Commonly Asked Questions regarding "LASIK LASER" Surgery:
Q) How much time does it take for a "LASIK LASER SURGERY"? What are the total expenses?
A) A Preliminary (General) examination is done at the first meeting. It costs just the Outpatient fees, which is Rs. 150/- only at our centre. A prior appointment is must to avoid inconvenience.
This is followed by complete workup to find out your eyes fitness for LASER SURGERY. This is known as "PRE-LASIK WORKUP" Examination. This is done in "OPD" preferably a day before or earlier, which takes about 3-4 HRS........Due to medication, driving back would be difficult, therefore its advisable to not go back driving yourself. The Complete Pre-Lasik Checkup will cost Rs. 2000/- for both eyes. (This amount is Part of the total Package)
On the day of surgery, the total stay with us will be around 3 to 3 & 1/2 hrs., which includes, 1 hr of preoperative preparation, 20-30 minutes inside the OT (operation theater) "ACTUAL LASER TIME IS LESS THAN 1 MINUTE PER EYE", and about 1 hr post operative observation room. We Prefer to operate early in the morning around 7 AM., or afternoons between 2-4 PM.
The Total package For LASIK SURGERY is 18000/- for both eyes in case of Regular Technique, and Rs. 24000/- (for Wave Front Technology)......This fee will be deposited anytime before the LASIK LASER SURGERY. ( Fees already Deposited for Pre-Lasik Workup shall be reduced from this amount). In case of high astigmatism, the package is 27000/- due to use of an additional software for cyclo rotation.
There are certain Eye Drops and Tablets to be purchased by you to be used after the LASIK LASER, whose cost will be between Rs. 500-700 or so...
FOLLOW UP FEES:
At our centre as a rule, we do not charge any fees in the follow up period of at least 6 weeks post LASIK LASER SURGERY.
Q) What investigations are required for surgery?
A) We do not do LASIK SURGERY in patients with any long term or chronic disease, viz Diabetes, repeated corneal infections, hormonal disorders...etc.... Since most of the patients are young and healthy, we usually do not order any specific investigation... However it is highly desirable that you kindly inform us of any disease or ill ness which you may be suffering from, as that may have implication on the LASIK LASER Procedure.
Q) What is the healing time after LASIK LASER surgery?
A) Routine LASIK LASER surgery heals quickly. Usually majority patients can see gross things, like trees out of the window, TV, Wall Clock at or before 72 hrs. However finer vision keeps on improving. One starts activities on the second day itself, and majority can join their duties by 4-7 days.
However in case of "Epilasik (Surface ablation)" (done for very thin corneas)......... the healing time is about 2-3 weeks.... Joining the duties can be after 2 or 3 weeks....( Some Variations can be there)
Q) Any "Special" precautions to be followed after LASIK LASER Surgery? When can one resume normal activities...?
A) One can do normal activities right from 1st Post operative day, Going for walk, sitting in the Balcony...One needs to avoid weight lifting for 3-4 days, and avoid rubbing , splashing water and swimming for 4-6 weeks.......However majority patients are allowed a "head-bath" after 15 days, with Surgeons consent.
Limited TV watching etc can be started in Routing LASIK SURGERY by the end of 1st week, and in the case of Epilasik by the end of 3rd week...
Q) Should both the eyes be done at the same time? Can I get one eye at a time...?
A) This is the only EYE SURGERY, in which international Protocol is to do both the eyes together. as it results in quick healing, as well in getting an early BALANCING OF VISION with both the eyes. In case of one EYE LASIK, the difference in post operative refraction will not allow you to use both the eyes together. There are only very few conditions in which SINGLE EYE LASIK can be done as a choice.....like Anisometropia, or very low refractive error numbers.
Q) What if my numbers are constantly changing? Can I still get LASIK LASER done? Is my age any way related to this surgery?
A) LASIK LASER is not recomended before the age of 18 yrs. Also your numbers need to be stable for atleast 6 months or so....
In case of a recent checkup showing a change of ( just 0.25 D)or so, this can still be considered as stable, and can be thoroughly screened in the OPD with the help of various tests, ( As 0.25 D) is at times a result of variation of checking at various clinics.....Only after confirmation of the fact that your numbers are stable, we shall recomend you this surgery.
Q) What do we actually do in LASER SURGERY? Will my number be completely removed as a guarantee?
