“Am I suitable for Laser eye surgery?” – Lasik Suitability Information from the best Lasik Surgery Center in Navi Mumbai

 

I have been constantly receiving emails from people exploring the option of LASIK eye surgery. They want to look at the possibility of getting rid of their glasses. But they do not want to travel unless they are sure that laser vision correction is a safe and the right option for them. I know it is difficult to spare time from our busy schedules to travel for Lasik surgery only to be told that you are not the right candidate for Lasik surgery. I understand the dilemma surrounding the suitability for Lasik. Overall Lasik surgery has progressed a lot in the past decade with all the new options of Femto Lasik, ReLex Smile Lasik, Advanced Surface Ablation, Customized Lasik and Blended Laser vision correction. Now we can offer one or the other type of Lasik surgery to more than 90% people and only 5-10% people are truly not suitable for Lasik surgery. It is often difficult for us to determine suitability unless a detailed pre-Lasik evaluation is done. However, there are a few other common indicators which, if present then Lasik surgery should be postponed and not planned at that time. Fortunately, some of these conditions are temporary and you may become suitable for Lasik surgery in the future.

Let’s understand the commonest reasons why someone may not be suitable for Lasik surgery at that moment: –

1. Pregnancy and lactation

If you are currently pregnant or breast feeding the baby, then you should not plan to get your Lasik surgery right now. Pregnancy and lactation related hormonal changes can cause fluctuations in eye power and changes in corneal curvature. Some of these changes are just temporary and stabilize once the hormonal status normalizes. Eye power and corneal curvature stability are important before planning LASIK surgery. That is why planning a LASIK surgery during pregnancy or nursing period is not a good idea. Right time, to get assessed for suitability and plan a LASIK surgery, is a few months after breastfeeding is discontinued.

2. Changing Glass Power

It is important to ensure that your glass and contact lens power are stable and hasn’t changed in the last 1-2 years. This is something which is frequently seen in teenagers and sometimes even in young adults. That is why a minimum age of 18 is recommended. It is a rough benchmark to ensure some eye maturity and power stabilization. However, if the eye power is not stable even after the age of 18 then it is better to wait for at least a year till the last power change. Some of the conditions which cause hormonal imbalances, diabetes and sometimes due to no identifiable reasons the eye power can undergo changes. If there is a concern around a constant power change, then a detailed eye and sometimes an endocrinologist evaluation may be needed.

3. Poor health and active systemic diseases

Patients who are going through any illness or recovering from any major illness or surgery should not consider Lasik surgery at that time. People with uncontrolled diabetes, active collagen vascular diseases or any other condition which affects the body immunity or healing power should also postpone their Lasik surgery. It is imperative to wait for a period when all these diseases are in remission and the body is in a state of stability. One may become suitable to undergo Lasik surgery in the future.

On that note, in case you plan to travel to someplace in order to get your LASIK done, it is always a good idea to discuss about your general health related parameters with your Lasik surgeon before planning your travels to avoid a repeat visit.

Anita, an active social worker from the U.S. had visited us some time back. She had come over to be with her mother but then decided to also get a Lasik surgery done while she was here. During the consultation, it was found out she was diabetic. She had been diagnosed with diabetes just a few months ago and wasn’t aware that her current situation was not the ideal one for undergoing a Lasik surgery. After a detailed discussion and as was advised she decided to visit us once again the coming year after having followed a proper, tight, long term diabetic control to finally get her Lasik done.

In conclusion all I will say is, good health, stable hormonal status, balanced mental condition and stable eye powers are the overall general parameters that decide suitability for Lasik surgery. Even so, it is necessary to perform a detailed pre-Lasik evaluation to confirm absolute suitability of an individual for the selected Lasik before proceeding any further.

 

Expert Lasik Surgeon

About Dr. Vandana Jain: Dr. Vandana Jain is an expert Cornea and Lasik surgeon. She has vast experience of performing laser vision correction procedures over a decade. She is well versed with all the latest techniques and advancements in laser vision correction procedures like LASIK, Femto Lasik, Smile Lasik, PRK, etc. Dr. Jain ensures that all the patients undergo a detailed pre Lasik evaluation and then the best procedure and the technique is chosen for the patient to get satisfying results and to ensure long term safety.

 

Lasik Surgery Center

About Center for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute:  Center for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute is one of the best LASIK surgery centers, a modern, well-equipped advanced center for all those who wish to get a laser vision correction procedure done.  A very detailed protocol based and meticulous pre-Lasik evaluation is done for all the patients. The advanced equipments like corneal topographer, corneal tomographer, IOL Master, A scan, B scan and OCT machines help us with detailed measurements. The aim is to choose the best procedure for all the patients. AEHI caters to patients from all over Navi Mumbai such as Vashi, Nerul, Kharghar and Panvel besides people traveling from all over western India and the World.

Advanced Eye Hospital And Institute (AEHI) can be reached at (O): +91 22 67313636, (Emergency): +91 9167360360 or even through Email: contactus@advancedeyehospital.com

Or you can make an appointment online through this link: BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

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“Blindness after a Laser Eye Surgery – Myth or Reality?” LASIK Surgery Information from the Best LASIK Surgery Hospital In Western India

Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, Sanpada – Navi Mumbai is the best super specialty eye hospital in western India having highly qualified Doctors and advanced technologies for all forms of eye care services and eye surgeries.

One of the most common question I get to hear is “Doctor, Is blindness after a laser eye surgery a reality? Can I really go blind if anything goes wrong?” Hence I decided to write up this article to provide relevant information about LASIK Surgery.

Statistics shows that almost 20-30% young adults wear glasses out of which almost 30% wear contact lenses. In this 30 %, women wearing contact lenses are more than men, probably for cosmetic reasons. Many of these people are tired of glasses or feel inhibited due to glasses and contact lenses. They want to get a LASIK surgery done but have a lot fears which prevent them from getting a laser eye surgery for glass removal. I can completely understand the basis for fears. More often than not either they directly or someone among their friend circle would have heard something negative about Lasik. The problem with this kind of information is something similar to Chinese whispers. As the information travel from one person to another a minor problem may get distorted by a large magnitude.

So I think in these kinds of situation rather than taking that information as the truth base on hear-say it is better to discuss them with your eye doctor.

There are 3 main components to addressing the fears related to Lasik laser eye surgery.

 

1. Knowing about newer Lasik surgery options

Lasik surgery is a laser based vision correction which changes the curvature of cornea and reduces the eye power. It has been around for many decades. The good thing about the technology is that it has really undergone innovations over the years. Now Lasik surgery is not just one size fits all! It can be customized to the patient’s lifestyles, eye parameters and profile. With newer options like Customized Lasik, Epi Lasik,

Femto Lasik, ReLEx Smile Lasik, LasikXtra the recovery period and the risk of complications are reduced and also the outcomes have improved. ReLEx Smile Lasik is like a laparoscopic key-hole Lasik surgery and it not only reduces the risk of serious complications like Lasik ectasia but also shortens the recovery period. So it is imperative for the patient to visit and chose the Lasik center where all the newer options are available and they can be rest assured that the most preferred option will be customized to their eye parameters.

