What is the ideal age for refractive surgery?

Most patients are treated between 18 and 40, once the glasses number has been stable for at least a year. There is no strict upper limit, but your eyes must be healthy with no significant cataract — if early cataract is found, a lens-based solution usually makes more sense than laser. A detailed check tells us which path suits your age and eyes.

What powers and conditions can be corrected — including astigmatism?

Laser procedures treat a wide range of nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism, including astigmatism on its own — the laser reshapes the cornea so light focuses evenly on the retina. Very high powers or thin corneas may be better served by a lens-based option such as an ICL / phakic IOL. Your exact treatable range is confirmed at evaluation.

Can I have laser vision correction if I have dry eyes?

Often, yes — mild dry eye is usually treated and stabilised first. A flapless option can also be gentler on the ocular surface: published comparative research (Kobashi et al., Cornea, 2017) suggests SMILE causes less early dry-eye disturbance than flap-based LASIK. Significant dry eye needs careful assessment, and we will not proceed until your surface is suitable.

Can I have laser surgery during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

We generally advise waiting. Hormonal changes during pregnancy and breastfeeding can temporarily shift your glasses number and affect the ocular surface, which would undermine the accuracy of your correction. Once things settle, we reassess your stability and plan surgery at the right time for your eyes.

What is refractive surgery, and what are my options?

Refractive surgery corrects refractive error — your glasses number or power — so you depend less on glasses or contact lenses. The main routes are laser reshaping of the cornea (LASIK, Femto LASIK, Contoura Vision, SMILE, and surface procedures such as PRK) and lens-based surgery (phakic IOL / ICL, or refractive lens exchange) when laser is not suitable. Your evaluation decides which route fits.

What is the difference between LASIK and SMILE?

LASIK reshapes the cornea after creating a thin protective flap. SMILE (ReLEx SMILE) is flapless and bladeless — a small lens-shaped piece of tissue is removed through a keyhole incision on the ZEISS VisuMax. SMILE is often considered for myopia with or without astigmatism, and for dry-eye-prone or active patients; LASIK covers a broader mix of powers. Your surgeon recommends what suits your eyes.

How is Contoura Vision different from standard LASIK?

Contoura Vision is topography-guided LASIK: the treatment is planned from a detailed map of your cornea's unique surface, rather than from your glasses number alone. Whether that personalisation helps depends on your corneal map — it suits some eyes and adds little for others. Neither is universally superior; the recommendation follows your measurements.

What is the difference between blade LASIK, bladeless (Femto) LASIK and SMILE?

In blade LASIK, the corneal flap is created with a precision instrument (microkeratome); in bladeless Femto LASIK, a femtosecond laser creates the flap, adding laser precision at a higher cost; in SMILE there is no flap at all, only a small keyhole incision. All three then correct your power. Each has a place — your cornea and lifestyle decide which.

What is refractive lens surgery — phakic IOL and RLE?

Refractive lens surgery helps patients who are not suitable for laser. A phakic IOL places an additional lens inside the eye without removing your natural lens — useful for very high powers or thin corneas — and is removable. Refractive lens exchange (RLE) replaces the natural lens with an artificial one, more often considered at ages where presbyopia or early cataract is part of the picture.

I play contact sports or am preparing for the defence services — which option suits me?

Flapless and surface approaches are often preferred for high-impact lifestyles, because there is no corneal flap to consider. SMILE and surface procedures such as PRK are the usual candidates for contact-sport players and defence aspirants. The final choice still depends on your cornea and power — bring your service's visual requirements to the consultation and our surgeons will advise.

Is laser eye surgery safe?

Laser vision correction is among the most widely performed and closely studied elective procedures in eye care, and serious complications are uncommon in well-selected patients. The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes roughly 9 in 10 LASIK patients achieve 20/20–20/40 uncorrected vision, and a review of 2,198 patients reported 95.4% satisfaction (Solomon et al., Ophthalmology, 2009). Like any surgery it carries risk, which is why screening and your surgeon's judgement matter. These are research findings, not a promise.

Does laser eye surgery hurt?

