Nearsightedness:
If you can see closer objects clearly but the distant ones appear blurry, you have myopia. In this condition, light falls in front of the retina instead of directly on it. It happens when your eyeball is longer than normal or the cornea curves too sharply.
During LASIK, the surgeon flattens the steep curve of your cornea using a laser. This helps the light fall onto the retina, giving you clear distant vision.
Hyperopia or Farsightedness:
If you can see distant objects clearly but closer objects appear blurry, it is called hyperopia. In this condition, the light falls behind your retina. This happens if your eyeballs are shorter than usual or the cornea is too flat.
During LASIK, the surgeon steepens the central part of the cornea, giving it the needed curve. This helps light fall properly onto the retina, restoring your close vision.
Astigmatism:
If your near, intermediate, and distant vision is blurry, you may have astigmatism. In this condition, the light scatters on multiple points of the retina instead of on a single point. It happens when your cornea is unevenly curved.
During LASIK, the surgeon corrects the unnatural corneal curves. This helps light fall more accurately on a single point of the retina, restoring clear vision at all distances.
How Does LASIK Eye Surgery Work?
If we talk about the surgical procedure, it can be divided into 3 parts: pre-operative consultation and evaluation, the actual surgical procedure, and post-operative care.
Pre-operative Consultation and Evaluation:
When you opt for LASIK surgery, you don’t end up in the OT directly. Your ophthalmologist first analyzes your corneal shape, thickness, other underlying eye diseases, intraocular pressure, etc., to ensure that you are fit for the surgery. If found fit, the surgery will be scheduled, and you will be asked to avoid these things 1-2 weeks before the surgery:
- Wearing eye makeup or applying heavily fragranced creams — the residue can cause an infection.
- Wearing contact lenses — can temporarily alter the shape of your cornea.
- Using strong perfumes — may irritate your eyes.
- Doing high-intensity workouts – can increase eye pressure.
- Going in pools, hot tubs, etc. — increases the risk of catching an eye infection.
The Surgical Procedure:
LASIK is a 15-minute procedure, so you are not required to stay in the hospital. After observation, you can go back home the very same day. However, as you might not be able to drive immediately, it is better to have someone take you home. The surgical procedure looks like this:
- The surgeon puts numbing eye drops in your eyes. You stay awake during the procedure, but you will not feel any pain.
- Using a microkeratome blade, the surgeon creates a flap on the corneal surface and reshapes the cornea with an excimer laser. However, in modern LASIK procedures, the flap is also created with a laser.
- After the reshaping is done, the flap is placed back.
The flap doesn’t have to be sutured; it heals on its own. The lasers are robotic system-assisted, giving the highest precision and accuracy during the procedure. It leads to quicker healing and better results.
Post-operative Care:
After the surgery is completed, you are kept under observation to see if any major discomfort occurs. Feeling mild irritation at this time is natural; it goes away after some time. Most patients can see clearly within 24 hours. Your surgeon will prescribe eye drops and also ask you to avoid the following things to ensure better and quicker healing:
- Eye makeup
- Splashing water in the eye
- Dust and sunlight exposure
- Heat exposure
- High-intensity workouts
- Moisturizer or face wash
- Pools, hot tubs, etc.
Benefits of LASIK Surgery
Quick and Painless Procedure:
LASIK eye surgery takes only 10-15 minutes to complete, and most patients are able to see clearly within 24 hours.
No Dependence on Glasses:
Most patients enjoy 20/20 or better vision after LASIK, eliminating the need for glasses in their day-to-day lives.
High Patient Satisfaction Rate:
LASIK has a 98.5% patient satisfaction rate. Most people who have undergone this procedure have received better results than expected.
Long Term Cost Savings:
The procedure may seem like an expensive investment, but in the long run, it would ultimately help you save on the cost of glasses, contact lenses, and other maintenance products.
Fast Recovery:
Not only the procedure, but the recovery time is also pretty quick. Most patients get a clear vision within 24 hours and get back to their usual life in 1-2 days.
Enhanced Lifestyle:
LASIK surgery not only corrects your specs number but also significantly improves night vision, contrast sensitivity, glare, etc., which ultimately boosts your confidence and quality of life.
Who is a Good Candidate for LASIK?
Though LASIK eye surgery has a high success rate, it is not recommended for everybody. As mentioned earlier, your surgeon first examines your eyes and decides whether you are a good fit or not. People with the following conditions are usually considered suitable for LASIK:
Mild to Moderate Refractive Errors:
LASIK can treat mild to moderate myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. If someone has high refractive errors: myopia (more than -10.00 D), hyperopia ( more than +6.00 D), and astigmatism (more than ± 6.00 D), the surgeon might suggest other procedures like ICL.
Note: The latest advancements in the LASIK procedure can correct severe refractive errors like -12D as well.
