LASIK: laser vision correction after a suitability assessment

TL;DR

LASIK aims to reduce dependence on glasses, and it is suitable for some eyes and not others. The first step is an assessment that measures your prescription, your corneas and your tear film, and shows whether laser, ICL, or neither is suitable for you. Assessment, counselling and follow-up take place at Dr. P. Siva Reddy Eye Hospital, and the procedure is performed by Dr. H. Siva Mohan Reddy. Results vary from person to person.

What LASIK is

LASIK is laser vision correction. Using a laser, the surgeon reshapes the front surface of your eye, the cornea, so that light focuses more accurately, with the aim of reducing dependence on glasses or contact lenses. It is a short, day-care procedure done under numbing drops, with no overnight stay. For suitable eyes it is a well-established procedure. Like any surgery it carries risks, which are explained at your assessment.

Are you a candidate? The assessment comes first

The assessment measures your prescription and how stable it has been, your corneal thickness and shape, your pupil size, and the health of your tear film. From those findings you are told which option is suitable, and sometimes the advice is that laser is not suitable yet, or at all.

There is also a short LASIK suitability questionnaire with a few questions to consider before a full assessment.

LASIK, or a different route?

If your power is very high, your corneas are thin or irregular, or you have significant dry eye, laser may not be advised. In those cases ICL, a soft lens placed inside the eye that removes no corneal tissue, may be considered, and it is performed in-house. Both laser and ICL are available here. Second opinion consultations are also available.

The day, and your recovery

LASIK itself takes a few minutes per eye, under numbing drops, with you awake and each step explained. Vision usually improves over the first few days, with a schedule of drops and a few follow-up visits. Screens, dust and swimming are restricted for a short while. Recovery varies from person to person. You leave with written instructions and a contact number.

Who performs the procedure

The procedure is performed by Dr. H. Siva Mohan Reddy. Assessment, counselling and follow-up take place at the hospital.

About the hospital

Dr. P. Siva Reddy Eye Hospital was established in 1975 and is in Himayat Nagar, Hyderabad. Laser refractive surgery and ICL are both available. Appointments can be requested through the appointment form.

LASIK: patient guide

This section sets out, step by step, what the assessment and the procedure involve, including the risks.

Who it is for

• Adults whose spectacle power has been stable for about a year.
• Eyes with corneas of adequate thickness and regular shape, and without significant dry eye.
• Laser correction is generally deferred during pregnancy and breastfeeding, because the power can shift.

What happens, step by step

1. Before the assessment.If you wear contact lenses, the team tells you how long to leave them out so the corneal readings are accurate.
2. Assessment.Your power is measured, including after dilating drops. The cornea is mapped and its thickness measured. The tear film and the retina are examined.
3. Counselling.You are told whether LASIK, another laser procedure, ICL, or no procedure is advised, and why.
4. Procedure.Numbing drops are applied and the eyelids are held open gently. A thin flap is made in the cornea, the laser reshapes the tissue beneath, and the flap is laid back. This takes a few minutes per eye.
5. Going home.You rest briefly and go home with protective shields, drops and written instructions. Bring someone to accompany you.
6. Reviews.Follow-up visits are scheduled and the dates are written down for you.

Which tests are done, and why

• Corneal topography and tomography.Maps the shape of the cornea, front and back. It is the main check for early keratoconus, in which laser is not advised.
• Corneal thickness.Shows whether enough tissue would remain after the correction your power needs.
• Refraction before and after dilating drops.Confirms your true power, which is the number the laser treats.
• Tear film assessment.Laser can worsen dry eye for a time, so existing dryness is identified and treated first.
• Dilated retina examination.Short-sighted eyes can have weak areas in the retina that need to be known beforehand.

What you feel

• The assessment tests are painless. Dilating drops sting briefly and blur near vision for a few hours.
• During the procedure there is a feeling of pressure for some seconds, and vision may dim briefly. Most people report pressure and not pain.
• For a few hours afterwards the eyes water, feel gritty and are sensitive to light.

Recovery, in days and weeks

• First day.Rest with your eyes closed as much as you can. Wear the shields at night. Do not rub your eyes.
• First week.Use the drops on schedule. Avoid eye make-up, dust and swimming. Use screens in short spells with breaks.
• First few weeks.Swimming and contact sport are resumed when the surgeon clears you, as written in your instructions.
• First few months.Dryness and some fluctuation of vision, especially at night, can continue for weeks to a few months before settling.

Risks and limits

• Risks include dry eye, which is common after laser and usually temporary, but can be prolonged in some people.
• Glare and halos around lights at night.
• Under-correction or over-correction, which may mean glasses for some tasks or a further procedure.
• Problems with the corneal flap, during the procedure or after an injury to the eye.
• Infection or inflammation, which are uncommon.
• Weakening and bulging of the cornea (ectasia), which is rare and serious. The corneal mapping before the procedure is done to identify eyes at risk.
• LASIK does not prevent presbyopia in your forties or cataract later in life, and the tissue change cannot be undone.

The surgeon explains these, and how likely each is for your eye, before you consent.

What you are told before you consent

• What the examination and measurements show, in plain language.
• The options for your eye, including waiting or not having the procedure.
• What the procedure is expected to do, and what it cannot do.
• The risks that apply to your eye in particular.
• A written estimate, and whether your insurance policy is likely to apply.
• You do not need to decide on the day of the consultation. Nothing is scheduled without your signed consent.

What affects the cost

• The technique advised for your eyes.
• Your prescription and your corneal measurements.
• Refractive procedures are usually excluded from health insurance.

A written estimate is given after the consultation, once your eyes have been examined.

What to bring

• Your current glasses and older prescriptions, which show how stable your power has been.
• Your contact lens details, if you wear them.
• Earlier eye reports, if any.
• Sunglasses, and someone to accompany you on the assessment day and the procedure day.

Related

• Compare LASIK vs SMILE Pro vs ICL
• Am I eligible? LASIK age, power & thickness limits
• ICL vs LASIK for high myopia
• SMILE Pro: flapless laser vision correction
• Take the LASIK suitability check: laser, ICL, or neither
• ICL: lens-based vision correction
• Doctor profile: Dr. H. Siva Mohan Reddy
• Second opinion consultations
• Appointment request form
• Visit us in Himayat Nagar

Medically reviewed by Dr. H. Siva Mohan Reddy, MBBS, DO, DNB (Ophthalmology). Registered with the Telangana State Medical Council, Reg. No. 57104. Last reviewed 21 June 2026.