LASIK Eye Surgery in India: Types, Procedure, Cost & Recovery
What Is LASIK?
LASIK eye surgery, short for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, is a laser vision correction procedure used to correct common refractive errors including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. In India, LASIK is often referred to as specs removal surgery, and it has become one of the most widely chosen elective procedures for individuals seeking long-term freedom from corrective eyewear.
This page serves as the central resource for every LASIK eye surgery variant available at Planet LASIK, including Bladeless (Femto) LASIK, Contoura Vision, Custom Eyes LASIK, SmartSurf LASIK, SILK LASIK, and SMILE. Each procedure is performed at our NABH-accredited centres by experienced refractive surgeons. If you are considering vision correction and want to understand which option best suits your eyes, Book a LASIK consultation.
How Does LASIK Work?
Laser eye surgery reshapes the cornea so that light entering the eye focuses accurately on the retina. The entire LASIK procedure typically takes 10 to 15 minutes for both eyes.
- A thin corneal flap is created. The flap can be made using either a femtosecond laser (Bladeless LASIK) or a microkeratome blade (Traditional LASIK).
- The surgeon lifts the flap and reshapes the cornea underneath. An excimer laser removes microscopic amounts of stromal tissue, matched to your specific prescription.
- The flap is placed back into position. It settles naturally without stitches and starts healing right away.
Refractive Errors LASIK Can Correct
LASIK treatment is used to correct three of the most common refractive errors, which can occur individually or in combination:
Myopia (Nearsightedness)
Myopia causes distant objects to appear blurred while close-up vision remains sharp. It occurs when light focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it. LASIK can correct myopia up to -12.00 D.
Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
Hyperopia is the opposite: close-up objects appear blurred while distant vision stays clear. It occurs when light focuses behind the retina. LASIK can correct hyperopia up to +6.00 D.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens has unequal curvature in different meridians, causing light to focus unevenly and resulting in blurred or distorted vision. LASIK can correct astigmatism up to 6.00 D.
Mixed Refractive Errors
Many individuals have a combination of refractive errors, such as myopia with astigmatism or hyperopia with astigmatism. LASIK can address both conditions in a single procedure.
Types of Refractive Procedures at Planet LASIK
Types of Refractive Surgeries available at Planet LASIK, all in one place. Your surgeon recommends the right one based on your cornea, prescription, and lifestyle.
- Traditional (Blade) LASIK: The earlier generation of LASIK using a microkeratome blade for flap creation. Rarely offered today, as femtosecond has become the safer default.
- Bladeless LASIK (Femto): The modern standard in laser vision correction. A femtosecond laser creates the corneal flap instead of a blade, offering greater precision and lower complication risk.
- Contoura Vision: A bladeless, topography-guided laser vision correction procedure. It uses advanced corneal mapping to create a personalized treatment plan based on your eye’s unique surface profile.
- Custom Eyes: An AI-driven procedure on the AMARIS 1050RS with Foresight AI. Combines wavefront and topography guidance across 150,000 unique data points for the highest personalization available.
- SmartSurf: A flapless, no-touch procedure that reshapes the cornea at the surface. Well-suited to thin corneas and active lifestyles.
- SILK: A lenticule-based procedure on the J&J ELITA platform. A thin lenticule is removed through a small side incision, with no corneal flap.
- SMILE: A flapless, lenticule-based procedure on the Zeiss VisuMax platform. The lenticule is extracted through a 2 to 3 mm side incision.
- InnovEyes: An AI-powered LASIK procedure that uses advanced eye mapping and optical measurements to create a highly personalized treatment plan.
- PresbyMAX: A laser vision correction procedure designed to treat presbyopia and improve vision across multiple distances, reducing dependence on reading glasses.
Who Is a Candidate for LASIK Eye Surgery in India?
Basic eligibility begins with candidates aged 18 or older, with a spectacle prescription that has remained stable for at least 12 months before surgery.