 

2. Detailed pre-Lasik evaluation to rule out unsuitability for the procedure

Not everyone is eligible for laser eye surgery. People who are healthy, not pregnant and breastfeeding may be good candidates for Lasik surgery. Besides body parameters eye parameters are also important. For that we do a battery of tests like corneal thickness, corneal topography, dry eye tests, eye muscle balance, retina and nerve checking. This detailed pre-Lasik evaluation helps us to identify those candidates where Lasik surgery should not be done as there is a greater risk of side effects and complications. Secondly the eye parameters help us customize the type of Lasik surgery best suitable for patient’s eye.

Anuj recently visited Center for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute for an opinion. He was advised conventional Lasik surgery elsewhere and he wanted a second opinion. After a detailed pre-Lasik evaluation he was found to be unsuitable for Lasik due to borderline corneal thickness. In Lasik surgery we create a flap on the cornea and in patients with borderline corneal thickness it can induce a weakness in the cornea. This weakness can marginally increase the risk of post Lasik ectasia. I advised him PRK where no corneal flap is created, only the epithelium (top layer) of the cornea is removed and hence this better preserves the rigidity of the cornea.

These kinds of cases illustrates the value of a detailed pre-Lasik work-up and visiting a center where all the different types of Lasik surgeries like Lasik, PRK, Femto Lasik and Smile Lasik are available.

 

3. Discuss in detail about side effects, recovery period, do’s and don’ts with your Lasik surgeon

It is important to ask plenty of questions and clear all your doubts during your pre-Lasik consultation.  One really needs to have confidence in their Lasik surgeon that he/she will do everything possible to decrease any risk of LASIK complications. In the rare chance that something is not perfect your surgeon should be able to manage any post-operative symptoms you have. It is important to remember that LASIK is a surgery and like with any surgical procedure, unexpected complications can occur. Millions of LASIK procedures have been performed worldwide with very high levels of safety and effectiveness. It is extremely unusual for anyone to go blind after LASIK.  This is especially true if you follow your surgeon’s instructions and attend all follow-up visits as directed.

The estimated risk of losing vision in one eye is about one in five million. So really comparing with anything in life chances of anyone going blind after Lasik is highly unusual. Additionally contact lens users need to know that cumulative risk of going blind due to the use of contact lenses is higher than with Lasik performed for suitable eyes. It is important to not blindly believe rumors, get a detailed pre-Lasik evaluation and have a candid discussion with your Lasik surgeon.

 

Dr Vandana Jain – Lasik Surgeon expert

About Dr. Vandana Jain- Dr Vandana Jain is an expert Cornea and Lasik surgeon. She has vast experience of performing laser vision correction procedures over a decade. She is well versed with all the latest techniques and advancements in laser vision correction procedures like LASIK, Femto Lasik, Smile Lasik, PRK etc. Dr. Jain ensures that all the patients undergo a detailed pre Lasik evaluation and then the best procedure and the technique is chosen for the patient to get satisfying results and to ensure long term safety.

 

Lasik Surgery Center

About Center for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute-  Center for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute is one of the best lasik surgery centers, a modern well-equipped advanced center for all those who wish to get laser vision correction procedure done.  A very detailed protocol based and meticulous pre-Lasik evaluation is done for all the patients. The advanced equipments like corneal topographer, corneal tomographer, IOL Master, A scan, B scan and OCT machines help us in detailed measurements. The aim is to choose the best procedure for all the patients. AEHI caters to patients from all over Navi Mumbai such as Vashi, Nerul, Kharghar and Panvel besides people traveling from all over western india.

Advanced Eye Hospital And Institute (AEHI) can be reached at (O): +91 22 67313636, (Emergency): +91 9167360360 or even through Email: contactus@advancedeyehospital.com

Or you can make an appointment online through this link: BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

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Eye measurements before lasik surgery: Pupil diameter, horizontal corneal diameter, length of eye ball and depth of front part of eye- Pre-LASIK tests no 4

In the earlier two blogs on pre-Lasik evaluation we discussed the importance of measuring corneal thickness and corneal topography prior to considering LASIK. In this blog we will understand the importance of some of the other measurements.

Suniti visited me at the Center for LASIK surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute in Navi Mumbai, India. She had got her LASIK laser vision correction done 2 years back in Mumbai. She had beautiful blue green eyes. She was getting troubled by the glare and haloes at night. Her power prior to the surgery was -4D. The power was not very high and by itself not enough to contribute to the glare problem at night. There can be several factors which contribute to night glare like large pupil (small round black front aperture which allows light to enter the eye) in dim light, dry eyes, presence of ocular aberrations and smaller zone of laser treatment. In her case there was a striking difference between the zone of her laser treatment on cornea and pupil size in the dim light conditions. Her pupil was quite big in dim light but her lasik laser had been done in a smaller area only in centre. When I explained the reason to her, on one hand she was reassured that there was no complication but on the other hand she was disturbed that why these measurements were not performed prior to the Lasik surgery. Irrespective of the type of laser vision correction procedure such as conventional Lasik or bladeless Femto LASIK or ReLEX SMILE Lasik, these measurements help plan the best type of LASIK surgery for the patient, understand the results, counsel the patients and set the expectations. Some measurements like pupil diameter, corneal diameter, eye ball length are a very important part of Pre-Lasik evaluation

1. Pupil Diameter– It is very important to know the pupil diameter in normal light conditions and in dim light conditions. Some people especially those with light colored eyes (iris) have large pupil in dim light conditions. If the zone of laser treatment during LASIK surgery is smaller than the scotopic (dim light) pupil diameter, then at night, light will enter the eye from 2 different zones. One from the laser treated zone on cornea and one from untreated cornea. This phenomenon leads to night vision issues like glare and halo etc. So knowing the pupil diameter is very important to plan the LASIK surgery better. Either we can plan the larger optical zone of laser treatment or we can chose other modes of treatment like smart aberration profile with larger transition zone or wave front guided treatment etc.

