Dear XYZ,
Thank you for seeking our Hospital to answer your queries on laser vision correction. I, Dr Safala, will give you a brief on our LASIK procedure and answer your queries. Although it is lengthy, I find it important for you to go through it.
Before I go into the details of LASIK, I would first like you to understand that not all LASIK centers will be the same in this aspect primarily because not all have similar technology or expertise. It is of utmost importance that you learn more on what procedures are available today, what technological advancements have been made in this field.
I would like you to take some time and read below and understand details on the LASIK procedure as we have treated spherical numbers as high as -14 D and have treated astigmatism as high as -6.00 D with excellent results but this is not dependent on numbers alone!
The success of laser vision correction or LASIK depends on a multitude of factors, primary being the expertise of the doctor along with a good laser technology in an International standard set up of hygiene and care with stringent eligibility criteria.
Dr. Anand Shroff, our LASIK Surgeon, has several years of experience in LASIK and is among the country’s longest-standing users of the benchmark ‘flying-spot’ laser technology. He is the first to use the fastest laser in the world, the WaveLight Allegretto Eye-Q 400 Hertz excimer laser in India at our Eye Hospital.
Wavefront LASIK or custom LASIK is the most advanced LASIK method today. But it can be performed using various lasers. The speed of the laser and its applications are very important in delivering results. Today, we use the worlds fastest laser the 400 Hertz whereas most other lasers are close to 50-100 Hertz and some to 200-250 Hertz. Also, just having the laser does not mean that all treatments from that laser are done by wavefront, as most other centers in India do less than 10% of their treatments by wavefront.
In our center, we perform wavefront LASIK on 100% of those who are fit for this procedure.
Wavefront procedures are 25 times more accurate than standard procedures.
We believe in the best, having always stood for distinction in eye care.
After working on different lasers and being offered other lasers like Mel 80, Zyoptix, VISIX etc. some, still entering the market, we went ahead with the Wavelight wavefront 400 Hertz laser because of its superior technology. Most lasers are retrofitted for wavefront or to simply put upgraded whilst this laser has been developed for wavefront from scratch. The detailed research in the laser system took into account the needs of the surgeon, patient as well as looked after the many drawbacks of the other laser systems.
Earlier lasers without wavefront technology can only correct the spectacle number, which arises from the curvature irregularities of the cornea. Our laser can treat the entire optical system errors. Further, when we treat these optical errors by doing wavefront, some patients actually gain lines of sight, better than normal, 6/6. Furthermore, with even US FDA data, there are near zero night vision problems faced with this laser which is almost as high as 50% with some lasers. In our experience we have had no patients complain of night vision, glare, halo problems not just because of the laser but also because this is part of their screening process.
However, no amount of technology can replace the surgical expertise. Our hospital is a LASIK center run singularly by Dr Anand Shroff, where he will himself do the pre operative tests and evaluation.
Furthermore, these lasers are very sensitive and one has to take great care in its maintenance and run checks and calibrations with every case. For this we have a Germany trained engineer with us during every LASIK list. In centers open to many, it is found that with many hands using the same equipment, there is no singular responsibility and the onus of maintaining it. We are a completely disposable use center with no record of infection till date.
EVALUATION OF A CANDIDATE
We evaluate pupil size, dryness of eyes, corneal thickness, topographies etc in our LASIK evaluation. The thickness of the cornea is a very important aspect of screening. We do this with a digital pachymetry test, which would determine if your eye is suitable for LASIK.
What we need from you is
1. No contact lens wear for 5 days to a week [soft CL]. This is because the lenses sit straight on top of the cornea and flatten it. We need accurate measurements and we want to perform this procedure just once.
2. The procedure of evaluation takes an hour and a half in our office since we dilate the pupils. We request you to have someone accompanying you to drive back as you will not be able to self drive.
3. The LASIK procedure takes about 20 mins in all. The laser treatment itself is very short. Our laser treats one dioptre in 2.5 secs, so the actual treatment even for numbers like -12 takes just 30 secs. This is the 400 Hertz difference.
4. We send you home immediately after that explaining the after care of eye drops, see you next morning once and at least 5- 7 days later if in Mumbai.
It is most important that you choose the center by seeing a combination of factors. The expertise of the doctor, the international standards and hygiene of the center and also important the laser.
We are proud to say that being the only eye hospital in India to be certified by USA with JCI accreditation from the JCAHO international body, with strict protocols and being one of only few centers in the world and the first hospital in India to have the 400 Hertz wavefront technology, we offer a far superior, safe and reliable technology at affordable comparable prices.
Consultation : Rs 700/- [This includes clinical and auto refraction, slit lamp examination of cornea, intra ocular pressure check, retinal check]
LASIK Tests : Rs 1250/- [This incliudes pupil check, dry eye tests, topography maps, aberrometry maps and digital pachymetry]
The cost of the LASIK procedure (surgery) is Rs 45,000/- for both eyes, unless you have a thin cornea or high numbers wherein a special kit is used for long term safety and stability of the numbers. This also covers all your medications and immediate post procedure checks.
The payment can be made by cash or credit card [Master, Visa]
The wavefront technology we use is different, our laser being built from scratch for wavefront. We are proud of our expertise, as Dr Anand Shroff also trains other doctors worldwide on wavefront LASIK.
Hence, it would be fair to only compare us with similar centers abroad where the cost of this LASIK would be $4000 to $5000 USD.
A similar center in London has the Wavelight 400 Hertz laser, where the charges will be about 4000 UK Pounds for both eyes. The 400 Hertz in fact has just entered USA [they work with the 200 Hertz laser and still charge 4000 USD] for both eyes!
You can also visit our website at www. lasikindia.in for more information and also the testimonials from our other patients, especially the special instructions for people coming from abroad about travelling etc. For details on the laser we use and what US experts say about it also look into this link
*www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/cost.htm#reg
Sorry for the really lengthy reply, but we want to give all possible information to you to make you comfortable with us and well informed. Please feel free to contact me if you need any further information.
Look forward to seeing you as a part of our growing LASIK family!
Warm regards
Dr Safala Shroff
Shroff Eye Hospital is India's First Eye Hospital that the Joint Commission International (International Division of JCAHO, USA) has given accreditation for excellence in patient care and health care delivery. Shroff Eye is also India's first Wavelight Allegretto Eye Q LASIK center.
Dr Safala Shroff
Refractive and Surgery Coordinator
Shroff Eye Hospital-LASIK
222, S V Road,
Bandra West
Mumbai 400 050
India
Phone: 022 - 66921000/ 66939372
Cell:098211-63901
Fax: 022 - 66949880
email:
safalashroff@yahoo.com
www.lasikindia.in
Shroff Eye Clinic
Gobind Mahal
86 - B Netaji Subhash Road
Marine Drive
Mumbai 400 002
Phone: 022 - 22814077, 2811863, 22029242
Fax: 022 - 22812751
email:
shroffeye@vsnl.com
www.shroffeye.org
