FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION

LASIK primarily corrects refractive errors by reshaping the cornea for precise light focus on the retina. It excels for myopia (nearsightedness, trouble seeing far), up to moderate levels; hyperopia (farsightedness, near vision blur); and astigmatism (distorted vision from irregular cornea shape).
It doesn’t treat presbyopia (age-related near focus loss, often needing reading glasses post-40) or cataracts (cloudy lens replacement). Custom wavefront LASIK handles higher-order aberrations for enhanced night vision quality. At Kataria, excimer laser maps treat these precisely, often achieving spectacle independence.

LASIK uses two lasers in a blade-free, outpatient process lasting 10-15 minutes per eye. First, a femtosecond laser creates a precise 100-120 micron corneal flap (20 seconds/eye), hinged for lifting. An excimer laser then ablates microscopic tissue (0.25 microns/pulse) based on your wavefront map, steepening/flattening the cornea to correct focus—no heat damage, just cool photoablation.
The flap repositions naturally via suction and surface tension, adhering in 3-5 minutes without stitches. Eye-tracking ensures accuracy if you blink/move. Post-op, a protective shield prevents rubbing; vision sharpens rapidly as epithelium heals underneath.

LASIK is virtually painless due to topical anesthetic drops numbing the cornea completely before starting. Patients feel mild pressure from the suction ring (like a contact lens fit) and a brief cool mist from the laser, but no sharp pain. Some notice a transient “sterile hair-burning” odor from tissue ablation—normal and harmless.
Post-procedure discomfort peaks 2-4 hours (grittiness, tearing, light sensitivity), managed with oral analgesics and drops. By bedtime, most feel fine; full comfort returns in 24-48 hours. Kataria’s protocol minimizes this with advanced drops and patient education.

Recovery is swift: drive home post-op (next day for some), resume non-contact work/school in 1-2 days. Vision fluctuates initially but stabilizes to 20/40+ by day 1, improving over weeks. Follow-ups: Day 1, Week 1, Month 1, then 3/6/12 months.
Use antibiotic/steroid drops 4x/day tapering over weeks; artificial tears hourly for dry eyes (common first month). Avoid: eye rubbing, makeup/swimming 1 week, contact sports 1 month, eye exams 1 week. Full stability by 3 months; 95% stable by 1 month.

Over 96% achieve 20/20 uncorrected vision; 99% see 20/40+ (legal driving). Enhancements (10-15% cases) refine if needed after 3 months. Results last lifelong barring age-related changes (presbyopia after 40). Custom LASIK yields superior contrast/night vision vs. glasses.
Kataria’s outcomes: 99% patient satisfaction, per internal audits—freedom from glasses for sports, travel, daily life.

Risks are low (<1% serious): dry eyes (20-40%, resolves 6 months with plugs/drops); temporary halos/glare (night vision, fades 3-6 months); flap wrinkles (rare, smoothed same day); infection/inflammation (1:10,000, prevented by sterile protocol). Over/under-correction (5%, re-treatable). Ectasia (corneal bulge, <0.1% with screening).
Mitigated by Kataria’s topography-guided plans and Dr. Sharina Nanda’s 10,000+ cases experience.

No—LASIK has never caused blindness in properly screened patients; FDA tracks zero cases since 1999 approval. Worst rare outcomes (scarring) are correctable. Precision tech (sub-micron accuracy) and screening eliminate risks; 40M+ global procedures confirm safety profile better than contacts (infection risk 1:500/year).

Kataria Eye & ENT Hospital in Jalandhar offers state-of-the-art Zeiss excimer/femtosecond lasers, wavefront-optimized treatments, and Dr. Sharina Nanda’s expertise (fellowship-trained, high-volume surgeon). Affordable packages, 24/7 support, zero-downtime recovery, and  financing options. Proven: Top local rankings, 600+ 5-star reviews—your trusted partner for crystal-clear vision. Book screening today!