The procedure is done under numbing eye drops, so most patients feel pressure and awareness rather than sharp pain during the few minutes of treatment. Some grittiness, watering or light sensitivity is common for a day or two afterwards and is managed with prescribed drops. Surface procedures such as PRK can feel more tender in the first few days while the surface heals.

What side effects should I expect?

During healing, some patients notice temporary dry eyes, glare or haloes around lights at night, mild grittiness or fluctuating vision. These usually settle over weeks to a few months with the drops we prescribe. A small minority may need a fine-tuning re-treatment (enhancement). We go through the full list of possible effects for your specific case at consultation.

Can laser surgery harm my vision?

Significant, lasting vision problems are rare when patients are carefully screened and the right procedure is chosen — which is exactly why we do detailed corneal mapping and rule out conditions such as keratoconus before recommending surgery. Where laser is not the safest choice, we say so honestly and suggest an alternative such as a surface procedure or a phakic IOL. All surgery carries some risk; your surgeon discusses yours specifically.

How long does the surgery take, and will I stay in hospital?

Laser vision correction is a daycare procedure — you walk in and walk out the same day. The treatment itself usually takes about 10–15 minutes for both eyes, with the laser working for only seconds per eye, though you should plan a couple of hours at the centre for preparation and post-procedure checks. You will need someone to accompany you home.

How soon will I see clearly after surgery?

Many patients notice clearer vision within hours of LASIK or SMILE, with vision continuing to stabilise over days to a few weeks. Surface procedures such as PRK improve more gradually — the first week is blurrier, then vision steadily sharpens. Your surgeon will give you a realistic, procedure-specific timeline, because healing speed varies from eye to eye.

When can I go back to work, drive and use screens?

Many people return to desk and screen work within a couple of days of LASIK or SMILE, in short sessions at first; PRK usually needs a slightly longer break. Driving resumes once your vision is stable and your surgeon clears you. We advise a short pause on swimming, eye make-up, contact sport and eye-rubbing while the surface heals — you get a written do's-and-don'ts plan.

Will I need eye drops after surgery?

Yes. You will be prescribed a short course of drops — typically an antibiotic to protect against infection, an anti-inflammatory to support healing, and lubricating drops for dryness. Using them exactly on schedule is one of the simplest things you can do to protect your result, and we review your drops at each follow-up visit.

How much does refractive surgery cost in Gurgaon?

There is no single flat price, because the right technique differs from eye to eye. As a guide, laser vision correction at Dayal Eye Centre starts from around ₹30,000 per eye (SBK LASIK), with standard LASIK from ₹40,000 and SMILE from ₹1,25,000 per eye — all starting-from figures, subject to an individual consultation and eye examination. See the full comparison on our refractive surgery cost page.

Why does SMILE cost more than LASIK?

SMILE is performed on the ZEISS VisuMax femtosecond platform, a specialised technology that removes tissue through a keyhole incision without a flap — the equipment and expertise behind it carry a higher cost, starting from ₹1,25,000 per eye. Whether that is worth it depends on your eyes, not the price tag.

Does insurance cover LASIK or SMILE?

Usually only to a limited extent — refractive procedures are generally elective, so most policies do not reimburse them, and we would rather tell you that plainly. We work with cashless insurance and TPA networks and schemes such as CGHS, ECHS and Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) for eligible eye conditions. Most refractive patients use our EMI options instead; we will confirm what applies to you.

Yes. We offer Easy EMI via Savein, plus select NBFC and debit-card EMI options (a nominal processing fee may apply on some plans), so advanced procedures such as Contoura Vision and SMILE fit a monthly budget. Our team walks you through the plans and confirms your exact, itemised costing after your evaluation.

Can LASIK correct myopia, and is the result permanent?

LASIK treats myopia (nearsightedness) by reshaping the cornea so light focuses correctly on the retina — it corrects your current number rather than curing the underlying condition. For most well-selected patients the correction is long-lasting, though eyes can change naturally with age, and age-related near blur (presbyopia) still arrives in the forties. Your surgeon explains what is realistic for your prescription.

How long do laser vision-correction results last?

