During the procedure: No, LASIK is not painful. We use numbing eye drops so you won't feel pain during the surgery. You may feel slight pressure when the suction ring is applied, but this lasts only 15-20 seconds per eye.

After the procedure: For 2-4 hours after surgery, you may experience mild discomfort, burning sensation, or watery eyes. This is normal and can be managed with prescribed eye drops. Most patients report being comfortable enough to sleep during this initial recovery period.

Next day: By the next morning, any discomfort is typically gone, and vision starts to clear significantly. The overwhelming majority of patients say the brief discomfort is well worth the lifetime of clear vision.

Permanent correction: LASIK permanently reshapes your cornea, so the correction is permanent. The laser removes tissue to change the corneal curvature, and this tissue doesn't grow back.

Vision changes with age: While LASIK corrects your current prescription, it doesn't prevent age-related vision changes:
• Presbyopia: Around age 40-45, everyone develops difficulty with near vision (reading glasses needed)
• Cataracts: Age-related clouding of natural lens (typically 60+)
• Minor regression: Small prescription changes possible in first 3-6 months

Long-term studies: 20-year follow-up studies show 85-90% of LASIK patients maintain good vision without glasses for distance. Enhancement procedures are available if needed (about 5-10% of patients).

Serious complications are rare (<1%):
• Infection: 0.02%
• Significant vision loss: 0.06%
• Flap complications: 0.3%
• Epithelial ingrowth: 0.5%

Common temporary side effects:
• Dry eyes: 20-40% (usually improves in 3-6 months)
• Glare/halos: 10-20% (usually resolves in 3 months)
• Night vision issues: 5-10% (improves over time)
• Under/overcorrection: 5-10% (enhancement possible)

Risk reduction: Comprehensive pre-operative testing, advanced technology, and experienced surgeons significantly reduce risks. Modern LASIK with wavefront guidance has lower complication rates than contact lens wear.

LASIK is better if:
• Prescription: -0.5 to -8.0D (mild to moderate myopia)
• Corneal thickness: Sufficient (>500 microns)
• Age: 18-45 years
• Active lifestyle: Quick recovery needed
• Cost: More affordable option

ICL is better if:
• Prescription: -3.0 to -20.0D (high myopia)
• Thin corneas: Not suitable for LASIK
• Dry eyes: ICL doesn't worsen dry eye
• Reversibility desired: Lens can be removed
• Quality of vision: Excellent night vision

Key differences: LASIK reshapes cornea (permanent), ICL adds lens inside eye (reversible). Both provide excellent results when chosen appropriately based on comprehensive evaluation.

LASIK Cost Range:
• Basic LASIK: ₹25,000 - ₹40,000 per eye
• Advanced LASIK (Wavefront): ₹40,000 - ₹60,000 per eye
• Bladeless LASIK (Femto): ₹50,000 - ₹75,000 per eye
• SMILE: ₹70,000 - ₹1,00,000 per eye

ICL Cost Range:
• ICL (Visian ICL): ₹80,000 - ₹1,20,000 per eye
• Toric ICL (astigmatism): ₹1,00,000 - ₹1,50,000 per eye

What's included: Pre-operative tests, surgery, all post-operative visits for 1 year, enhancement if needed within 2 years. Most centers offer EMI options and some insurance coverage.

Value consideration: When compared to lifelong costs of glasses/contacts (₹5,000-₹15,000 annually), LASIK/ICL becomes cost-effective within 3-5 years.