About LASIK
About LASIK surgery:
LASIK is laser vision-correction in the blink of an eye . The ultimate solution to replacing contact lenses and spectacles.
What is LASIK?
LASIK stands for ‘Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis’ which means ‘ to shape the cornea within its layers with the use of the Excimer laser’.
Hi-tech solution combining advanced computer technology with laser precision:
LASIK is a skilled procedure that combines the state-of-the-art computer technology with advanced laser precision. While the earlier laser procedure viz PRK treated the surface of the cornea, LASIK treats the inner tissue of the cornea and restructures it in a manner which grains down myopia (minus power) and hypermetropia (plus power).
LASIK Knowledge Centre:
LASIK procedure -step-by-step: * First, the eye surgeon uses an instrument known as a microkeratome to make a thin flap of the outer layer of the cornea. * Then he folds back the flap, which remains attached on one side. * Next, he uses the cool laser light from the Excimer laser to ’ablate'‘ i.e. remove the pre-determined amount of tissue to reshape the cornea with great accuracy and corrects the individual's refractive error. * The cornea is made flatter to treat near-sightedness, and steeper to treat far-sightedness and/or more spherical to correct astigmatism. * Finally, after the laser is administered, he lays back the corneal flap in its original position, where it bonds itself instantly. * Due to the extraordinary natural bonding qualities of the cornea, no stitches or sutures are required. An eye-patch is not required.
Visual recovery is rapid and there is little or no post operative pain.

LASIK treats low to moderate and high refractive errors.
Is LASIK your remedy to refractive errors?
LASIK is the ideal remedy for: * Any person who would like to get rid himself/herself from dependency on glasses or contact lenses. * Any professional in various sports like swimming, cricket, squash, badminton, skiing, tennis and other outdoor sports. * Anyone seeking employment in the armed forces or merchant navy and professional pilots and individuals with interest in acting and modeling. * People who are intolerant to contact lenses (soft, semi-soft and hard) which give rise to irritation, watering and redness of the eyes. * Anyone who would like to discard spectacles and contact lenses for cosmetic reasons.
Lifestyle benefits of LASIK:
See what you have been missing... * Clear natural vision without the hassles and inconvenience of contact lenses. * An opportunity to choose your preferred career whether it is IPS, defense services, commercial pilot, modeling or acting. * Better vision for recreational sports like water, winter and contact sports. * You can look forward to the best marriage prospects with a partner of your dreams. * A natural appearance without glasses and a new visual freedom for all aspects of life. * Most patients are able to pass a driver’s license test without their glasses or contact lenses. * Above all, one can look forward to a clear, natural vision and a pleasing appearance for years to come.
Pre-qualification for LASIK treatment:
All individuals above the age of 17-18 years can undergo LASIK procedure.However a thorough work-up is necessary before patient selection.

The following criteria are essential before a patient can opt for this procedure.
Qualification Criteria: * Age more than 17-18 years. * Contact lens wear should be discontinued for a period of three days in case of soft contact lens and 1 week in case of semi-soft (RGP) contact lenses. * Myopia: - 1.00 D to -18.00D. * Hypermetropia: +1.00 D to + 6.00 D. * Astigmatism: +/- 1.00 D to +/- 6.00 D. * Stable refraction i.e. no change in prescription power for six months.
Pre- operative procedure: * Refraction : To check the correct number of spectacles * Corneal topography : To map the power of cornea * Corneal pachymetry : To measure the thickness of cornea * Keratometry : To measure the curvature of cornea * Slit-lamp examination : To assess the condition of the cornea * Tonometry : To check the eye pressure * Retinal check-up
These tests are done prior to the LASIK procedure at our Centre and it takes about forty-five minutes.
Do's and Don’ts of LASIK:
The recovery time and time taken for healing differs from patient to patient. Patients also have different levels of tolerance in performing various activities after the procedure. Some get back to work the next day without any problem.
Nevertheless, the following care should be taken after LASIK: * Do not rub your eyes for one month. * Avoid swimming, steam bath, sauna and Turkish bath for one month. Bathe carefully closing your eyes under the shower and do not allow water to go in the eyes. * Avoid gardening or field work or dirty and dusty environment for one week. * You can watch TV or read in moderation within two days of the procedure. Though not harmful, doing these activities for a long time could make you feel tired and cause strain in the eyes. * Post-operative care is as important as the surgery. Do not forget to use the prescribed eye- drops. * It is advisable to use sunglasses for two weeks when going outdoors to avoid glare.
Advantages of LASIK over PRK :
Today virtually all refractive surgeons worldwide consider LASIK to be the procedure of choice , compared to the conventional PRK Excimer laser procedure.