You Are a Good Candidate If:
- Myopia up to -12.00 D, Hyperopia up to +6.00 D, Astigmatism up to 6.00 D
- Corneal thickness 500 microns or more
- Healthy cornea with no active surface disease
- No keratoconus or other progressive corneal condition
- Tear film adequate for post-op healing
You Do Not Qualify If:
- Your refraction is still changing every few months
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding, in which case the procedure is deferred rather than ruled out
- Corneal thickness leaves too little tissue beneath the flap after ablation
- The cornea is thinning progressively, as in keratoconus, or glaucoma has advanced
- You are prone to moderate to severe dry eyes
- Healing is slowed by uncontrolled diabetes or an autoimmune condition
When to Consider Alternative Refractive Procedures
- Higher myopia: ICL comes into consideration, though corneal thickness and anterior chamber depth matter as much as power.
- Thin cornea: A reason to look beyond flap-based LASIK, though SmartSurf, PRK and SMILE have their own thickness requirements.
- Surface irregularity: Contoura Vision or Custom Eyes LASIK plan the treatment around it.
- Near vision after 40: LASIK corrects distance vision only. PresbyMAX treats presbyopia.
- Borderline dry eye: A flapless procedure may carry lower risk. Tear film testing settles it.
The evaluation decides which applies, not the prescription alone.
LASIK Procedure at Planet LASIK
LASIK surgery is completed in three structured phases: Work-up. Treatment. First 24 hours.
Before LASIK: Pre-Operative Tests
The work-up confirms your candidacy and finalizes the treatment plan. It typically takes 90 minutes and includes:
- Visual and refraction tests: Uncorrected and corrected vision are measured, and refraction (auto and manual) confirms your exact spectacle prescription.
- Corneal topography and pachymetry: Pentacam or Orbscan imaging maps your corneal surface, rules out keratoconus, and measures thickness. A safe LASIK threshold is 500-520 microns or more.
- Wavefront, tear film, and pupillometry: Wavefront maps higher-order aberrations, Schirmer’s or TBUT tests baseline dry-eye status, and pupillometry measures pupil size across lighting conditions.
- Dilated retinal examination: Rules out any conditions in the retina or other structures at the back of the eye, when indicated as part of the pre-operative assessment.
Contact lens users? Soft lenses out 3 to 5 days before testing. Rigid ones: 2 to 3 weeks. Contacts reshape the cornea; topography has to catch the eye at rest.
During the LASIK Procedure
The surgery takes about 10 to 15 minutes per eye.
- Aneesthesia and preparation: Numbing drops are applied. No injections, no general anesthesia. A small speculum gently keeps the eyelids open.
- Femtosecond flap creation: A femtosecond laser forms a thin corneal flap in 15 to 20 seconds. No blade touches the eye. Then, the surgeon carefully lifts the flap.
- Excimer laser reshaping: The excimer laser removes microscopic corneal tissue, matched to your prescription, in under a minute per eye.
- Flap repositioning: The flap is placed back into position, where it adheres naturally without stitches.
After LASIK: The First 24 Hours
You are not sent home straight after the surgery. A short observation period follows, and your surgeon examines the eye once before you leave.
- Same-day discharge: Most people experience clearer vision within hours, though mild watering, grittiness, and light sensitivity are normal on day one.
- Protective eye shield: Worn for the first 24 hours to prevent accidental rubbing during sleep.
- Prescribed drops start immediately: Antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and lubricating drops each support a stage of healing.
- First follow-up within a day: A post-operative check confirms the flap is sitting correctly.
Arrange for someone to drive you home. That part is not optional.
LASIK Recovery Timeline
Recovery after LASIK is fast and seamless at Planet LASIK. Most see clearly within 24 hours.
Timeline | What to Expect |
First 24 hours | Mild watering. Grittiness. Light sensitivity. Vision clears within hours. Shield on for sleep. |
Day 2 to Day 7 | Vision keeps sharpening. Desk work back 2 to 3 days in. Water, dust, fingers away from the eyes. |
Week 2 to Week 4 | Driving once cleared. Workouts back on. Vision is stable for most. |
1 to 3 months | Final quality settles. Follow-ups at Month 1 and Month 3 confirm stability. |
Risks, Complications & Side Effects of LASIK
LASIK sits among the safer laser procedures. No surgery is entirely risk-free. Usually, most side effects are temporary.
- Dryness in the weeks after surgery: usually settles in 4 to 8 weeks with lubricating drops.
- Glare and halos around lights at night: most noticeable in the early weeks, and fades as the eye adapts.
