LASIK FAQs
Answers to your LASIK FAQs:
LASIK FAQs-1
Will I need correction (spectacles or contact lenses) after LASIK?
Rarely. Good results after LASIK corrective eye surgery are a function of a comprehensive evaluation pre-surgery, good technology maintained well, and experienced eye surgeons and staff. At New Vision Laser Centers, we are specialized in laser vision correction. We do not perform other types of eye surgery. So our staff and doctors have enough time to offer to our patients, to perform the most comprehensive eye examination. Furthermore, we use the very best technology available. All of our centers are equipped with Carl Zeiss Meditec MEL 80 excimer lasers. Carl Zeiss is one of the world leaders in optical technology. We also offer femtosecond lasers at all our major centers. This ensures high safety and good results. This is complemented by our in house service team. We are the only chain of eye clinics which has factory trained laser engineers to maintain our equipment in a perfect condition. Finally, our experienced team of doctors, led by our clinical director, Dr. Rupal Shah, has performed laser surgery on more than 80000 eyes.
In certain situations, spectacles and contact lenses may be necessary-if the eye power is too high, if the cornea is not thick enough, or the doctor determines that it is not in the best interest of the patient to correct the full error.
In rare cases, the healing process of the eye may not be perfect. In that case, some refractive error may creep back. In such a situation, we offer an enhancement procedure-free of charge-anytime in your lifetime.
LASIK FAQs-2
I currently wear contact lenses. Is there anything special I need to to do?
Contact lenses, especially modern ones, are quite thin and light. However, they do put a slight weight on the cornea. This causes a slight, temporary change in the cornea’s curvature. Hence, we recommend removing contact lenses for 3-7 days before surgery. This allows the cornea to reach its natural shape before you undergo corrective eye surgery. You may continue to wear glasses during this period.
LASIK FAQs-3
Can I undergo LASIK on both eyes together?
We generally recommend treatment on both eyes together. This is also the recommendation of most surgeons in the world. This has several advantages. Both eyes recover together, you need fewer pre-operative, operative and post-operative visits, you are on the same medication sequence in both eyes together-overall, its much simpler.
However, if you are scared of undergoing a procedure in both your eyes together-that’s just fine. Please discuss this with your New Vision Doctor, and we will be glad to accommodate you and perform one eye at one time. The second eye may be done any time after the first. We do not recommend a gap of more than a few days though.
LASIK FAQs-4
Do you have any financing plans?
Generally, many laser centers abroad offer financing for LASIK. Unfortunately, in India, we cannot offer the same. We do offer no interest EMI schemes if you pay by credit cards of certain specific banks (HDFC and ICICI).
If you need financing, do talk to our center manager once you decide to undergo the procedure. In some cases, we may be able to accommodate some financing requests.
LASIK FAQs-5
Does Insurance Pay for LASIK?
The short answer is-it depends. In over 90% of the cases, the answer is no. Generally, if you have pre-existing knowledge of your medical condition before you take insurance, insurance will not cover you. Also, LASIK is not generally considered an essential procedure. We don’t like this attitude of insurance companies, but it is really not in our hands.
Public sector insurance companies (like United India, Oriental Insurance) in India do offer LASIK reimbursements, if the policy is of long standing, and if the refractive error is more than -7D.
In any case, if you would like to get reimbursed for LASIK, you are welcome to try. We will cooperate with you, and provide you all genuine documents you may request.
LASIK FAQs-6
How many visits do I need to the Laser Clinic?
Generally, we require to see you once before the procedure. This can, in most instances, be on the same day as the procedure (with the proviso for contact lens wearers). We also require to see you the day after the procedure. We then require an optional visit at 1 month. Many patients who come from outside India do not come for the 1 month visit. They fly back to their home country on the day after surgery, and stay in touch with us over email. This works perfectly well in most instances.
If you have got your LASIK at one New Vision Center, you can get a check up at any New Vision Center in the country. We do not charge for any post-operative follow up visits anywhere in India, for the first six months after your surgery.
In some special instances, we may need to see you more often. Your doctor will advise you accordingly.
LASIK FAQs-7
Will I have problems with night vision? Will I have difficulty driving at night?
Our laser centers are equipped with highly advanced lasers from Carl Zeiss Meditec. Our laser creates a special wavefront optimized shape on the cornea, which guards you from night vision difficulties after LASIK. Any problems with night vision and LASIK belonged to an older generation of lasers.
Our experienced doctors do look at pupil size, refractive error and so on, and they design the laser treatment for your individual eye, so that you do not have problems in night or day vision. Further, when you undergo bladeless LASIK, these problems are minimized even more.
LASIK FAQs-8
I work on the computer a lot. Will I have difficulty after LASIK laser eye surgery?
No, not at all. In fact, a lot of our patients work in the IT industry, and have to work continuously with computers. They do very well after LASIK.
Working for long hours on the computer can increase the problem of dry eyes, and make your eyes itchy and red. We will evaluate preexisting dry eyes and advise you accordingly.
Beware of those doctors who suggest epi-lasik, prk or surface ablation in patients with dry eyes. These procedures also require a good tear film to get a good result.
Sometimes, LASIK can cause exacerbate the problems of dry eyes, which makes working on the computer difficult. If you already have dry eyes, your New Vision doctor will recommend a procedure known as ReLEx smile, instead of LASIK, which is the best treatment for dry eye patients to get rid of the glasses and lenses.