For most suitable patients, results are stable over the long term. A seven-year follow-up study of SMILE reported an average refractive change of only −0.34 D over that period (Damgaard et al., 2021) — small, though not zero. A stable prescription before surgery is the strongest predictor of a stable result, which is why we assess stability so carefully.

Can my glasses number come back after surgery?

In a minority of eyes, part of the number can gradually return over time — called regression — and it can often be addressed with an enhancement. Enhancement is uncommon: a 2023 Indian Journal of Ophthalmology report found re-treatment rates of about 0.44% after LASIK and 0.5% after SMILE. We will tell you honestly if your profile carries a higher likelihood.

Will I still need reading glasses as I age?

Laser correction addresses your current distance number, but it does not stop presbyopia — the natural age-related near blur that develops for everyone from the forties onward. So reading glasses may still be needed later in life. If near vision is a priority for you, ask your surgeon about the options; that conversation is part of your consultation.

How long do phakic IOLs last?

Phakic IOLs are intended for long-term use and do not need routine replacement, and one of their advantages is that they are removable if your needs ever change — for example if cataract surgery is required later in life. Like any implant, they need periodic monitoring at eye check-ups. No implant can be promised to last a lifetime; your surgeon will explain realistic expectations.

Refractive & Lasik FAQ's

Honest answers to the LASIK, SMILE and refractive surgery questions our Gurgaon patients ask most — from our senior refractive surgeons.

28 answers from our refractive team

Candidacy & Eligibility Choosing a Procedure Safety & Side Effects Recovery Cost & Payment Results & Longevity

NABH Accredited 1.2 Lakh+ Surgeries 20+ Years of Trust SMILE & Contoura Under One Roof Specialist-Led

Thinking about reducing your dependence on glasses or contact lenses? Below are plain, honest answers to the questions patients ask us most about LASIK, SMILE, Contoura Vision, surface procedures and lens-based options — grouped so you can jump straight to what matters to you. They come from our senior refractive surgeons, backed by an NABH-accredited hospital with 20+ years of experience and more than 1.2 lakh (120,000+) eye surgeries. Every answer is general information; the answer for your eyes comes from an examination. Book an appointment whenever you are ready — consult with our doctors, with no pressure to proceed.

Candidacy & Eligibility

5 answers

You may be a candidate if you are 18 or older, your glasses number has been stable for at least a year, and your corneas are healthy and of adequate thickness. Active eye disease, an unstable prescription, very thin corneas or uncontrolled dry eye can rule laser out — the US FDA's LASIK guidance lists similar candidacy factors. The only way to know for your eyes is a detailed evaluation with corneal mapping.

Choosing a Procedure

6 answers

Safety & Side Effects

4 answers

Recovery

4 answers

Cost & Payment

4 answers

Results & Longevity

5 answers

Still deciding?

Didn't find your question? Consult with our doctors.

Every eye is different, and the clearest answers come from an examination. Our senior surgeons — led by Director and Chief Ophthalmologist Dr. Sanjeev Bisla (23+ years, 80,000+ cataract surgeries) — will assess your candidacy, compare your options and explain costs and Easy EMI, with no pressure to proceed.

+91 81786 39701 Book Your Consultation

Dayal Eye Centre — Gurgaon

808 B, Galaxy Road, Sector 15 Part 2, Near 32nd Avenue, Gurgaon, Haryana 122001. Off NH-48; nearest metro IFFCO Chowk (Yellow Line).

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+91 81786 39701

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Monday–Saturday, 8:30 AM – 7:30 PM · Sunday closed

More patient FAQs: Cataract FAQs

Cornea FAQs

Glaucoma FAQs

Explore refractive: LASIK

All surgical and laser procedures carry inherent risks, and not all patients are suitable candidates for every procedure. Individual results vary based on eye condition, prescription and power range, corneal thickness, age, overall eye health and healing response. Your surgeon will discuss individual risks and benefits during your consultation. Suitability depends on a detailed evaluation.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Sanjeev Bisla, MBBS, MS (Ophthalmology), Director — Dayal Eye Centre · Last reviewed: 31 August 2026 · Editorial Policy · Ethics Policy

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Refractive & Lasik FAQ's

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