- Correction that falls slightly short or overshoots: uncommon, and an enhancement can adjust it once vision is stable.
- Problems involving the flap: dislocation or striae, both rare with femtosecond flaps.
- Contrast that seems slightly reduced: mild, and temporary in most cases.
- Some of the prescription returning: happens to a small number of candidates, usually over months or years. An enhancement corrects it where enough corneal tissue remains.
Safety & Success Rate of LASIK
LASIK has one of the strongest track records in refractive surgery. Published outcome data is consistent.
- Strong visual outcomes: Most candidates reach 20/20 or better uncorrected vision once healing is complete. Your result depends on your prescription, corneal health and how your eyes heal.
- High patient satisfaction: Peer-reviewed satisfaction reports consistently place LASIK among the highest-satisfaction elective procedures.
- Low complication rate: Serious complications are uncommon. Thorough pre-operative screening is what keeps them uncommon, which is why the evaluation is as detailed as it is.
- Established platforms: At Planet LASIK, LASIK runs on advanced femtosecond and excimer laser systems. Pentacam and wavefront diagnostics.
Benefits of LASIK
Benefits fall into three parts.
Vision Quality:
- Most candidates reach 20/20 or better uncorrected vision. Per published outcome data.
- Sharper, clearer vision within 24 hours for most.
- Corrects myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism in a single procedure.
Lifestyle Freedom:
- Freedom to swim, travel, and play sports without lens hassle.
- No fogged glasses. No lost contacts. No midnight lens irritation.
- Same-day outpatient procedure. No hospital stay.
Long-Term Value:
- No recurring costs for lenses, solutions, and frames. Specs removal surgery ends the cycle for good.
- Permanent correction in most cases. Reading glasses may still be needed after 45.
Medications After LASIK
Three drop categories support recovery. Follow the schedule your surgeon prescribes.
- Antibiotic drops: Prevents infection. Four times daily. First week.
- Anti-inflammatory drops: Controls inflammation. Tapered over 3 to 4 weeks.
- Lubricating drops: Support the tear film through healing. Two to three months. Longer if eyes run dry.
Never stop a drop on your own. The taper exists for a reason.
Dos and Don'ts After LASIK: Aftercare Guide
The first two weeks matter most.
Do’s:
- All three drop categories on schedule.
- Protective eye shield for sleep. First 3 nights.
- UV sunglasses outdoors. First 2 weeks.
- Screen time should be short for the first 2 days.
- Every follow-up: Day 1, Week 1, Month 1, Month 3.
- Sleep on your back. First 2 to 3 nights.
Don’ts:
- No rubbing or touching the eyes. Four weeks minimum.
- No water on the face for the first 7 days. Gently dab a clean, wet cloth instead.
- No swimming. No saunas. No steam baths. Four weeks.
- No contact sports. No high-impact exercise. Four weeks.
- No eye makeup, kohl, or mascara. Two to three weeks.
- No driving until your surgeon clears it.
When to Call the Doctor
Some discomfort and haze after a LASIK operation are normal within the first 48 hours. Past that, contact your Planet LASIK surgeon the same day for any of these:
- Severe eye pain. Prescribed meds not touching it
- Sudden vision drop or new blur past Day 2
- Something under the eyelid. Flap feels shifted
- Persistent redness. Discharge. Eyelid swelling
- High light sensitivity past the first week
- New flashes. Floaters. A curtain-like shadow
LASIK vs SMILE vs SILK vs Contoura vs ICL
Which laser eye surgery suits which eye is a corneal question. SMILE and SILK are flapless. Lenticule-based. Contoura Vision is topography-guided LASIK. ICL is a lens-based alternative for very high prescriptions.
Parameter | LASIK | SMILE | SILK LASIK | Contoura | ICL |
Technique | Flap + excimer reshaping | Lenticule out via 2-3 mm incision | Lenticule (ELITA platform) | Topography-guided LASIK | Lens implant, no reshaping |
Corneal flap | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Myopia range | Up to -12.00 D | Up to -10.00 D | Up to -10.00 D | Up to -12.00 D | Up to -18.00 D |
Astigmatism | Up to 6.00 D | Up to 5.00 D | Up to 5.00 D | Up to 6.00 D | Up to 6.00 D |
Recovery to functional vision | 1 to 2 days | 1 to 3 days | 1 to 3 days | 1 to 2 days | 1 to 2 days |
Thin corneas | Not typically | Suitable | Suitable | Limited | Not a cornea question |
Every procedure in the table is available at Planet LASIK. Evaluation confirms which fits your cornea.