2. Corneal Diameter– This is measured to know the horizontal extent of the cornea (front transparent part of the eye). Laser vision correction procedure is done on cornea and it is the change in the corneal curvature which reduces the eye power. Corneal diameter helps us in making a decision about the size of the microkeratome suction ring in cases of conventional LASIK, or the size of the cup that we choose during bladeless femto lasik or ReLEx SMILE lasik. For example a smaller cornea will require a smaller ring and a smaller suction cup. Corneal diameter can be measured manually using manual or digital calipers or by the corneal topographer or the IOL master machine

3. Size of two eye balls– Ridhi is a Biomechanical engineer and lives in Mumbai. She wanted to get the best Lasik done. During her pre Lasik evaluation at the Center for LASIK surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute in Navi Mumbai, she took keen interest in all the tests and the machines that were used for those tests. When we were checking her eye ball length, she got very confused and enquired regarding the need for measuring the eye ball length before lasik. She asked “Isn’t the laser vision correction procedure performed on the cornea?”. I was very impressed by the depth of her thinking. She was absolutely right. It has no direct bearing on the Lasik surgery technique for most patients. But a few of us have very different eye powers in both the eyes. If the reason for different powers in both eyes is longer eye ball length in one eye then we may need to modify the planning for Lasik laser vision correction. Otherwise it can cause difference in image size between the two eyes after the laser vision correction procedure.

Length of the eye ball can be measured by either the eye ultrasound machine called A-scan or with the help of IOL master.

4. Depth of the Anterior chamber (front part of the eye) – Again this is one of those measurements which has no bearing on the laser vision correction procedure. However this is the measurement I need to know if I have to suggest an alternative procedure like ICL (Implantable contact lens) for someone who is not suitable for laser vision correction procedures. Rahul had come to the Center for LASIK surgery and had a power of -16D in both eyes. This much power cannot be safely corrected by even the best of the LASIK laser vision correction procedure. Luckily for him, the depth of the anterior chamber was 3.2mm. This was in the normal range and he successfully underwent ICL implantation in both the eyes and now enjoys a life free from glasses.

It is often said that we cannot plan if do not analyze and measure. This is no less true for pre Lasik evaluation. So even though the whole pre-Lasik evaluation takes up to 2 hour but it is required for proper planning, and better counseling, to get best Lasik surgery results and to ensure long term safety.

About Dr. Vandana Jain–

Dr. Vandana Jain

Dr Vandana Jain is an expert Cornea and Lasik surgeon. She has vast experience of performing laser vision correction procedures over a decade. She is well versed with all the latest techniques and advancements in laser vision correction procedures like LASIK, Femto Lasik, Smile Lasik, PRK etc. Dr. Jain ensures that all the patients undergo a detailed pre Lasik evaluation and then the best procedure and the technique is chosen for the patient to get satisfying results and to ensure long term safety.

About Center for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, Navi Mumbai- Center for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute is one of the best lasik surgery centers, a modern well-equipped advanced center for all those who wish to get laser vision correction procedure done.  A very detailed protocol based and meticulous pre-Lasik evaluation is done for all the patients. The advanced equipments like corneal topographer, corneal tomographer, IOL Master, A scan, B scan and OCT machines help us in detailed measurements. The aim is to choose the best procedure for all the patients. AEHI caters to patients from all over Navi Mumbai such as Vashi, Nerul, Kharghar and Panvel besides people traveling from all over western India.

Watch Dr Vandana Jain, Cornea and Lasik Specialist perform SMILE Lasik – the most advanced and the best laser vision correction surgery in the world. Watch Dr Vandana Jain, Harvard trained Cornea & Lasik Surgeon at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute (AEHI) in Navi Mumbai, India answer frequently asked questions on SMILE laser vision correction surgery

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ReLEx Smile Lasik surgery after contact lens infection- A girl from Navi Mumbai got permanent freedom from glasses with Best LASIK technology

ReLEx SMILE Lasik is an advanced laser vision correction procedure which allows glass power reduction in the safest possible manner. It is a flapless, bladeless Lasik which preserves the corneal strength and reduces the chances of dryness and infections after the procedure. Most people can get back to their regular lifestyle in a day or two. Well, that’s not all- it makes laser vision correction possible in cases where any other Lasik would not have been possible.

Case

Jitakshi is a smart beautiful young woman who was used to wearing contact lenses for long hours. Her grueling MBA schedules left her no time to care for her eyes. Her contact lens care habits were not very healthy and she was over wearing contact lenses. In 2014, she presented at the Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute with redness in her right eye.

Her eye evaluation revealed that she had a very bad corneal infection (Figure 1). She was advised to stop using her contact lenses and was prescribed eye drops to cure the corneal eye infection. Thankfully with the right treatment and compliance from her side, the infection slowly subsided and a small corneal scar remained. Luckily for her, the scar was located away from the center of the cornea and hence did not affect the vision. She was advised to be off her contact lenses after that. However she was soon getting fed up of wearing glasses and wanted freedom from her glasses. After a few months she underwent a detailed pre-Lasik evaluation at the center for Lasik surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute in Navi Mumbai. Her corneal topography (surface map of cornea) was normal (Figure 2 and 3) and did not show any abnormality secondary to the scar on her cornea as that was away from the center.

She was suitable for all the types of laser vision correction procedures like LASIK, Femto Lasik and ReLEx SMILE Lasik. She chose the best Lasik and decided to undergo ReLEx SMILE Lasik. She got great results and was a happy girl after that. The Lasik procedure took only 5 minutes and she was able to go home in 15 minutes after the Lasik treatment. Next day here checkup after Lasik showed 6/6 vision and she was overjoyed.

 Jitakshi said “I was very worried after I developed bad eye infection and I realized the importance of not over using contact lenses and maintaining proper care routines. I probably got a little negligent in managing my contact lenses. I was really relieved when Dr Vandana Jain reassured me and treated my corneal infection due to contact lenses well. But as I was not allowed to wear contact lenses again, I found it very difficult to manager daily schedules with glasses. It was like an obstacle for my day to day work. So when my pre-Lasik evaluation revealed that I can undergo LASIK safely, I was very happy especially I could get ReLEx Smile Lasik done which is a bladeless Lasik. I felt safe and taken care of as Dr. Jain took great pains in explaining everything to me in detail about SMILE Lasik procedure. The do’s and the don’ts, post SMILE Lasik recovery, chances of any complications etc were explained in great detail. I was glad and happy that I was undergoing the best, most advanced and the safest Lasik on my eyes. The SMILE Lasik surgery experience was wonderful. It was painless, quick and very comfortable. I still remember first day after Lasik surgery when I woke up and could see the whole world very clearly without my glasses! My post Smile Lasik check-ups revealed that eye was healing well and that everything was perfect

Dr Vandana Jain adds – People like Jitakshi who misuse contact lenses often develop contact lens related problems.  Right from dry eye to eye allergies and severe corneal infections can happen due to over use of contact lenses. Maintaining good contact lens hygiene and cleaning rituals are very important for contact lens users. A lot of people develop intolerance to contact lenses and then they are forced to look for alternatives like Lasik to get rid of their glasses. It is very important to plan options for getting freedom from glasses before and to not wait for complications to happen due to contact lenses. One of my earlier patients, Sukita, developed multiple episodes of corneal infections as she paid no heed to the instructions given by her eye doctor in Mumbai. Finally when she was seen at the Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, she had a very bad infection right in the center of the cornea. Luckily it got cured but it left behind a very bad deep scar right in the center of her cornea. Anterior segment OCT revealed that the depth of her scar was more than 250 microns. She was no longer suitable for any form of Laser vision correction procedures like LASIK or Femto Lasik or Smile Lasik. Any of the Lasik procedures on her eye could lead to complications and cause an irregular astigmatism after the procedure. This is due to the fact that laser ablation is different for normal corneal tissue and scar tissue. If it is away from the area of laser then LASIK can be considered like in case of Jitakshi. Sukita was therefore advised to plan Implantable contact lens (ICL) implantation to get freedom from her glasses.

