Refractive Surgery in India
Refractive surgery is gaining popularity in India both
among the public as well as among ophthalmologists. Till a few years ago
only a few centers performed high volume radial keratotomy. Today, the
highest international quality of eye care for cornea, cataract, squint
and glaucoma is available in various centers all over India. When it comes
to reliability, India has the best ophthalmic surgeons with clinico-academic
expertise honed to perfection in the best possible institutions. Visual
aid Center in Delhi, Manipal Hospital in Bangalore are some of the more
popular eye care hospitals.
The No Stitch Cataract Surgery with the most modern way of removing cataract
through the use of Phacoemulsification procedure can be performed in India
for as little as US$ 480 for both the eyes, whereas the same surgery costs
$ 45,000 in the USA.
Hyperopics and LASIK are available and even supra hard cataracts are
treated using just 1 mm incision instead of the 3 mm incision size. Photorefractive
keratectomy or PRK treats the surface of the cornea with the Excimer laser
while LASIK treats the inner tissue of the cornea. For this reason, with
LASIK there is less area to heal, less risk of scarring, less risk of
corneal haze, less post-operative pain and vision often returns very rapidly.
Mediescapes India
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes is an important cause of blindness the world over and is of extreme
importance in the Indian context. Either due to genetic, environmental
or other factor, Indians are more prone to develop diabetes. Not only
are we more prone to have diabetes, but we tend to get it at an earlier
age. This has lead the WHO to predict a tremendous increase in the occurrence
of diabetes in the coming years.
It has been estimated that in 1995 almost 135 million people in the world
had diabetes. This figure is likely to increase to 300 million by the
year 2025. This is an astonishing 122 % increase in the incidence of diabetes.
The increase has been predicted to be the most in India: a startling 195%
increase, from 19 million in 1995 to 54 million diabetics in 2025. This
has prompted some to call this a diabetes epidemic.
Diabetes affects almost all parts of the body. Diabetes can cause heart
disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, pregnancy complications, amputations
of the leg, foot, and toe, as well as deaths related to flu and pneumonia.
ROB - PIB
Retina is a thin sensitive layer at the back of eye. It is like the film
at the back of the camera. The image of an object that a person sees is
formed on the retina from where it is transmitted to the brain. Premature
babies are born with a growing retina. Normally, the development of the
retina is complete at full term of pregnancy – however as the baby
is premature, the retina is yet to fully develop. In majority of premature
babies, the development of the retina usually proceeds without any problems.
However in a small group of babies, the blood vessels in the retina develop
abnormally. This abnormal development is called retinopathy of prematurity
or ROP.
Manipal Hospital, Bangalore are among the most recognized
refractive surgery centre in Bangalore and has strived to provide the
best of the treatment and always has looked out to incorporate the latest
techniques and technology in patient care. To be able to provide this,
they are equipped with state of the art instruments.
Just to name a few;
++Topcon Examination units.
++Topcon Examination units.
++Automated computerized visual field analyzer (perimetry).
++Kowa fundus camera for fluorescien angiography.
++Anterior segment camera for documentation.
++Lasers
++YAG laser to post cataract & glaucoma patients.
++Alcon universal phacoemulsification unit.
++System 10000 - Vitrectomy unit.
++Lasers - LIO and Endolaser delivery systems.
India Refractive Surgery FAQ's
Can I have both eyes treated at the same time ?
Yes. Many patients prefer to minimize the time off work and reduce the
amount of healing time they experience after surgery, so they have both
eyes done during the same visit.
Can I drive myself home after surgery ?
No. Your vision may be blurry in the first few hours after the procedure.
In addition, you will be given a mild oral sedative prior to surgery and,
thus, will need someone to drive you home. Many people are able to drive
the next day.
Will I have to limit my activities after surgery ?
You will be told to avoid strenuous activity or visually demanding tasks
for at least 1- 2 days after LASIK and 3 days after LASIK/PRK. Make sure
to ask about specific activities that are important to you.
Can I play sports right after the procedure ?
No. Certain strenuous activities, contact sports and swimming should be
postponed for several weeks.
How soon can I use eye make-up ?
It is recommended that you avoid using eye make-up for the first week
after surgery to reduce the risk of infection.
Can I get water in my eyes ?
No. You should avoid getting water in your eyes for about one week after
surgery, so be careful when washing your face and hair.
What are enhancements (touch-ups) ?
Your vision after surgery either will be perfect, or under- or over- corrected.
This can be fixed with a minor procedure called an enhancement or touch-up.
This procedure typically is performed approximately three months after
the initial surgery if visual improvement has not been attained. These
enhancements are only necessary in about 10 percent of all cases.
Is refractive surgery covered by insurance ?
Refractive surgery is considered an elective procedure and, therefore,
usually is not covered by insurance companies. Some plans will cover a
portion of the screening examination. However, to be sure, check with
your insurance company at the time of your evaluation.
Mediescapes India
What are the most common complications ?
The most common is either over-correction or under-correction, both of
which can be treated. Individual variation is part of any refractive surgical
procedure. While everyone hopes for perfect vision, perfection is not
always the result. Your expectation should be reduced dependence on glasses
and contact lenses, realizing that they may still be needed for some activities.
Dry eyes are also common in the early post-operative period.
What about severe complications ?
Sight-threatening complications are very rare. There is always a small
risk of infection, scarring, abnormal healing patterns, or cell growth
underneath the corneal flap. This may cause partial loss of vision and
require further medical or surgical treatment.
Will my vision be stable ?
Although vision may fluctuate slightly during the first few days and also
shift slowly for 6 to 12 months, most of the healing is complete within
3 to 6 months. With nearly a decade of experience with PRK, we know that
the procedure is stable, with no evidence of late-onset complications.
LASIK has been available for about five years and, from the data collected
over this period, also appears stable.
Is it possible that my vision could be worse than before?Could
my vision gradually decline ?
There is a very slight chance that your vision could be worse. Results
thus far, however, have shown excellent stability after PRK and LASIK.
Will I be able to wear contact lenses if I still need them after
PRK or LASIK ?
Yes. In most cases, PRK and LASIK do not interfere with the use of soft
contact lenses. Rigid contact lenses can sometimes be used but the fit
may be more difficult. Some patients cannot wear rigid contact lenses
after refractive surgery.
How is PRK or LASIK likely to affect my need to use glasses or
contacts when I get older ?
By middle age, all people need help reading. If your nearsightedness is
permanently eliminated by PRK or LASIK, you may need to start using reading
glasses in your forties.
Will I need to use eye drops ?
Depending on your specific procedure, eye drops may be needed for anywhere
from three days to six months, but not permanently |