Cost of LASIK Surgery in India
LASIK eye surgery cost in India varies with the type of procedure. Not one flat number. Final LASIK surgery cost depends on the treatment plan.
LASIK Type | Approx. Cost (Both Eyes – INR) |
Traditional (Blade) LASIK | ₹35,000 |
Bladeless (Femto) LASIK | ₹ 80,000 |
Contoura Vision LASIK | ₹ 65,000-90,000 |
Custom Eyes LASIK | ₹ 1,30,000- 1,50,000 |
SmartSurf LASIK | ₹ 1,10,000- 1,30,000 |
SILK | ₹ 1,30,000- 1,50,c000 |
SMILE | ₹ 1,30,000- 1,50,000 |
Wavelight Plus InnovEyes | ₹ 1,30,000- 1,50,000 |
What moves the cost: LASIK type selected. Surgeon experience. Laser platform (WaveLight, AMARIS, VisuMax, ELITA). Diagnostics package. City and hospital tier. Health insurance in India treats refractive surgery as elective, so it usually does not apply. Financing via no-cost EMI is available.
Why Choose Planet LASIK for LASIK Surgery?
Considering LASIK treatment with Planet LASIK? You get:
- Pioneers in laser vision correction.
- First in the world for the SILK procedure performed at Planet LASIK.
- First Foresight AI based in Asia at Planet LASIK.
- 95+ centres across India. Nationwide network. LASIK eye surgery in Delhi is available at multiple locations.
- Thousands of LASIK procedures behind senior refractive surgeons.
- Full LASIK range under one roof: Bladeless, Contoura, Custom Eyes, SmartSurf, SILK, SMILE.
- Latest laser platforms: AMARIS 1050RS, Alcon WaveLight EX500, Zeiss VisuMax, J&J ELITA.
- Foresight AI-powered pre-op planning for outcome simulation.
- NABH-accredited facilities. International sterilization protocols.
- Transparent all-inclusive pricing. No-cost EMI options.
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FAQs
Does LASIK permanently fix eyes?
Yes, LASIK operation can permanently fix refractive errors though after a certain age, mostly after 45yrs, one may require reading glasses .
Is LASIK good for your eyes?
LASIK procedures can be good for eyes by correcting refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Is LASIK treatment painful?
LASIK treatment is generally not painful, as numbing eye drops are used during the procedure.
What are the risks of LASIK?
Like every other refractive surgery, LASIK also possesses a few minor risks of dry eyes, glare, halos, and under or overcorrection of vision.
What criteria must be met for LASIK surgery eligibility?
Criteria for LASIK eye surgery eligibility include age above 18yrs, stable vision prescription, healthy eyes, and no significant eye diseases.
Is LASIK eye surgery considered safe?
LASIK laser is generally considered safe when performed by a qualified and experienced surgeon.
How much time does LASIK eye surgery take to complete?
LASIK procedure typically takes about 15 minutes per eye to complete.
Does LASIK Surgery have any impact on night vision?
LASIK can affect night vision temporarily, but most patients experience improved night vision over time.
Can contact lenses be worn before undergoing LASIK eye surgery?
Contact lenses typically need to be removed for a certain period before LASIK surgery, as advised by the surgeon.
When is it possible to resume regular activities after LASIK eye surgery?
Most patients can resume regular activities within a few days to a week after LASIK surgery.
Does LASIK provide a permanent solution for vision correction?
LASIK can provide a permanent solution for vision correction in many cases.
Are there risks associated with LASIK eye surgery?
Risks associated with LASIK operation include dry eyes, glare, halos, and infection.
At what age is it recommended to consider LASIK?
LASIK is recommended for adults over 18 years old with stable vision prescriptions.
Who can benefit from LASIK?
People with refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can benefit from LASIK.
How long is the recovery period with LASIK?
Recovery from LASIK surgery typically takes a few days to a week.
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