Stable Eye Prescription for a Year:
Your vision prescription must be stable for at least one year to be considered a good candidate for LASIK. If your number changes frequently, your surgeon might recommend waiting till your number stabilizes. This is necessary to ensure better and long-lasting results.
No Other Eye Diseases:
Patients with eye complications like cataracts, glaucoma, or severe dry eyes aren’t considered ideal for LASIK. Vision problems caused by such conditions can’t be treated through this procedure.
No Chronic Conditions:
Those with chronic conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, etc., aren’t suitable for this surgery as these conditions affect the healing. If you have any of these health issues, you need to consult your doctor first.
Normal Corneal Thickness:
As you already know, LASIK involves the reshaping of the cornea. Therefore, the corneal thickness of your eyes should be normal. Those with too thin corneas aren’t a good fit, as even a small tissue removal during LASIK can increase the risk for conditions like ectasia.
Not Pregnant or Nursing:
Hormonal changes during pregnancy or the postpartum period can cause frequent changes in the eye prescription. Therefore, it is advisable to go for LASIK after the hormones stabilize.
Common Concerns About LASIK
It’s okay to have doubts about the eye procedure you are opting for. It’s very important to get to know about the process, risks, recovery, etc. so that you can make an informed decision and receive the best results.
1. Is LASIK eye surgery painful?
When we think of a laser getting into the eye, we immediately think of pain. But LASIK is not at all painful. Your eyes are numbed before the procedure, so you don’t feel any pain. Mild discomfort can be there after the surgery, but that is also temporary.
2. Is it Safe?
Yes, the LASIK eye surgery is highly safe and precise. It has a 98.5% patient satisfaction rate. Most patients have received better results than expected. This type of procedure is minimally invasive and has a very quick recovery time, so the chances of infections or prolonged discomfort are almost none.
3. Will I Need Glasses After the Surgery?
Most patients receive 20/20 vision or even better after getting LASIK. However, if your refractive errors are a bit severe, you may need reading glasses.
4. Do I Need to Get LASIK Again in the Future?
No, the vision correction achieved through LASIK is generally permanent. So, you won’t have to get it again. However, in cases like regression or age-related vision problems, an enhancement or glasses might be recommended.
5. Is It Expensive?
At first glance, LASIK surgery looks like an expensive procedure, but in the long term, it’s going to help you save quite a lot by eliminating the cost of glasses, contact lenses, frequent eye check-ups, etc.
Latest Advancements in LASIK
Over the years, various advancements have been made in the traditional LASIK procedure, improving safety, accuracy, and recovery.
| Name | Procedure | Benefits |
| SMILE Pro | The world’s first AI robotic-assisted procedure under the LASIK family. In this procedure, the laser is only used for a short time, often only 9 seconds. The surgeon creates a lenticule (lens-shaped disc) inside the cornea with a laser. This lenticule is then removed, reshaping the cornea and correcting your vision. | ➜ 100% flapless procedure ➜ Corrects myopia up to -10D and astigmatism up to -5D ➜ Only 9-second laser time ➜ See clearly within 24 hours ➜ No cuts, no blades ➜ Minimal to no discomfort post-surgery |
| Contoura Vision | One of the most advanced US-FDA-approved vision correction procedures. Unlike traditional LASIK, Contoura Vision addresses even the smallest corneal irregularities, providing maximum results. The surgeon first uses a topolyzer scanner to map 22,000 data points on your corneal surface. It creates a 3D map of the irregularities. After that, using a femtosecond laser, they create a flap on the corneal surface, and then, with an excimer laser, correct the refractive errors and irregularities. After the reshaping is done, the flap is placed back. | ➜ No cuts or blades 100% painless ➜ Get 20/20 vision or better ➜ Corrects myopia up to -9D, hyperopia up to +6D & astigmatism up to ±6D ➜ Only a 10-minute procedure ➜ Highly precise procedure ➜ No hospital stay needed ➜ Start seeing clearly in 24 hours Minimal to no post-op discomfort |
| Femto LASIK | This procedure has the highest customer satisfaction rate: 98.5%. In this procedure, the surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to create a flap on the corneal surface. After that, they lift the flap, reshape the cornea with an excimer laser, and place it back. | ➜ US-FDA technology ➜ 10-minute procedure ➜ No hospital stay required ➜ Get 6/6 perfect vision ➜ covers a broad range—up to -12D for myopia, +6D for hyperopia, and ±6D for astigmatism. ➜ Minimal to no post-op discomfort ➜ 100%painless |
Note: All three types of advanced LASIK treatments offer similar benefits. Not every option is suitable for every patient. Treatment type is determined after a thorough evaluation of your eye condition. Therefore, it is advisable to follow your doctor’s recommendation for the best outcomes.
What is the Cost of LASIK Eye Surgery?
As you may have guessed, the cost of LASIK depends on several factors: the procedure, hospital, technology used, and your package type. Most hospitals offer LASIK as a comprehensive package that includes the costs of pre-operative consultation, surgery, medication, and post-operative check-ups for 1-3 months.