About Dr. Vandana Jain:

Expert Lasik Surgeon

Dr Vandana Jain is an expert cornea and LASIK surgeon. She manages and treats patients from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and all over Maharashtra who develop complications like infections etc due to contact lenses. Due to her dual expertise in cornea and LASIK, she is in a great position to decide and chose the right lasik procedure for these patients who develop corneal infections and then want freedom from glasses. She always cautions and educates her patients who are using contact lenses to maintain healthy contact lens care practices.

About Center for LASIK Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, Navi Mumbai–

Dr Vandana Jain – Lasik Surgeon expert

Center for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute is a modern well equipped center for managing all kinds of complicated clinical situations. All the great diagnostic machines like corneal topography, corneal tomography, corneal pachymetry, OCT and IOL Master and associated clinics such as dry eye clinic and orthoptic clinic ensures a meticulous and protocol based pre Lasik evaluation. Besides this there are advanced machines for laser vision correction which allows all the different LASIK surgeries like wave front optimized LASIK, FemtoLasik, PRK, ReLEx SMILE and LasikXtra.

About Dr Vandana Jain:

Dr. Vandana Jain, MS (Gold Medalist), DNB, MNAMS, FLVPEI, FICO (Harvard USA), MBA (Stanford USA) is a Cornea, Cataract & Lasik Surgeon. She is the Director & Co-founder of the Advanced Eye Hospital. She has more than a decade of experience in Ophthalmology apart from exhaustive training and a vast number of research publications to her credit.

Videos

Watch Dr Vandana Jain, Cornea and Lasik Specialist perform SMILE Lasik – the most advanced and the best laser vision correction surgery in the world.

Watch Dr Vandana Jain, Harvard trained Cornea & Lasik Surgeon at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute (AEHI) in Navi Mumbai, India answer frequently asked questions on SMILE laser vision correction surgery

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Corneal Topography before lasik surgery: Understanding its importance for Laser Vision Correction- Pre Lasik test no 2

Ranjana is a journalist and currently based in Delhi. She decided to get rid of her glasses prior to moving to Delhi by getting LASIK laser treatment. She visited the Center for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, Navi Mumbai, India. As a part of her Pre-Lasik evaluation a battery of tests was performed. All her tests other than her corneal Topography were normal. Her corneal topography revealed that her cornea had an area of weakness what we clinically call Forme fruste Keratoconus. Keratoconus is a disease in which cornea becomes weak and starts to thin and bulge out. This can give rise to high irregular eye powers. Patients, who have this condition either in the full blown clinical form or in a hidden form called Forme fruste, are advised against LASIK. So, for Ranjana I advised her against Laser based vision correction surgery. However, we could still help her with her desire to get rid of glasses by performing Implantable Contact Lenses for which she was suitable. Without Corneal topography test, this abnormality would have been missed. This blog will focus on getting a better understanding about Corneal Topography (Colorful maps of the cornea). This blog is part of our series to understand the importance of various tests which are performed as a part of Pre-Lasik evaluation.

What Is Corneal Topography?
It is a quick, non-touch test to map the surface curvature of the cornea. The patient sits in front of the machine. The corneal topographer projects a series of rings on the surface of the cornea(Figure 1). The image of these rings is reflected back from the surface of the cornea to the camera in the machine. The topography of the cornea is revealed by the shape taken by the reflected pattern and is analyzed by the computer based algorithms on the machine. The results are displayed as a series of colored maps. (Figure 2).  These maps are very much like the ones you have seen in geography books in your school days.

Corneal topography test in progress

Cornea maps are visible on machine as Cornea topography is done

Are there different machines for doing Corneal Topography and which one is better?

There are many machines that can be used to study the corneal topography. Broadly, there are Placido based surface

topographers, scanning slit, and the Scheimpflug devices. They work on totally different principles; have different methods of data acquisition, presentation, and analysis.

All these devices fundamentally involve simple principles of physics combined with high-end mathematics and statistics, to give us colorful maps to understand different aspects of

the cornea.
1. What is important to know and understand is that, the same class of devices from different manufacturers may not strictly compare. So it is very important that same company topographer is used to serially compare the cornea maps.
2. Slit based and Scheimpflug devices have additional advantage is that they also map the corneal thickness at different points, the power of the front and the back surface of cornea at different points (Figure 3). This is unlike surface placid based topographers where only the surface mapping is done. There is a distinct advantage of corneal thickness mapping and knowing the back power of the cornea. Some diseases of cornea in early stages affect only the corneal thickness and back power of the cornea away from the center of the cornea. Surface Placido based topographer can miss the early stages of disease in the cornea! For those people who are planning a Laser Vision correction procedure, it is important to undergo topography on either a slit based or Scheimpflug. It is very important to rule out any early stage of corneal diseases prior to considering Lasik. At Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute – we use both Placido as well the Scheimpflug topography to ensure the best information collected about cornea before LASIK surgery.

Cornea topography reports

Why is it important to perform corneal topography prior to Lasik?

During the laser vision correction procedure, a laser is performed on the cornea. This laser changes the curvature of the cornea and additionally makes the cornea thinner. The amount of thinning is dependent on the patients’ eye power and the chosen optical zone of the correction. The thinning makes the cornea weaker. The amount of weakness is more in flap based procedures as creation of corneal flap makes the cornea even weaker. That is why for people with weak corneas, flapless procedures like PRK or SMILE Lasik are better procedures.
1. Diagnosis of Corneal diseases: With the help of corneal topography maps we get to know if there are any pre-existing diseases which make the cornea weak. For example Ranjana had aforme fruste Keratoconus. This can be picked up only by performing corneal topography. If we perform Lasik in such an eye, the cornea can become very weak and this can lead to future complication called Post- LASIK Ectasia. Basically, this can induce very high powers in the eye which cannot be corrected even with glasses. So we have to rule out any pre-existing predisposition to post-Lasik Ectasia by performing a detailed corneal topography.
2. Deciding the type of Lasik: Corneal topography is also useful to know about corneal aberrations and minor irregularities. These can sometimes help in the decision making about the 3. Quality of post Lasik vision: Lastly, when we perform LASIK for minus powers, cornea becomes flatter in the center. The amount of flattening (curvature change) is dependent on the number corrected. To preserve a good quality of vision after surgery, we do not want cornea to become too flat. So, corneal topography helps us in the decision making by giving us the appropriate information.
Corneal Topography is one of the most important tests as part of pre-Lasik evaluation. LASIK laser surgery should not be performed without getting a normal topography and whenever in doubt a Cornea surgeon’s opinion should be taken from topography reports. This holds true for all kinds of laser vision correction surgeries such as PRK, Lasik, Femto Lasik or Relex Smile Lasik.

