How Much Does LASIK Eye Surgery Cost in India?

The current LASIK eye surgery cost have reduced given there are multiple advancements being made in the field of medical technology. A media report states that 3.88 million Indians are affected by vision impairment problems. From 2010 to 2019, the prevalence of eyesight problems among Indians increased by 4.7%, which is a significant concern. Fortunately, advancements in medical technology have progressed, and now eye impairments can be easily fixed with a specific technique known as LASIK surgery (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis). As more people are seeking a LASIK solution, the most common and vital question to ask is how much does LASIK eye surgery cost in India? This blog will cover the cost of surgery, factors that impact LASIK surgery pricing and its main benefits.

How Much Does LASIK Cost in India?

The LASIK eye surgery cost in India typically ranges between INR 25,000 to INR 1,40,000 for both eyes, depending on the type of procedure and location.

Here's a breakdown:

What is LASIK Eye Surgery?

LASIK eye surgery is an advanced eye surgery where surgeons use a refractive lens to fix the shape of the cornea to cure refraction problems. People affected with myopia (shortsightedness) and hyperopia (longsightedness) usually face incorrect light refraction in their cornea. This can be treated medically by a surgery known as LASIK surgery.

While the initial cost of surgery might seem quite high, LASIK is a viable option when compared to the long-term cost of using contact lenses. You may spend around ₹10,000 annually on average because of contact lenses, which is not at all needed with a simple LASIK procedure.

What Are The Types of LASIK Surgery?

Choosing the right type of LASIK is critical, as LASIK eye surgery cost in India mainly depends on the actual procedure selected. There are a few types of LASIK surgery to know before you select one. Here are they:

Conventional LASIK eye surgery

Conventional LASIK is perhaps the most basic form of LASIK, invented in the 1990s. The process is the same as classical treatment methods of contact lenses, it just uses a mechanical microkeratome blade to develop the corneal flap. The recovery time is usually faster and there is less complexity involved.

Bladeless LASIK

This process is also known as Femtosecond LASIK, because of its use of the Femtosecond laser treatment. A corneal flap is made using the Femtosecond laser, which is later repositioned. It is close to an error-proof surgery process, with almost zero repercussions from eye surgery.

Wavefront Guided LASIK

This is another specialized form of LASIK surgery, where a 3D image of the eye is created using a “wavefront” system. Wavefront LASIK is used to treat higher and lower-order aberrations, which is a case when light cannot reflect properly in our retina. People who suffer from refractive errors and poor contrast sensitivity are helped with this procedure.

iDesign LASIK

iDesign LASIK is an advanced process used to cure vision impairment where your cornea is first checked, and then all higher and lower aberrations are scanned for. The reason why iDesign LASIK eye surgery cost so high is because it is accurate, tapping on 1200 data points.

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Factors Affecting LASIK Surgery

Several factors affect LASIK laser eye surgery cost in India. A concise list of all of it is here:

Expertise

If you’re selecting veteran and reputed ophthalmologists, you may see a spike in the service charge. Their success rate, precision, and capacity to manage surgery complications add to the expense.

Technology Applied

The technology used also plays a role in increasing LASIK costs. Surgeries such as bladeless LASIK, wavefront-guided technology, and femtosecond laser treatment may be quite expensive compared to conventional LASIK. These technologies bring in a personalized treatment system that lowers the margin of error.

Location

This is something that you may not be aware of at first, but the location also influences the surgery cost. We found that LASIK surgery prices in Tier-1 cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Delhi are higher compared to Tier-2 or Tier-3 cities.

Additional Diagnosis

Many patients have complained of blurred or still poor eyesight after LASIK treatment. For a few weeks post-surgery, you may experience an unstable vision. This is where additional diagnosis and a LASIK enhancement treatment are needed. These diagnostic tests can aid you in maximizing vision safety by removing refractive errors in the cornea.

Benefits of LASIK Surgery

The benefits of a LASIK eye surgery extend far beyond normal vision surgery benefits:

Vision Correction

LASIK reshapes the cornea by correcting the refractive errors. In India, 1.3 million people are affected with corneal blindness. LASIK is perhaps the safest and most effective procedure to treat it without many side effects. It also eliminates the dependency on contact lenses or spectacles greatly.

Treatment of Myopia and Hyperopia

Hyperopia (Farsightedness) as well as Myopia (Nearsightedness) can be completely cured using LASIK. The procedure is safe and effective for most mild to moderate myopia cases. If you have insurance to cover your LASIK surgery cost, then you’ll be highly financially benefited. To know which insurance companies cover LASIK eye surgery in India read more.

Treatment of Astigmatism Treated Effectively

Astigmatism is a condition of irregularly shaped cornea. For people suffering from irregularly shaped corneas, LASIK can provide a highly reliable solution. The procedure improves clarity by altering the affected shape of your cornea and fixing alternations that cause blurred vision.