A) We "Shave off" some part of Cornea by "TISSUE EVAPORATING POWER" of LASER BEAM.... As a resultant of that, the final power of CORNEA, changes, and takes away and compensates the function of GLASSES...As this corneal tissue "DOES NOT REGENERATE", the power modification is "SUPPOSED TO BE PERMANENT"
Our first and foremost aim is to do a "SAFE LASER SURGERY ", which should give you a life long "HEALTHY EYES".... To achieve this, we need to keep a certain thickness as a "SAFE BED".... So depending upon your numbers, we can only ABLATE (remove by laser),
a limited thickness of your cornea. The fact that full numbers will be removed or not, depends upon the THICKNESS of YOUR cornea.
We will declare before doing the surgery on you, as to what is likely hood of you getting near 100 % removal of your glasses....
Barring only those with very high numbers (say beyond -12 D or more), or with very thin cornea (say 450 microns or so), almost all our patients are moving without glasses most comfortably....
Q) After LASIK LASER SURGERY, does one still need glasses?
A) LASIK LASER SURGERY is done for "DISTANCE VISION". As before the age of 40 yrs, there is no requirement for SEPARATE GLASSES for near vision.
There fore
"Till the age of 40 yrs, LASIK LASER REMOVES THE NEED OF GLASSES FOR ALL DISTANCES...."
However after attaining the age of 40, there shall be a need to put on "Near Glasses" even after LASIK LASER, which shall be required to be put for reading purpose only.
GOOD NEWS is that only recently New SOFTWARE has enabled us to do "MULTIFOCAL LASIK", which takes care of "ALL THE DISTANCES --- AT ALL THE AGES"...There are only a limited number of Centers (Including our center) around the World which are doing Multi-focal LASIK SURGERY.
Q) For how many days one needs to put medicines after the surgery?
A) At our center, the post surgery medication is limited to 3-4 weeks, in most of the patients.. (Usual schedule is---> 1st week (4 times a day), 2nd week ( 3 times), 3rd week---(twice a day), and 4th week (once a day). One can join duties after 7-10 days, and carry out the medicine schedule comfortably at the work place as well.
In case of Epi-lasik (thin cornea) laser, The Medication goes on for about 6 weeks. or so....
In all the patients an "Exercise Schedule" shall be given, which will help strengthening the eye muscles. During this period, some heavy ness in eyes, or difficulty in reading for Long hours may be encountered by some. This is normal during the course of recovery and improvement, and regular exercise schedule will set you up right in few weeks time....The exercises will be explained on the weekly follow up....
Q) What is the follow up Schedule?
A) Usually we wish to see at least 2-3 times in 6 weeks post LASIK..... Most common schedule is
1st Visit: Next Morning
2nd Visit: End of 1st week
3rd Visit: End of 1 month.
IMP: You must report in case of development of anything questionable in healing course. In such a case you should not neglect your complaints and wait for your next appointment time.
EXCLUSIVE: We offer an "ONLINE CONSULTATION" for any troubles or complaints, and all our patients shall be entitled for the same....One can even join us on "Yahoo-Chat", and if facilities permit, we can arrange for VIDEO CONFERENCING, for distant patients.
Q) Is this LASIK LASER SURGERY SAFE?
A) If Proper INTERNATIONAL Protocols are followed, LASIK is a "Safe Surgery" in "Safe Hands." We try to be truthful in our opinion, and would suggest you LASIK LASER for your EYES, only if "Technically" your data fits into " Safe Limits "
We are using the LATEST US-FDA approved machine, and unlike most centres, we are constantly updating the software, which is keeping us at the par with international standards.
At our centre and our affiliated centers, LASIK LASER has been a Safe and Successful affair since a very long time. (Even before the inception of Merryland Laser Eye Center, our Doctors have been doing this surgery in our affiliated Centers). By Almighty's grace, our team has not reported any objectionable outcome. A little over 4000 cases have been done by our Team of Surgeons; with most satisfying results...We are regularly doing INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS as well.
To avoid any problem or complication, we suggest a meticulous "PRE-LASIK WORKUP", to be done in great detail at our center, where in we filter out NON FIT cases. This is in accordance with "INTERNATIONAL NORMS"
Q) Do we need to get it done again after few years or so?
A) Once satisfactory results are achieved, we do not need to repeat it after few years. Theoretically, LASIK LASER acheives a life long result.
(In very rare cases, some results may have to be enhanced, which is usually decided after seeing recovery results. (In such a case no extra charges are taken for an enhancement)..... As told before, this is extremely rare....
Note: Contact numbers / emails of our operated patients can be made available on request, should you like to clarify certain points.....
Q) What is the schedule of medicines after Epilasik ?
A) Please find the Excel sheet below for detailed treatment , post Epilasik.
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Epi-lasik Medication 1.xls Size : 0.017 Kb Type : xls |