About Centre for Lasik Surgery

Welcome to the Center for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute (AEHI).

Why should you pick the Centre for Lasik Surgery at AEHI?

The Center for Lasik Surgery is the only Center in Western India to offer all the latest types of Lasik eye surgeries under one roof

• Custom Wavefront Lasik
• Femto Lasik (Bladeless / All laser Lasik)
• ReLEx SMILE (Bladeless and flapless Lasik)
• Lasik Xtra (For those with thinner corneas)

“I was in and out of the laser operation theatre in ten minutes”
“It felt like I was part of some sci-fi movie. (It) did not seem like a surgery at all!”

Patients who have undergone laser eye surgery at the Center for Lasik Surgery invariably comment on how unbelievably simple the whole process turned out. To ensure that your experience is quick, safe and gentle during and after lasik surgery, Advanced Eye Hospital team puts in a lot of hard work before.
No patient is hurried into going in for any type of laser eye surgery unless our Lasik surgeon is thoroughly convinced that he / she is safe for laser refractive surgery. Hence, we spend a good 1-2 hours screening your eyes before our Lasik surgeon declares you fit to undergo lasik and this checkup is done on a separate day giving you enough time to think before Lasik surgery:

• Pre-Lasik Evaluation: Your eye’s cornea thickness, cornea surface, pupil diameter, dryness, exact spectacle power etc. are thoroughly evaluated. Know More about the 7 eye tests that are done to know if Lasik Surgery is safe for you
• Lasik Consultation: Dr Vandana Jain is known as one of the best Lasik surgeons in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai because of her emphasis on safety, ethics and personal care given to each patient. Dr Vandana Jain will analyse the results of your Pre- Lasik evaluation and guide on choosing which lasik surgery is best for you.

At AEHI, we believe in offering personalised care to all our patients. You will be pleased to find a doctor who actually pays heed to all your concerns, supporting staff that attentively responds to every need of yours and an environment that makes you feel at home.

About Dr Vandana Jain:

Dr. Vandana Jain, MS (Gold Medalist), DNB, MNAMS, FLVPEI, FICO (Harvard USA), MBA (Stanford USA) is a Cornea, Cataract & Lasik Surgeon. She is the Director & Co-founder of the Advanced Eye Hospital. She has more than a decade of experience in Ophthalmology apart from exhaustive training and a vast number of research publications to her credit.

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PRK (Epilasik) vs LASIK vs Femto Lasik Vs Relex SMILE: Which is the best laser vision correction surgery?

Technology keeps on advancing and in medical sciences it keeps on making a difference to lives of millions of people across the globe. This is even truer for us, Lasik surgeons, who continue to get access to better laser vision correction procedures.

Let’s for a minute go back and see how the Laser vision correction started and how it has evolved.

First generation Laser Vision correction for freedom from spectacles started with Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) also known as Epi-lasik or surface lasik  where top layer of cornea is mechanically removed and then excimer laser is applied to the cornea to re-shape it and correct patient’s eye power. Due to surface ablation, the post procedure recovery period was painful and there some  initial problems noted related to delayed and inferior healing.

Lasik

Advent of First generation LASIK: The next advancement which became hugely popular was LASIK. Lasik laser vision correction is a great procedure in which tissue is precisely ablated (burned/ vaporized) using excimer laser to reshape the cornea and thus remove the spectacle  power. However Lasik entails making a flap with a mechanical blade called microkeratome. So to further improve and advance the procedure, Femtolasik was developed.

Femto lasik
(Bladeless Lasik)

Second generation- Femtosecond laser (also called Femto Lasik): In FemtoLasik compared to Lasik, corneal flap is created with the help of another cutting laser called Femtosecond laser. The introduction of Femtosecond laser increased the precision and accuracy of flap making as compared to the micorkeratome blade. Hence Femto-lasik was also called bladeless LASIK. Femto-lasik thus allowed the laser vision correction surgery to become even more safer by adding extra precision. But the problem of a large 20mm cut for making a flap remained  whether with the blade or with Femto second laser.

SMILE Lasik
(Flapless, Bladeless Lasik)

Third generation lasik  – Relex Smile lasik: What if we have a procedure where we can do away with flap as well and make it more precise, accurate, and safe compared to the previous laser vision correction procedures? Wouldn’t that be wonderful and make the procedure so much better. I think this is where ReLEx SMILE also called SMILE Lasersurgery comes into picture.

What is Smile Lasik laser surgery?

Smile Lasik surgery also the short form of “Small Incision Lenticule Extraction” is an all laser based flapless surgery which is possible only with Visumax femtosecond laser platform from Carl Zeiss. In the current times no other laser machine allows this procedure to be performed. With Smile Lasik laser surgery the disadvantages of earlier procedures have disappeared and the advantages have remained!

How is Relex Smile lasik different from Femto Lasik/ Custom lasik?

                      In Femto LASIK, patient is first positioned under the Femto Lasik machine. The femtosecond laser helps in creating the flap. The flap creation with Femto second laser machine, depending on the laser machine, entails the cup touching the eye and an increase in pressure on the eye surface. It is also a quick process. Overall the flap creation with femto second laser is far more precise and accurate compared to blade based flap creation.  But the fact of the matter is that flap creation is still done. Once the flap is created, patient bed moves to the Excimer laser machine. Excimer laser precisely burns the corneal tissue and reshapes the cornea. Flap is then repositioned and it again becomes a part of the cornea. So first a flap is created and then Excimer laser ablation is done.

In SMILE Lasik laser vision correction, with the help of femto second laser generated from a platform called Visumax from Carl Zeiss, a tissue lenticule is prepared inside the intact cornea, thickness of which is dependent on patient’s eye power. The advanced cup of the machine calibrates itself to the patient’s corneal curvature. A gentle touch of the cup and a mild pressure are felt during the procedure. The laser precisely creates the tissue disc inside the cornea. This entire treatment takes place in a closed environment unlike a flap based procedure. This ‘lenticule’ is then removed through a small key-hole 2mm opening made by the laser in the periphery of the cornea.  All this is done without creating a flap and hence it is a flapless and a bladeless procedure. In nutshell,  instead of a 20mm cut for a flap creation, there is a small 2mm cut for removing the cornea

Surgical Advantages of SMILE Lasik laser over Femto Lasik laser

The major advantage of ReLEx smile is that there is a precise tissue disc creation in a closed environment and there is no flap cutting involved. Unlike excimer–laser-based procedures like LASIK or Femto Lasik, ReLEx smile uses a solid-state laser, and is not affected by environmental humidity. The VisuMax is a silent, soft, and gentle laser. It does not produce any burning smell, there is no vision blackout during the procedure. Additionally during the laser procedure due to the shape of the cup and its calibration to patient’s cornea, patient’s cornea is not forced into a non-physiological planar shape. Therefore artifacts are avoided during the laser procedure. Also there is no need to unnecessarily increase intraocular pressure to very high levels.

