Shroff Eye Centre’s Dr Rushad Shroff Shares what
he tells his own patients
Every day patients ask us “Can you remove
my specs with LASIK?”
The answer is not often what they expect,
and sometimes don’t want to hear, but patients are always happy to hear the
nuances and appreciate the fact that they were informed. Here are the seven
truths every patient should know before walking into any refractive surgery eye
consultation - let’s start with the ones that genuinely surprise people.
All refractive surgeries such as LASIK,SILK,PRK,
Streamlight and ICL aim to improve your vision and remove dependence on specs.
There is a lot of marketing jargon and a lot of information and patients are
often confused with all the terms. Before you make a decision, here are seven
things Dr Rushad Shroff, of Delhi’s famous Shroff Eye Centre, believes every
patient should understand.
1. LASIK is one of many types of refractive surgery
In India, LASIK has become an umbrella term
which patients use for any procedure that will help them get rid of their
glasses. But the world of refractive surgery has expanded dramatically. Today,
we have LASIK, SILK, PRK, Streamlight, SMILE, CLEAR and ICL (Implantable
Collamer Lens). While these terms are not as popularly known as “LASIK”, each
procedure has its own strengths, ideal patient profile, and technology. LASIK
itself is either done with a blade (blade LASIK) or without a blade (blade-less
or Femto LASIK).
Choosing the right procedure for your eyes is
what a good eye surgeon helps you do.
2. There isn’t One single “Best” refractive procedure for
everyone
Many patients arrive having already
decided they want LASIK- there is so much marketing around this word, it’s to
be expected. After evaluation however,
not all patients are good candidates for LASIK. Some are better suited to SILK,
some to PRK and some to ICL.
It’s important to understand that if
LASIK was good for your friend’s eyes, it may not be what is “best” for you.
What is “best” for you is decided after a proper consultation and detailed
evaluation of your eyes and your visual needs. And sometimes, that
recommendation may be to not do LASIK at all or wait and watch. So do not take
your doctor’s refusal personally; If someone refuses to do a surgery- it’s for your
safety.
3. If you’re told you can’t get LASIK done, there is still hope
For some people LASIK may not be a good choice-
for example if you have an active lifestyle or play contact sports, have think
corneas or a high eye power.
In
case you have an active lifestyle, are into contact sports or are a combat
professional, flapless refractive surgeries like SILK, PRK and streamlight may
be better for you.
If you have thinner corneas, surface procedures like Streamlight or PRK may be preferred. And if you have a very high eye power, ICL may be the safer option for specs removal for you.
So if you have been told that LASIK is not good for you, don’t take it as rejection. A good eye surgeon will tell you what is a better alternative for you.
4.
Eligibility for LASIK depends on your Eye Health
Who can get LASIK done? The minimum
criteria for being eligible for LASIK screening are that you must
●
be over 18 years of age and AND
have
●
A stable prescription for at least
one year
●
No recent contact lens overuse
●
Absence of other eye diseases like
glaucoma or retina problems
●
No other chronic health conditions
like autoimmune diseases
●
Not be pregnant or lactating
If you meet the above criteria, we do a
Pre-Refractive/ Pre-LASIK surgery work-up which usually includes
●
Testing your eye power
●
Corneal thickness mapping
●
Corneal shape mapping
●
Tear film testing
●
Pupil size measurement
●
Retinal evaluation
These tests help us plan refractive
surgery and also help us rule out conditions that would make surgery unsafe for
you and increase the chances of complications after surgery.
One example is post-LASIK ectasia, a
condition where the cornea gradually weakens over time. Published literature
places the risk at quite low and between 0.04% and 0.6% and which is why
careful screening and selection of patients is so important.
5. Don’t believe all the marketing myths about LASIK.
Most patients achieve good long-term
results after refractive procedures (if it was chosen correctly) which usually
means freedom from spectacles for daily tasks such as driving or using a phone.
However this does not mean that you’ll develop eagle vision or your eyes will
suddenly see in HD or that you will never need glasses in your life or that AI
will do your surgery.
Does LASIK give “eagle vision”? No, this is a marketing term. The structure of an eagle’s eye is very
different and their retina is built to be able to see clearly from very very
far away. LASIK (or any refractive procedure) only corrects your existing
corneal shape and helps you see as other humans who do not have eye power.
Does LASIK give you Ultra HD vision? No, LASIK will not give you ultra HD vision. This is because the
resolution of the human eye is already far higher than ultra HD screens. LASIK
corrects the corneal shape, which allows light to fall properly on your retina
(without specs) and help you see the world in “Human HD vision”.
Will I ever need specs after LASIK? Yes, you may need to wear specs again after LASIK- Usually, after the
age of 40, the natural lens inside the eye becomes less flexible. This is
called presbyopia and is a part of normal aging. To correct presbyopia, you may
need reading glasses to see things close to you clearly.
Can Artificial intelligence or AI do
my refractive eye surgery? No, AI cannot do your LASIK
or any refractive surgery. AI assists in planning of the
refractive procedure and in some steps of LASIK- but the rest is still done by
your eye surgeon. No robot or AI exists right now which can perform refractive
eye surgery to correct myopia or refractive power.
6. LASIK is not 100% safe
No procedure- not any LASIK or any
refractive surgery is 100% safe and no honest surgeon will claim this.
LASIK remains one of the most studied
elective procedures performed today; it’s very safe and successful but as with
any procedure it does have both benefits and possible side effects.
Flap-related issues and Superficial epithelial defects can occur in a small
percentage of patients after LASIK. SILK, PRK and streamlight have less
flap-related complications but have their own pros and cons.
SILK cannot correct very high powers, or
hypermetropia. The recovery after PRK and streamlight is slower and a little
more uncomfortable. Precautions in ICL go on for a longer period and a small
percentage of patients remain at future risk of glaucoma.
However, serious loss of vision following
LASIK or other refractive procedures, is rare, particularly when modern laser
systems are used and screening protocols are followed carefully.
As with any surgical procedure,
understanding both the benefits and the possible side effects helps patients
make informed choices.
7. Surgical skill and judgement matters more than technology
Laser platforms and implantable contact
lenses have come a long way. The technology continues to evolve and patient
outcomes have improved massively since refractive surgery first started. Even
so, the most important decision still happens before you enter the LASIK
operating room- who do you choose as your eye surgeon?
A responsible refractive surgeon should
be willing to:
●
suggest an alternative when LASIK
is not ideal
●
discuss pros and cons of all
procedures openly
●
advise postponement or refuse
surgery if required
Your surgeon is more important than the
technology they are using- whether SILK, SMILE, CLEAR, Wavelight, Contoura,
Innoveyes or Amaris or CustomEyes.
At Shroff Eye Centre Delhi, we often
remind patients that the aim is long-term visual quality, not simply early
independence from glasses. The right procedure is the one your eyes can
tolerate safely.
So the next time you hear someone say “I want LASIK to correct my myopia” or “I want LASIK because I don’t want to wear specs”, you know what to tell them! Share this article with someone who is looking to get LASIK eye surgery in Delhi NCR.
Updated 17th February 2026
About Dr. Rushad Shroff: Dr.
Rushad Shroff is a senior refractive and cataract surgeon at Shroff Eye
Centre, one of India's most respected ophthalmology institutions with over 100
years of heritage in eye care. He specialises in LASIK, SILK, PRK and ICL
surgeries and is known for his calm and patient-centred approach to refractive
care.
Shroff Eye Centre, New Delhi |
shroffeyecentre.com
This article is for informational purposes
only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified
ophthalmologist for a personalised evaluation.
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