Fogged lenses on a hot day. Lost glasses on the beach. Contact lenses that sting by evening. People ask about laser eye surgery for small, everyday reasons — and then meet a page of acronyms. Here is the plain-language version: three techniques, the tests that decide which suits you, and what a short trip to India looks like.
Three techniques, one goal
All three reshape the cornea — the clear front window of the eye — so that light focuses on the retina without glasses. They differ in how the surgeon reaches the layer that is reshaped.
- LASIK: a thin flap is made in the cornea (with a blade in older methods, a femtosecond laser in newer ones), the laser reshapes the tissue beneath, and the flap is laid back. Vision usually clears within a day or two. Topography-guided versions such as Contoura personalise the treatment to your corneal map.
- SMILE: a femtosecond laser shapes a thin disc of tissue inside the cornea, which is removed through a small keyhole incision. There is no flap, which some surgeons prefer for people with drier eyes or active lifestyles.
- PRK (surface treatment): the outer skin of the cornea is removed and the laser works on the surface. No flap and no incision, but recovery is slower and more uncomfortable for the first days while the surface heals. It is often the choice for thinner corneas.
The tests that decide what suits you
The right technique is chosen by your measurements, not by marketing. A proper screening takes two to three hours and includes:
- Refraction: your exact prescription, checked with and without dilating drops.
- Corneal topography and tomography: a map of the shape of your cornea, front and back, to rule out keratoconus and other weaknesses.
- Pachymetry: corneal thickness. The FDA warns that treating a cornea that is too thin can cause serious complications.
- Tear film tests: because LASIK tends to make dry eye worse.
- Pupil size and retina check: large pupils can mean more night glare.
The FDA asks patients to stop soft contact lenses two weeks before the evaluation, toric or rigid gas-permeable lenses at least three weeks before, and hard lenses at least four weeks before, because lenses temporarily change the shape of the cornea. Plan this before you book flights.
Expect your drops to blur near vision for a few hours after the screening, so do not plan to drive or read contracts that afternoon. Bring sunglasses.
It may not be for you yet if your prescription changed in the last year, you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you have uncontrolled diabetes or an autoimmune disease, or you box or do martial arts. A good clinic will say so.
Age matters in another way, too. From the mid-forties, the eye’s natural lens stiffens and reading vision fades, whatever surgery you have had. Some people choose “monovision”, with one eye set for distance and one for near; others accept reading glasses later. If you are over 50 and your lenses are starting to cloud, lens surgery may make more sense than laser — the surgeon will tell you.
What it costs in India
| Conventional LASIK | 69.6 |
|---|---|
| Femto LASIK | 80 |
| Contoura LASIK | 95 |
| SBK LASIK | 95 |
| SMILE | 120 |
Low end of CARE Hospitals’ published ranges (checked October 2026). The source does not state whether prices are per eye or for both eyes — always ask. PRK is not listed.
Leading eye hospitals in India use the same families of laser platforms found in Europe and North America — ask which one your clinic uses. What you are paying for is less the laser than the judgement around it: careful screening, an honest “no” when needed, and good follow-up.
Ask three questions about every quote: is it per eye or both, which laser platform will be used, and are follow-up visits and enhancement treatments included? Prices are per person and exclude flights.
A one-week trip, day by day
- Before you fly: stop contact lenses as advised; send your current prescription and any old eye reports.
- Day 1: full screening. The surgeon recommends a technique — or tells you honestly that you are not a candidate.
- Day 2: surgery. Each eye takes only minutes under numbing drops. Rest with your eyes closed for the afternoon.
- Day 3: first check, within 24–48 hours as the FDA advises.
- Days 4–7: drops, sunglasses, no rubbing, no swimming; final check and clearance to fly. PRK patients may need a few more days.
Most people notice burning, tearing, glare and light sensitivity for the first few days; the FDA says these should improve considerably within that time. Vision can keep improving for three to six months, and halos at night may take a while to fade. Avoid swimming and hot tubs for one to two months and contact sports for at least four weeks.
Questions to ask your surgeon
- Which technique do you recommend for my eyes, and why not the others?
- What are my corneal thickness and topography results?
- How likely am I to need an enhancement, and is it included?
- What happens to my reading vision as I get older?
- Who can I contact at home if my eye becomes red or painful?
Read our eye care guide, our cataract surgery guide if you are over 50, and eye and dental costs, or book a consultation.
Independent research. Figures are quoted from the official and published sources listed below, as they stood when we checked them (October 2026). BookMedTrip is an independent facilitator and is not affiliated with any government body, hospital, charity or organisation named here, and receives no commission from them. If anything here is out of date or inaccurate, please write to care@bookmedtrip.com and we will correct it.
أسئلة
Is SMILE better than LASIK?
Neither is best for everyone. SMILE avoids a flap; LASIK clears vision very quickly; PRK suits thinner corneas. Your corneal measurements decide.
How much does LASIK cost in India?
Published ranges start around ₹70,000 for conventional LASIK and ₹1.2 lakh for SMILE. Ask whether a quote is per eye or both eyes.
How long should I stay in India for LASIK?
About a week: one day of tests, surgery the next day, and check-ups before you fly. PRK may need a few more days.