The following are some of the benefits of LASIK: * Quick visual recovery. * Very low infection rate. * Very low risk of scarring. * High degree of predictability. * Low enhancement rate. * Relatively quick procedure. * Minimal discomfort. * Preservation of all corneal layers. * Excellent ocular integrity post-treatment. * Wide range of correctable prescriptions.
Comparative benefits of LASIK over PRK LASIK (Laser-In-situ Keratomileusis) | PRK (Photo Refractive ratectomy) | Modern and safe technique. | Conventional technique. | Laser is administered under the corneal flap. Epithelium remains intact and therefore better visual results. | Laser is administered under the corneal flap. Epithelium remains intact and therefore better visual results. | Safe, precise and more accurate. | Chances of recurrence and under or over correction are high | Effective in correcting:
- Myopia : 1.00 to 18.00 D
- Hypermetropia: +1.00 to 6.00 D
- Astigmatism: -/+1.00 to -/+6.00 D | Cannot be done safely in:
-Myopia: above - 5.00 D
- Hypermetropia: above + 3.00 D | Intact epithelium and therefore chance of infection is minimal | Chance of infection is high due to open epithelial wound. | Clearer vision with preserved integrity of the cornea. | Clearer vision with preserved integrity of the cornea. | No patching of the eye is required. | Eye is patched for 3 days. | Antibiotic steroid eye drops given for 7 days only. | Antibiotic steroid eye drops to be used for 3-6 months | Visual recovery in 7 days. | Visual recovery takes 3-6 months. |

Eyesight Correction Procedures Chaudhary Eye Centre and Laser Vision introduced laser vision correction in North India in 1995. We have the highest volume of laser surgery in North India. A detailed pre-treatment evaluation of the eyes with the state of the art equipment and the skills of our surgeons assures you the best from the technology. VISION CORRECTION SOLUTIONS |

Power of Glasses | Choice of Procedure | -1 to -8 (normal cornea)

-1 to -8 (thin cornea) -8 to -12 -12 to -30 (Age 20-40 Yrs)

-12 to -30 (> 40 Yrs)

+1 to +5

+5 to +10 Lasik in Elderly | SBK (C-Lasik Aspheric Thin Flap)

E-Lasik Aspheric ICL / SBK

ICL

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

SBK / C-Lasik Aspheric ICL / RLE Monovision |

Choice may vary depending on Clinical EvaluationAspheric Customized Lasik (Aspheric C-Lasik / C-Lasik / Wave front Guided Lasik) is now the best procedure for eyesight correction. Other procedures are used when the eye is not suitable for C-Lasik. The surgical procedure is similar in Aspheric C-Lasik, C-Lasik & Simple Lasik Laser. Common questions presented below are relevant to both procedures. |
Am I a Candidate?