These differences make the procedure gentler, safer and painless and give rise to many advantages-

1. Induction of spherical aberration is minimized. Therefore ReLEx smile patients are more likely to achieve better quality of vision, which is especially true for those with high myopia. Additionally ReLEx SMILE may be more accurate than LASIK, especially for higher degrees of myopia.
2. Biomechanical stability of cornea is better retained after ReLEx Smile than procedures like Lasik or Femto Lasik where flap is created.
3. As there is no flap there is minimal postoperative discomfort
4. When flap is created during femto Lasik nerves are cut and this causes dry eye. In cases of ReLEx SMILE there is no increased dry eye as no flap is created.
5. With no risk of flap displacement, ReLEx smile is the best procedure for those who are involved in contact sports and combative professions like army, air force etc where they may be chances of trauma.
6. ReLEx SMILE is also faster  to perform than Femto LASIK as the patient bed stays under one laser machine only
7. ReLEx SMILE Laser vision correction treatment takes place in a closed environment, without outside contact. Unaffected by outside temperature, humidity, draft, etc. This increases the precision of the whole procedure as well.

In the evolution of refractive laser techniques, we surgeons have always longed for a time when closed intra corneal surgery would come to the front, avoiding the need to disturb the corneal surface and creating a flap. SMILE Lasik laser vision correction is a step in the right direction which has made the eye power reduction procedure safer and more effective.

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About the author:

Dr Vandana Jain is a renowned Cornea and Lasik Surgeon heading the Centre for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital & Institute, Navi Mumbai, India. She is one of the best lasik surgeons in India and is an expert in Pre-Lasik tests, Corneal evaluation pre lasik and has done more than 5000 Lasik surgeries in her career spanning more than 12 years. At her centre, which is the best lasik surgery centre in western India, she offers counsel and advice for Custom lasik, femto lasik, Relex Smile lasik

Dr Vandana Jain- Lasik Surgeon expert

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Dr Vandana Jain can be contacted at contactus@advancedeyehospital.com or her appointments are available at +91-22-67313636

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Concerns and Queries while deciding about SMILE LASIK LASER (Relex Smile) SURGERY

“If we are creating ourselves all the time, then it is never too late to begin creating the bodies we want instead of the ones we mistakenly assume we are stuck with.” 

― Deepak Chopra

People who have worn glasses or contact lenses often desperately want to get rid of the dependence on glasses. As a SMILE LASIK surgeon I get to hear and understand people’s concerns about LASIK laser surgery very often. Just yesterday a 30 year old man got himself evaluated under our care at the Center for LASIK Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, Navi Mumbai, India for SMILE LASIK laser (also called Relex Smile). All his tests as a part of pre SMILE Lasik evaluation were normal. However I could sense his anxiety and concerns which we discussed at length. At the end of the consultation I asked him to tabulate these on a slip of paper and give them to me. These questions and answers about Smile Lasik surgery form the substance of this blog. I hope this will benefit people who are looking for information about Smile Lasik surgery whether in India or abroad:

1. Which LASIK laser is best and why?

SMILE Lasik (Relex Smile) is the most advanced LASIK lasers in the current times. In this procedure, femto laser makes a small 3-4 mm incision (keyhole) is made in the periphery of cornea. Then with the help of a machine called Visumax, laser creates a very thin disc of tissue (lenticule) inside the intact cornea, size and thickness of which is dependent on patient’s spectacle/ contact lens power. This lenticule is then extracted through the peripheral key-hole incision. Unlike LASIK or Femtolasik no flap is created during this type of laser vision correction. Hence Smile Lasik laser is a procedure which is very quick and precise, does not disturb the cornea much and keeps it intact and stronger. Additionally SMILE Lasik does not induce any spherical aberrations as the zone of disc cutting is very well defined and no laser energy is lost in the peripheral part of the treatment. This makes Relex SMILE Lasik one of the safest, quickest and most comfortable (for patient) Lasik lasers.

2. Are there any risks to my eye with SMILE Lasik ?

SMILE Lasik laser is one of the safest Lasik lasers. The risk and probability of post operative complications is least with SMILE Lasik amongst all lasik lasers. Since it is a key-hole procedure and not an open surgery like LASIK where full flap is created, safety profile is the best.

1. Cornea stays biomechanically stronger so the chances of future problems like post LASIK ectasia (bulging of the thin weak cornea in an irregular fashion causing high cylindrical powers to appear) is near nil. Unlike Lasik or FemtoLasik, no case of post SMILE Lasik Ectasia has been reported anywhere in the world! Isn’t this incredible and gives so much re-assurance and a good night’s sleep to cornea Lasik surgeons like me.
2. During SMILE Lasik corneal nerves are left intact unlike in flap based Lasik where superficial nerves are transected during the creation of flap. Healthy corneal nerves are responsible for reducing the eye dryness. So after SMILE Lasik chances of increased dryness are minimized. For young professionals who have to work for several hours in front of computers this may be very important as they may be already suffering from computer related dry eye.
3. Chances of infection are minimized as no flap is created
4. Post operative discomfort is minimal as there is only a small keyhole incision. So literally within a few hours patients feel normal.
5. Avoiding a flap prevents complications such as flap displacements which can happen during ball sports or contact sports, so most people can play normally without worrying about their eye injuries risk due to previous LASIK.

3. How Expensive is this surgery compared to other LASIK

SMILE Lasik laser is more expensive when compared to other types of LASIK lasers like Conventional LASIK, Custom lasik, waverfront guided lasik, FemtoLasik, Epi-Lasik etc.  Major proportion of the cost is due to the license cost that the company charges for each and every procedure being performed. However if we really look at the big picture, the cost-effectiveness is maximum with SMILE Lasik. Let’s look at an example to understand this. After any Lasik surgery there is no need to buy glasses or contact lenses. On an average we spend Rs. 5000 Rs per year on these alone. Hence over 20 years this means the same sum of money saved by getting a Smile Lasik done. Further, the number of eye drops that we need to purchase for dryness after Smile lasik is negligible. Number of doctor followup visits is less saving lot of time.   Besides the monetary value, the safety profile of Smile lasik surgery is priceless as SMILE Lasik is a very safe Lasik.  Spending that little extra now ensures short term comfort, saves time and ensures long term safety of eyes after Smile lasik as compared to other LASIK surgeries.

