What is Lasik?
LASIK is a surgical procedure that can reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses by permanently changing the shape of the cornea (the delicate clear covering on the front of the eye).
Need of Lasik
Refractive errors are a common condition of the eye and are found in all age groups. In normal circumstances the cornea converges light rays on the lens of the eye, which further converges them onto the light sensitive retina at the back of the eye. The retina with the help of the optic nerve transmits a clear image or photo to the brain.
In patients suffering from refractive errors, the cornea is unable to converge the light rays adequately. Consequently, the rays converge either before the retina (people with – powers) or after the retina (people with + powers). In both the cases, people cannot see clearly.
The common correction for refractive errors is spectacles or contact lens. However, both of these though popular have certain limitations. New advances in eye care and laser technology has led to a permanent cure for refraction, popularly known as LASIK (Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis). This is a short and completely painless surgery of 10-15 minutes where the surgeon corrects the shape or the thickness of the cornea through a laser.
Conditions that could be corrected by Lasik
- Myopia or short sightedness, which occurs due to focusing of rays before the retina while viewing distant objects. As a consequence, there is blurred vision. Myopia is often hereditary resulting out of an abnormally large eyeball or steeply curved cornea.
- Hypermetropia or farsightedness, which occurs due to light rays converging beyond the retina. Near objects are blurred while distant objects are clear.
- Astigmatism or irregularity in the shape of the normally spherical cornea. Irregular shape leads to distortion of both distance and near vision.
You need Lasik if,
- You do not want to wear spectacles or contact lenses.
- You feel visually or physically restricted by contact lenses or spectacles.
- You want to participate in outdoor sports and contact sports where wearing spectacles or contact lens may constrict your body movement.
- You want to join certain profession where uncorrected visual acuity is a prerequisite.
- The patient has to be above 18 years of age.
- There should not have been a significant change in the spectacle prescription in the last 12 months.
- A proper clinical evaluation that necessarily includes a measurement of the thickness of the cornea.
- People with very high powers may not get 100% results post surgery and may still require wearing glasses.
- A through counseling by the surgeon
Lasik Services at Sceh
The Lasik Clinic at SCEH has more than 300 successful LASIK operations to its credit since commencement of operations three years back. Increasingly, it is becoming the preferred destination for patients all over North India as well as neighboring countries. All Lasik Procedures are done on the state-of-the-art VISX Star S4 machine after thorough counseling by a surgeon and comprehensive eye examination.
Lasik Specialist at SCEH