Are all LASIK procedures the same? Which one is the best?

Lasik (Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a commonly practiced procedure to correct the refractive power of the eye. It is one of the best alternative to spectacles and contact lenses which is approved by FDA.

Lasik is generally considered safe, relatively painless with fast recovery and with less than 1% of post-operative complications.

Eligibility for LASIK

• Patients above 20 years of age with good corneal thickness, stable refractive power and Normal Systemic health are generally considered good candidates for LASIK surgery.
• Contact Lens users should stop using lenses for 2 weeks prior to LASIK Evaluation.
• Patients with 40 years of age may experience a problem with their near vision (presbyopia) which gradually increases with age.

They can opt for monovision correction where the dominant eye is corrected for distance vision while the other eye is corrected for near vision. But patients may take time to get adapted for monovision correction.

Contraindications for LASIK

• If patient is pregnant/ nursing, the changes in vision are due to hormonal changes in the body. So, they can’t undergo surgery.
• Patients with dry eye syndrome should be screened and treated before undergoing LASIK. It may cause severe problems after surgery.
• Patients with relatively large Pupil size, they may experience poor night vision, glare and Hallows after surgery.
• Patients with Keratoconus / other corneal degenerative conditions are not eligible for LASIK.

How Lasik works?

In Myopic patient,where the refractive power of the eye is more than what it requires to form a clear image on retina, the cornea is flattened to decrease the overall power of the eye.

In Hypertrophic patient, where the refractive power of the eye is less compared to what it requires to form a clear image on retina, the cornea is steepened to increase the overall power of the eye.

In Astigmatic patient,where the refractive power of the eye is different in different meridians, the corneal curvature is changed in a way to form clear image on retina.

Is Lasik permanent? YES, BUT WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS.

If the vision is stable, patient will be comfortable for around 10-15 years.

But once patient reaches 40 years of age they may need reading glasses which gradually increase with age.

Procedure of LASIK

Blade-Free ReLeX SMILE

• Latest patented advanced flap-free Single LASER technology from Zeiss
• Quick healing and painless post-operative course resum.
• Patented lenticule extraction technology – improved corneal strength and lesser post safety and lesser post operative complications.
• Procedure time : 15 mins per eye.

It includes Preoperative evaluation of eye, Creating corneal flap and Reshaping the cornea with laser to correct the refractive power of the eye.

Preoperative evaluationincludes refraction measurement, corneal shape and thickness of evaluationPupil sizeetc..

Preoperative evaluation takes roughly around 90 minutes.

After preoperative evaluation, surgery takes around 30 minutes with no/minimal post-operative discomfort.

• Before the surgery, numbing drops are placed in the eyes.
• Surgeon will use lid speculum to hold the eyelids open during the surgery.
• Now, suction ring is placed on the eye which prevents the eye from moving during surgery.
• Surgeon will make a flap on cornea using blade or laser.
• Once the flap is gently folded back, Surgeon will precisely remove the tissue on the cornea to change the corneal curvature and its power.

• Now the flap is placed back into its original position.
• Recovery time after LASIK surgery varies by patient, depending on several factors.
• Typically it takes around 6 – 12 hours. Some patients may take a week for full recovery. Generally it is safe to take rest for 24 hours after surgery without straining the eyes.

Alternatives for LASIK

Even if a patient is not eligible for LASIK, there are many alternatives like

• Customised FEMTO-LASIK
  • Blade-free flap created using Visumax Femtosecond LASER followed by Corneal reshaping using the Schwnd Amaris laser platform.
  • Time tested 2-LASER LASIK technology perfected over 3 decades.
  • Quick healing and relatively painless past-operative course.
  • Procedure time: 20 min per eye.
• Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)/ Trans PRK –
  • Flap free patented advances single-step SMARTSURF surface laser technology.
  • Slower healing over 2-3- weeks.
  • Mild post-operative discomfort for 3-4 days.
  • German Schwind AMARIS laser platform.
  • Procedure time 10 mints per eye.
• Implantable Contact Lens (ICL).

Refractive surgeons will evaluate the eye thoroughly to suggest the best alternative for patient’s eye.