Therefore, it is important that you check what’s included in your LASIK package and not just the basic price. If we talk about the range, LASIK surgery starts from 50,000 INR and can go up to 1,50,000 -2,00,000 INR. Here’s a more detailed view:
| Procedure | Cost Range |
| Standard LASIK | 50,000 – 70,000 INR |
| Femto LASIK | 70,000 – 1,00,000 INR |
| Contoura Vision | 1,00,000 – 1,50,000 INR |
| SMILE Pro | 1,50,000 – 2,00,000 INR |
Note: The figures mentioned above are a general estimate. The price range may vary depending on the hospital, your eye complexities, and the surgeon’s experience. It is advisable to know your LASIK package in detail before making any decision.
Choosing the Right LASIK Surgeon
LASIK is indeed a highly successful surgery to correct refractive errors, but the results will always depend on the skills and experience of your surgeon. So, before you opt for any hospital or surgeon, do this:
Research About the Surgeon:
Before you visit any hospital, it is important that you do some research about the surgeons there. Make sure that they are board-certified, have handled complex cases, and are efficient in modern ophthalmic technologies. Going through the hospital’s website and Google reviews may also help.
Ask Questions:
During your pre-operative check-up and consultation, don’t be afraid to ask questions about your eye condition, treatment, the procedure, etc. Moreover, it is also important to inform your eye doctor about your pre-existing diseases so that they can suggest the best-suited treatment. It helps you understand the procedure and the services of the hospital better, leading to an informed decision.
Observe their Pre-operative Approach:
Once you ask questions, observe how the surgeon answers them. Are they hiding information or being dismissive about your concerns? Then, it is better to opt for another health centre. A good surgeon will always try to educate you about the procedure and be transparent about the details like cost, risks, results, etc.
Get to Know About the Technologies:
See what kind of ophthalmic technologies the hospital uses. An ideal hospital must offer the latest LASIK technologies like Smile Pro, Contura Vision, etc., that are highly precise, 100% bladeless, painless, and deliver the best results. Remember, you deserve to receive the best for your eyes, and you should not compromise on that.
Compare Packages:
You must contact different hospitals and compare the packages and the costs. Just because the package is expensive doesn’t mean it’s gonna cover everything you may ask for. As said earlier, an ideal package should include your pre-operative consultation, tests, surgery, medication, and post-operative follow-ups. A good eye hospital provides multiple options for LASIK so that you can opt for the best treatment that fits your needs and your budget.
Read Testimonials:
Check what other patients are saying about the hospital. YouTube testimonials and Google reviews are great sources to get honest feedback. This will give you real-time insights about the patient experience, treatments, cases handled, and the hospital’s success rates as well.
Why Choose Sohana Hospital for LASIK Surgery?
At Sohana Hospital, we have one goal: to provide the best-in-class LASIK treatment that not only suits the needs of a wide range of patients but also their budget. When you choose us, here’s what you get:
Advanced LASIK Procedures:
At Sohana Eye Hospital, we provide advanced LASIK procedures like Smile Pro, Contoura Vision, and Femto LASIK. These procedures are fast, 100% painless, highly precise, and can treat complex refractive errors.
Highly Experienced Surgeons:
Our senior cataract & refractive surgeon, Dr. Amanpreet Kaur, has more than 15 years of experience handling complex cases. With more than half a million successful surgeries to her credit, she remains North India’s most trusted name in eye care. So, if you are choosing us, be assured that you are under expert care.
Transparent Pricing:
We maintain complete transparency with patients about the cost of each procedure so that they can plan well and have a smooth surgical experience. Apart from that, our no-cost EMI options ensure that advanced eye care can be more accessible to people.
Comprehensive LASIK Packages:
No matter what type of LASIK procedure you are opting for, all of our packages include pre-operative consultation, surgical procedure, medications, and post-operative follow-ups. Here, it isn’t just the surgery but complete eye care treatment.
Personalized & Supportive Care:
From the first consultation to follow-ups, our ophthalmic team handles every patient with care and dignity. Whether it’s the budget, your comfort, or your doubts —- we take care of it all, because we want you to heal better.
Conclusion
If you are highly dependent on specs to perform daily activities and have a hard time coping, LASIK can be a life-changing experience for you. Imagine waking up and not reaching out for glasses to see the time or adjusting your glasses over and over. Wouldn’t life be easier that way?
But before you opt for the surgery, do your research, note down your needs, and also be informed about the kind of results to expect. Having unrealistic expectations might disappoint you. That is why consulting a good surgeon is important, who will not only guide you throughout the procedure but will also be transparent with the results.
At Sohana Hospital, our focus is not only to give you freedom from glasses but also to make the procedure faster, smoother, and painless.
So, if you are looking for LASIK surgery, visit Sohana Eye Hospital for a thorough eye evaluation, and let us find the best solution for you.