Aspheric C-Lasik can treat various degrees of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism in most cases. Candidates must have realistic expectations about their results. C-Lasik is not right for everyone. That’s why at Chaudhary Eye Centre and Laser Vision, a number of checks are performed by high-tech equipment to determine your suitability as a candidate.
To be a potential candidate for Lasik you must be:
1. At least 18 years old
2. Your specs number should be stable for about a year – minor changes do not disqualify you
3 It is preferred that ladies should not be pregnant or lactating (nursing). Aspheric C-Lasik / C-Lasik laser | |
(Customized - Laser Insitu Keratomileusis) * 30 to 60 seconds of laser treatment * No injections * No Pain * No Bandage * No Hospitalization How does the Simple Lasik laser procedure work?
All vision disorders for which glasses have to be used are measured in terms of sphere, cylinder or a combination of both. The best-corrected vision is termed 6/6 or 20/20. In simple Lasik, the sphere and cylinder power of a person' eye is fed into the memory of the laser machine, and the laser then corrects the error. This means that the pattern for correction of myopia of -2.0 will be the same for all individuals with this error, irrespective of any person to person eye variations. | | How is C - lasik better than simple lasik laser ?
It is now known that sphere and cylinder constitute about 90-92% of the visual disorders in an optical system of a human eye. The rest is attributed to higher order aberrations. Correction of these aberrations along with the usual spherical and cylindrical power of the eye result in a better sharpness and quality of vision. These higher order aberrations along with the usual sphere and cylinder errors can now be measured and documented with the help of a special machine called an aberrometer (OPD scan-Nidek). This machine measures 1440 data points on the eye, records this data in the form of eye maps and the laser beam then corrects these optical errors. Thus C-Lasik (Customized lasik/wavefront guided lasik) is a personalized program and would be different for every eye. | | How is Asperic C-Lasik better than normal C-Lasik? | As Medical technology advanced, scientists realized that Aspheric surfaces bring light to a better focus thus improving the sharpness of the image. All high-end camera lenses are now Aspheric. Making the cornea of the eye aspheric by laser improves the sharpness of vision by bringing light to an even better focus on the retina. | * | What is the spectacle number that can be corrected by C-Lasik?
-1.0 to -14.0
+1.0 to +5.0
This includes spherical and cylindrical combinations. The limits of correction will vary in different individuals depending on the thickness of the cornea. | | * What are the minimum requirements?
The person should be at least 18 years of age and should not have a significant increase in the prescribed power of spectacles in the past one year. | | * How is C-Lasik laser performed?
Lasik involves extensive computer analysis of the eye. The optical data of an eye is collected with help of an aberrometer. This data is further processed with a 'final fit' program in another computer and then transferred to the laser machine. The laser machine is equipped with scanning slit and spot delivery system to handle such treatments. The spectacle user is then asked to come on the scheduled day for the laser treatment. Local anesthetic eye drops are instilled in the eye to achieve a pain free procedure. The patient is made to lie under the laser machine and asked to fix his gaze at a red light. A special machine called the microkeratome is used to pick up a thin corneal flap of 160 microns (equivalent to an onion skin). Laser is delivered to the cornea under this flap to correct the spectacle number. It takes 20 to 60 seconds to complete the laser delivery to one eye. The corneal flap is placed back in position where it holds strongly within two minutes due to its natural bonding properties. The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes. | | * Does the procedure hurt?
The laser procedure itself does not hurt. A slight pressure may be felt during the procedure. There is a possibility of some degree of discomfort after the procedure for 3 to 4 hours which is easily controlled by medication. | | * Will I be totally free from spectacles?
95% of the people will be totally free from their spectacles. 5% will have mild variation from their zero targeted correction due to varying healing patterns in different individuals, but will have their dependency reduced on spectacles. After 3 to 6 months laser enhancement can be attempted to correct these individuals further. People over the age of 45 who opt for distance vision correction, may need reading glasses. | | * Are the results achieved from C-Lasik permanent?
The effects of C-lasik on the cornea are permanent. Sometimes, internal changes within an eye may come with age and these may have some effect on the overall visual status. For example, a high myopia may progress even after the age of 18 years, or a person may require reading glasses after the age of forty like any normal individual. | | * When can I return to work?
After 2 to 3 days | | * How safe is this procedure?
C-Lasik is a very safe procedure but like any other surgical procedure it can have some complications which are extremely rare if a proper screening check is done prior to the procedure. This includes measuring the corneal thickness with an ultrasound, Orbscan analysis of the cornea and a retina check. Nobody in our surgical experience has ever lost sight due to this procedure. | | * What is the worst possible complication?
Infection is a serious complication and could lead to deterioration of the cornea. Infection is usually rare and can be well controlled with medications with little or no loss of quality of vision. At our centre, we have had no case of infection till date. | | * How would the eye behave after 10 to 20 years?
The medical community can only speak of the future by accessing the data from the surgeries performed within the last ten years. The data reveals a very positive healing response of the eye giving doctors no reason to be concerned about effects beyond ten years. | | * Can both eyes be done the same day?
Yes, in most of the cases. However one eye may be done at a time by choice. | | * When can I drive?
A patient is legal to drive when one eye is seeing 6/9 (20/30) or better. In practical terms drive when you are comfortable with the newly set vision. | | * How long will I be on medications?
Generally speaking a patient is on eye drops for 8 weeks. | | * Have any doctors had C-Lasik correction themselves?
Yes, many in India as well in several other countries. This also includes several eye specialists. Aspheric E-Lasik / E-Lasik (Lasek)
(Laser-insitu-Epithelial Kerato-mileusis) | | Indications:Correction of spectacle power: -1 to -12 .
In thin cornea's where C-Lasik is not possible due to insufficient corneal thickness.This procedure was specially developed for those people whose cornea is thin as seen by an ultrasound (Pachymetry). In such individual lifting a flap with a micro-keratome as in C-lasik may not leave sufficient corneal tissue to treat with the laser safely and hence a complete correction of a prescription is not possible. Such cases were previously rejected or told that a residual number will remain because the corneal thickness is insufficient to support a full correction.Advantage of E-Lasik over C-Lasik
E Lasik is a tissue saving mode and is used when * Cornea is thin and does not support a full correction. * No blade is used to cut a flap. | How is E-Lasik performed