4. How many days will I have to miss work and stay away from computer?

As I discussed earlier, in SMILE Lasik surgery we have a tiny keyhole incision. So actually no one needs to miss work for more than a day or two. Hence the motto at Centre for Lasik Surgery at AEHI- SMILE Lasik on Friday and back to work on Monday. Compared to Conventional LASIK or Femto Lasik where we do not recommend swimming or eye makeup for almost a month, after SMILE Lasik swimming and all the other day to day activities can be performed within 14 days. Due to less risk of dryness, working on computer is also not a problem and most people are comfortable in 1-2 days after SMILE Lasik.

5. What are the chances that I will get some numbers again?

LASIK/ SMILE Lasik is a mechanical procedure which reduces eye power by changing the curvature of the cornea with the help of laser. The procedure does not alter anything inside the eye.  When we are performing any LASIK laser, the idea is to induce a permanent correction in eye power for that particular date. If the number is not stable and increasing still then it will increase and can be perceived that the number has come back. That is why it is recommended and strongly followed by Lasik Surgeons at Centre for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, Navi Mumbai that SMILE Lasik laser should be done only when eye power has been stable and there has been no change in glass power for the last 1-2 years.

Secondly, dry eye can cause regression of numbers and some small numbers may come back in future if one is not diligent in taking care of dry eye in daily lifestyle. This is very important for people who work in front of computers for long hours as they are at a risk of computer related dry eyes. Taking frequent breaks from computer/mobile phone work, blinking frequently and using lubricating drops are some of the required precautions among many others. In this situation again, SMILE Lasik may be better as there will be less associated dry eyes.

Thirdly people who have high powers and undergo deep corrections have some minor inherent risk of regression. This risk increases further if the treating surgeon chooses small optical zone to save the tissue. I personally advise people to look for alternative options of power correction if numbers are higher than -10D.

And last risk factor is the excessive near vision related activities such as non-stop computers, mobile video games and chatting and reading etc. Even though not proven by research but there are speculations that excessive non-stop near work can cause eye powers to be unstable. So it is for us to make sure that we take frequent breaks and give relaxation to our eye muscles. This may prevent instability of eye powers and reduces the risk of numbers increasing in future.

It is fine to have anxiety and concerns about a procedure as long as you understand the nuances of the surgery. It is very important to choose carefully your lasik surgeon, the place for the lasik surgery and the different laser vision correction options available.  I cannot stress enough the value of pre LASIK evaluation, understanding different LASIK laser options and finally discussing all the concerns and queries before the surgery with the LASIK surgeon.

About the author:

Dr Vandana Jain is a Cornea and Lasik surgeon and currently heads the Centre for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute at Navi Mumbai India. In her practice, she has performed more than 5000 successful lasik surgeries and is a big advocate of ensuring long term safety of vision before going ahead with laser vision correction. Having trained in Cornea, she is able to assess Cornea health very well in minute details before giving a go ahead for lasik surgery. She is also one of the first surgeons in India to start Relex Smile lasik laser surgeries. She is an expert in other lasik surgeries such as Femto Lasik, PRK (Epi Lasik), Custom and Wavefront guided lasik and Lasik Xtra. She can be reached at 02267313636 or contactus@advancedeyehospital.com

About the author:

Dr Vandana Jain – Lasik Surgeon expert

Dr Vandana Jain is a renowned Cornea and Lasik Surgeon practicing in Navi Mumbai, India. Due to her extensive training at Harvard, USA & LV Prasad Eye Institute and expertise, she is counted as one of the best lasik surgeons in Mumbai, India. She heads the Cornea and lasik surgery department at Centre for lasik surgery within Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute (AEHI), Navi Mumbai India. Her work involves various lasik surgeries such as Smile Lasik, Femto Lasik, Custom Wavefront guided lasik, PRK and Lasik Xtra. AEHI is one of the few centres in India which has all these facilities under one roof and thus is one of the best lasik surgery centres in western India.

Watch dr Vandana Jain perform Smile lasik Surgery – the best Lasik surgery at Centre for lasik surgery, AEHI, Navi Mumbai, India

Watch video of Dr Vandana Jain answering questions about Smile Lasik surgery- safest lasik surgery

Dr Vandana Jain can be contacted at contactus@advancedeyehospital.com or her appointments are available at +91-22-67313636

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Dry eye and Lasik laser surgery: Does Smile Laser surgery (Relex Smile) cause less Dry Eye?

Dry eyes have become a very common problem even without lasik surgery. What earlier used to affect some select few and mostly was a problem of older age groups with some systemic diseases has now become a common problem. We now give treatment for dry eye to children who are glued to mobile and computer screens, young professionals who work twenty four seven on the computer monitors and ofcourse older people who have dry eye due to other reasons. So I am really talking about no age being excluded from the problem of dry eyes.

Every week at Centre for Lasik Surgery @ Advanced Eye Hospital and Istitute, Navi Mumbai, india we see young professionals who visit us to explore the option of getting LASIK laser surgery. And given that dry is so common, a lot of them have dry eyes.  On top of that dry eye is even more common in regular contact lens users.

So what is the connection between Dry eye and lasik laser surgery? Does it affect recovery from lasik surgery?

1. Dry eye is the most common problem after LASIK and virtually all patients experience dry eyes after LASIK for the first 3-6 months. This happens due to damage to the corneal nerves while corneal flaps are being made as a part of the conventional or FEMTO LASIK procedure.
2. Dry eyes can delay normal healing after the LASIK surgery
3. Dry eyes after LASIK can cause both discomfort and less than optimal visual outcomes.
4. Long standing uncorrected dry eye after Lasik can cause regression ( some numbers to come back)

Since the post procedure stakes with dry eyes are high, we make sure provide best treatment for dry eye before lasik surgery. A battery of dry eye tests is performed to assess the presence and grade the severity of dry eyes during Pre LASIK evaluation. Both the quality and quantity of tear film is evaluated.

Various tests for dry eye before lasik surgery that are performed include–

1. Schirmer’s test- In this test a thin strip of special paper is putting under the lower lid to measure the amount of tear production.
2. Tear break up time- This is done with the help of a special dye which is put on the eye surface and then tear distribution and break up is evaluated
3. Surface staining- This is also done with the help of the dye and any areas of surface staining are studied.
4. Imaging- to assess the anatomy of the gland in the lids called Meibomian glands

While assessing the possible candidate for a LASIK procedure, we also try to rule out if there is any underlying condition that might be causing dry eyes.

Sheila, a young housewife wanted to learn swimming and found her glasses a big hindrance to that. She decided to get rid of her glasses and came to us for evaluation at the Center for LASIK surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, Navi Mumbai. All her pre-LASIK evaluation was completely normal except for moderate decrease in her tear secretion. We noticed the slight crookedness of the fingers. On further probing she revealed that sometimes she gets pain and swelling in her fingers but she has not taken any treatment for it. We ordered some blood tests and she turned out to be a case of Rheumatoid Arthritis. This causes dry eye and can hamper normal healing after LASIK. She was advised against LASIK as there would have been risks of lasik surgery in long term.