Lower LASIK Eye Surgery Cost

In India, LASIK has become affordable, and the cost has lowered to a good extent. While the steep drop in price is not true for every hospital, LASIK has certainly become affordable. If you are looking to create a financial backup for covering LASIK laser eye surgery costs, the best way will be to purchase healthcare insurance from a reputed insurer.

Faster Recovery Period

The recovery period of LASIK is quite fast compared to most other eye surgeries. This also marks LASIK being a widely adopted surgery across India. After immediate surgery, the body starts to heal as LASIK changes only a minor portion of the cornea, and doesn’t affect the other regions.

Permanent Vision

Another surgery benefit is the restoration of natural vision permanently. Patients who have undergone LASIK surgery, don’t really need to wear contact lenses or go any additional surgery for getting a permanent vision, as LASIK does the job. Additional benefits include:

• Minimal or zero pain during surgery procedure
• Permanent cornea correction for majorities
• Multiple refractive impairments can be cured.

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How Does LASIK Work? Process Explained

LASIK sounds like a complex and highly technical procedure to undergo for most patents. In reality, LASIK is perhaps highly painless, and a 20 –30 minute OPD process.

If you are to undergo a LASIK procedure, you should be aware of these steps.

Step 1: Determining Eligibility

Your ophthalmologist will diagnose your current eye condition such as a corneal topography, or a visual acuity test. These tests will determine your eligibility to undergo a LASIK eye surgery. You should also have a detailed consultation as it helps to reduce further complications.

Step 2: Creating a Corneal Flap

From this point, the discussion will get a bit technical. Your surgeon will create a flap in your cornea using a blade in conventional LASIK surgery, or with a femtosecond laser if they pursue a bladeless LASIK. The flap will be gradually lifted to adjust the irregular corneal tissue.

Step 3: Cornea Reshaping

The third stage is crucial. Your surgeon will be using an excimer laser to reshape the cornea. A 3D imaging technique may be used based on the measurements of your eye.

Step 4: Flap Repositioning

The last stage is repositioning the flap. Your surgeon will be carefully repositioning the flap, adjusting it to bear natural lighting conditions. Patients are advised at this point to not rub their eyes frequently, and also avoid eye straining works.

Which Insurance Companies Cover LASIK Eye Surgery in India?

Many people search a common query, which insurance companies cover LASIK eye surgery in India at a low cost?

In general, LASIK is considered an elective process and hence many insurers don’t provide any coverage for it. However, a few insurers do cover in specific cases:

• You have conditions of anisometropia, which is a large difference in power between your eyes.
• Refractive error beyond ±7.5 D
• You have suffered an accident or trauma-related surgery

This is because the Insurance and Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI) has announced that LASIK surgery can be still covered if the refractive error is equal to or more than 7.5D (diopters). Insurance providers can now provide coverage for it by including it in your mediclaim policy easily. If you have a health plan or a mediclaim that includes LASIK benefits, you are eligible to receive the benefit. In case of a medical emergency, it is thus recommended to have a medical claim as it easily covers the excessive cost of eye surgery. LASIK eye surgery cost in India although has stabilized, still is expensive for most middle-income earners. Health insurance seems the most plausible option during such cases.

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Inclusions of Health Insurance For LASIK Surgery

• If the patient needs surgery caused by accident or injury
• If the patient cannot use contact lenses or cannot bear light refraction in contact lenses
• The patient needs eye surgery because of a refractive error in the corneal region that is equal to or more than 7.5D
• The patient will need surgery because of any other surgery causing it

Eligibility For LASIK Surgery

There are certain conditions to be checked before you can be treated with LASIK surgery, as the surgery is not suitable for a few specific cases. Read below to know:

• If the patient has eye conditions such as keratoconus, keratitis, or progressive vision impairment, the patient is not eligible
• If the patient suffers from acute cases of myopia, LASIK surgery may create complexities. This may happen if the patient is in their teenage years
• Cases of HIV, any autoimmune disorder, or arthritis can complicate the after-effects of the surgery, so these cases are not eligible
• Too much exposure to artificial contact lenses is also not eligible as contact lenses tend to alter the corneal structure
• If the patient is under 18 years of age, they are not eligible

Conclusion

More people are moving towards LASIK surgery because affording periodic eye checkups and contact lenses in Tier-1 cities like Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Hyderabad tend to be highly cost-intensive. Hospitals do charge higher fees due to advanced infrastructure and medical inflation, which makes LASIK a cost-friendly solution. Whether you’re looking to get rid of your spectacles or your contact lenses, knowing the LASIK eye surgery cost in India is essential for making an informed decision. With a price range from ₹INR 30,000 - ₹1 lakh, this procedure can burn your pockets, depending on the technology, expertise of the surgeon, and type of eye surgery used. Patients have reported the most clear vision after LASIK surgery, so this is a great option to explore.