Local Anesthetic eye drop are instilled in the eye to achieve a pain free procedure. The superficial layer of the cornea called the epithelium is treated with 20% alcohol for 30 seconds to loosen it up. It is then rolled up to one side. Laser is then delivered to the cornea to correct the eye sight. The epithelium is then rolled back to cover the lasered area. A bandage contact lens is placed over the eye where it rests for 4 days till healing takes place. It is then removed.Disadvantage of E-Lasik as Compared to C-Lasik * The visual recovery in E-lasik is not as dramatic as in C-lasik. In C-lasik the vision is almost clear the very next day whereas in E-lasik it takes 1 week to clear up. * E-lasik is also associated with post laser pain for which pain killers have to be used unlike C-lasik where there is hardly any pain. * In 2% cases mild corneal haze may develop when treating high numbers which may take some time to disappear. | Phakic-I.O.L
ICL (Implantable Contact Lens )- Staar surgical, Switzerland | | | | | The ICL lens | A normal looking eye with an ICL in position which corrected a number of -18 | |
Indications: Correction of spectacle power: -12 or more This procedure is meant for those people who have very high power of glasses, and where such numbers cannot be corrected by the usual Lasik procedures i.e. C-lasik or E-lasik. Hence they are useful in powers beyond – 12 or in eyes where the cornea is very thin. Here, an Intra-ocular lens (IOL) of a special design and the required power is positioned permanently in the eye over the natural lens of the eye. Thus the name Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) and is not to be confused with an ordinary contact lens which is placed over the eye and has to be put on and removed daily.