Who are the people who are most at risk of developing dry eyes after LASIK?

1. Pre-existing dry eye (for example long term contact lens users)
2. People with very high myopia who need deeper tissue ablation during LASIK
3. Autoimmune diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis, SLE, Sjogrens syndrome, skin diseases
4. Post menopausal women
5. People on some systemic medicines like Allergy medications

Can lasik be done if someone has dry eye?

All patients who have dry eyes may not be unfit for lasik. If the dry eye is mild to moderate, we may consider treatment for dry eye prior to LASIK. In some cases we put punctual plugs, small plugs to block the tear drainage from the eye and hence enhance the eye lubrication, at the time of LASIK laser surgery.

Which is the best lasik surgery for people with dry eye?

As lasik surgeons, we regularly make a choice when managing patients who have dry eye prior to lasik treatment such as:

• Surface Ablation (PRK, LASEK, Epi-LASIK) and SMILE LASIK (also called Relex Smile) are better options to prevent and reduce dry eye problem compared to LASIK.
• SMILE LASIK vs Lasik/ Femto Lasik, where no flap is created and is bladeless, causes minimal damage to corneal nerves during the procedure compared to LASIK where due to flap creation more corneal nerves are damaged. Hence, dry eye is less after Smile lasik.

To summarise:

• All people who are keen on LASIK should get a detailed pre LASIK dry eye check up done. Hence, it is a routine at Centre for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, Navi Mumbai.
• Mild to moderate dry eyes require best treatment for dry eye before lasik surgery procedure.
• Newer, more advanced options like Relex SMILE LASIK have best results and reduce the problem of dry eye after the laser vision correction.

 About the Lasik Surgeon:

Dr Vandana Jain is a renowned Cornea Surgeon and one of the best Lasik Surgeons in India. She has been trained in Cornea and refractive surgery at LV Prasad Eye Institute Hyderabad and then at Harvard USA. She has performed more than 5000 successful Lasik Surgeries and heads one of the best lasik centres in India- Centre for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, Navi Mumbai, India. Centre for lasik surgery at AEHI has the best lasik surgery machines for conventional lasik, femto lasik and Relex smile lasik available in India.

Dr Vandana Jain – Expert Lasik Surgeon

Watch dr Vandana Jain perform Smile lasik Surgery – the best Lasik surgery at Centre for lasik surgery, AEHI, Navi Mumbai, India

Watch video of Dr Vandana Jain, Best Lasik Doctor, answering questions about Smile Lasik surgery- safest lasik surgery

Dr Vandana Jain can be contacted at contactus@advancedeyehospital.com or her appointments are available at +91-22-67313636

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What is SMILE Laser (Relex Smile) surgery and is it better than other Lasik?

Smile LASIK or ReLex Smile procedure has been an amazing breakthrough in refractive laser vision correction for people with minus and cylindrical numbers. Even though conventional LASIK procedure has been around for decades and continues to benefit millions of people around the world but it has its own limitations. Research over the years has aimed to make lasik surgery procedure safer and more effective. This research has culminated into the latest generation laser vision procedure called SMILE Lasik procedure.

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticular Extraction) Lasik Surgery

SMILE is a novel form of ‘flapless’ laser vision correction surgery and is technically also known as Relex Smile laser. In conventional Lasik a flap is created on the cornea (either with blade or with femtosecond laser) and excimer Laser is used to flatten the cornea.

 

How is SMILE Lasik done:

Instead of a full corneal flap, while doing Relex SMILE a small 2-4 mm incision is made in the periphery of cornea by the femto laser. With the help of a machine called Visumax we create a very thin disc of tissue (lenticule) inside the intact cornea, which can then be extracted through the small 2-4 mm incision. An excimer laser is not required. This is akin to key-hole surgery.

Step 1: The VisuMax Femto laser creates a tiny key-hole incision measuring 2- 4 mm (Talk about precision!) and a refractive lenticule in the cornea in the same step.

Step 2: The lenticule is removed through the tiny key-hole incision. As no flap has been made, there is minimal disruption of the cornea.

Step 3: As the lenticule is removed, the curvature of the cornea is changed. This creates the required change to remove the eye power.

Smile LASIK where no flap is created is like a key-hole surgery compared to LASIK/Femto LASIK where flap is created and is like an open surgery. For the first time we have a glass removing laser surgery procedure that provides great benefits to patients with the least possible intervention: the cornea of the eye remains intact as much as possible and the predictability of the correction is very good. Additionally due to additional safety patients can go back to work in just 2-3 days- Hence at Centre for Lasik Surgery, Advanced Eye Hospital & Institute, Navi Mumbai, India – we have a saying – Smile Lasik on Friday, Back to Work on Monday

Some highlights of Relex SMILE Lasik surgery-

•  No Flap related complications
• Small incision heals very quickly-virtually no precautions and hence the precautions required after the surgery are minimised to just a week or so
• Less dry eye- fewer corneal nerves are cut as no flaps are created
• Biomechanical stability better preserved leading to long term safety
• Treatment time not dependent on the refractive error-quick 5-10 min procedure
• No laser energy loss in the periphery of the optical zone – minimizes spherical aberrations

What SMILE Lasik surgery means for the young professionals

• No increase in dry eye especially as most of them may be already suffering from computer vision related dry eye which otherwise gets aggravated after conventional LASIK
• No productive days lost in terms of precautions and restrictions.
• Lesser chances of any complications in future since biomechanical strength of cornea is not compromised.
• Negligible chances of infection as no flap is created and no blades are used
• Avoiding a flap prevents complications such as flap displacements which can happen during ball sports or contact sports

In today’s world we all seek a solution which is not only safe but allows us to get back to work quickly, SMILE Lasik surgery is the perfect and the best lasik surgery procedure. It is a real revolution in the way laser vision correction is done. In the Center for Lasik surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute we have been performing SMILE LASIK and getting smiles from patients for excellent results. It is great to see patients get back to normal lifestyle and work within a few days after the Smile lasik procedure.

About the author:

Dr Vandana Jain is a renowned Cornea Surgeon and one of the best Lasik Surgeons in India. She has been trained in Cornea and refractive surgery at LV Prasad Eye Institute Hyderabad and then at Harvard USA. She has performed more than 5000 successful Lasik Surgeries and heads one of the best lasik centres in India- Centre for Lasik Surgery at Advanced Eye Hospital and Institute, Navi Mumbai, India. The centre is equipped with Visumax Femtosecond laser machine which offres Femto Lasik and Relex Smile lasik. She can be contacted at contactus@advancedeyehospital.com or her appointments are available at +91-22-67313636

Dr Vandana Jain – Expert Lasik Surgeon

Watch Dr Vandana Jain answer a few FAQs on SMILE Lasik:

Watch a Smile Lasik laser surgery being performed by Dr Vandana Jain at Centre for Lasik Surgery at AEHI:

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