Surgical technique:Anesthetic drops are put in the eye to numb the eye. No injections are used. Through a self sealing 3.0 mm incision, the ICL is injected into the eye where it settles in position over the natural lens. Vision is clear the very next day and the person can resume duties after one days rest.Advantage over C-lasik or E-Lasik (corneal based procedures) Lasik involves sculpting of the corneal tissue with the laser beam. A certain mandatory thickness of the corneal tissue has to be left behind for the normal functioning of the eye. Correcting high powers means sculpting more corneal tissue. Since the mandatory limits can not be crossed, there is a limit to correction with C-Lasik or E-Lasik. In ICL, there is no sculpting of the cornea. The lens is slid into the eye and therefore high powered ultra-thin lenses can be cast to correct high powers.Advantages over RLE (Refractive lens exchange)

In 20-40 year age group the natural lens within the eye has capacity to change focus form distance to near vision. In RLE the natural lens is replaced by an artificial lens which does not have the ability to change focus, and so even though the distance vision becomes clear without glasses, one has to still use reading glasses.
In ICL, the functioning of the natural lens is not disturbed, so this is the procedure of choice in the age group of 20-40 year. After 40 years, the natural lens becomes hard and losses its ability to change focus, and a reading glass in any case has to be used. So in the age group of 40 and above, RLE becomes the procedure of choice.

Spherical Lens corrects only spherical power of glasses. Toric lens correct cylinder along with spherical power of glasses. These lenses are to be imported form Staar Surgical, Switzerland, hence cost mentioned in US dollars). Phakic IOLVerisyse (A.M.O.- USA) | | | | | A verisyse lens from the front and side | | A verisyse lens fitted in the eye which corrected a number of -19 |
Indications: Correction of spectacle power -12 or more
This lens functions in the same way as an ICL as mentioned above except that the design is different.Vision loss due do any other eye pathology cannot be improved by a Phakic IOL . | Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
Refractive Lens exchange with monofocal lens | |
Indications:Correction of spectacle power -12 or moreThis procedure is useful in people over the age of 40 years. At this age, the natural lens of the eye becomes hard and loses its flexibility to change focus from distance to near vision. This natural lens is dissolved by a Phaco needle and replaced by another lens called intraocular lens (as in a routine cataract syrgery). The power of this lens is such that it corrects the pre-existing high power of the eye so that the person is now able to see comfortably without glasses. For reading, however glasses are required.Surgical technique: A small 3 mm incision is placed in the eye and a hollow Phaco needle is introduced through the opening. On giving energy through the tip of the Phaco needle, the natural lens within the eye gets dissolved and is sucked out through this needle. An artificial lens called a foldable Intra-Ocular lens is now injected through this small opening. Once inside the eye, it opens up and serves to replace the original lens. Since the eye opening is very small and designed in a special manner, it seals and no sutures are required. Hence this procedure is also popularly known as ‘stitchless’ surgery. Refractive lens exchange with multifocal lens | | Tecnis multifocal lens (AMO-USA) | Tecnis multifocal lens in the eye (These concentric rings on the lens seen in the eye are visible only by special photography and are not visible in a normal eye) |
Indication:Correction of spectacle power +5 or moreCorrection of spectacle power for distance and near

Here, the natural lens is replaced by a multi-focal intraocular lens which has a dual power. The eye sight thus improves for distance as well as for near without glasses. So one can walk around without glasses as well as read the newspaper without glasses.

Whereas most of the spectacle number is corrected by RLE, some pre-existing numbers like cylindrical powers cannot be corrected by this lens exchange. Therefore, a need for using a little spectacle power may be felt for very fine work. if such residual powers are relatively high, they may be corrected further by lasik laser at a later date to bring the vision closer to normal. | | | * Can I wear spectacles or contact lenses after C-Lasik surgery?
If the need arises they can be used. | | * If I am over 50 years, will the surgery still work for me?
Each of your eyes has two lenses - the cornea ( the general focusing lens ) and the inside lens ( the fine focusing lens ). Laser surgery works effectively to correct the general focusing lens, no matter what your age. However, the inside fine focusing lens of your eye hardens and no longer provides clear reading vision after the age of 45 years. So, even after laser surgery, you would need reading glasses after 45 years of age. However, laser surgery will give you clear vision for all distance activities without spectacles. | | * | | | *