What are refractive errors ?

The human eye is like a camera. In a camera, light passes through a lens
system back onto the film. The cornea and lens are at the front of the eye  and
are similar to a camera's lens system. The retina is located at the back of the
eye and is similar to the camera's film. In the normal eye, light rays of an image
pass through the cornea and the lens and are focussed directly on the retina
to produce a clear image.

When such a focus on the retina is not achieved, a refractive error results &
the vision is not clear.
Myopia or short sightedness

Refers to a state of the eye, wherein the rays of light coming from a distant target, get
focused at a point in front of the retina.
In this situation, minus powered glasses or contact lenses are necessary to focus this
image onto the retina
Hyperopia or long sightedness

Refers to a state of the eye, wherein the rays of light coming from a distant target, get
focused at a point behind the retina.
In this situation, plus powered glasses or contact lenses are necessary to focus this
image onto the retina
Astigmatism or cylindrical power

Refers to a state of the eye, wherein the rays of light coming from a distant target,
cannot focus at a single point on the retina. In this situation special lenses of different
curvature are required to focus the light onto the retina
How are refractive errors corrected?

Spectacles contain lenses that alter the incoming rays of light to enable them to focus on the retina.

Contact lenses perform the same function as spectacles but are placed on the cornea. They provide improved
cosmesis and better quality of vision, especially for higher refractive errors.

LASIK is an exciting surgical procedure that is capable of correcting a wide range of nearsightedness (myopia),
farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism.
LASIK is the acronym for laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis.
LASIK is currently the most commonly performed refractive procedure worldwide. LASIK has been performed
internationally for approximately 15 years. It was first performed in clinical trials in the U.S. in 1991. It was officially
approved in 1996 in the U.S. It is important to note that the major components of the procedure have a long
history. Ophthalmologists have been reshaping the cornea for over 50 years, creating a protective layer of tissue
for over 35 years, and using the excimer laser since the 1980's.
Excimer laser treatment has brought more accuracy to corneal surgery and vision correction than ever before.
One pulse of the excimer laser removes 0.25 microns of tissue. This exquisite precision in tissue removal helps in
reshaping the corneal contour and correction of different refractive errors.

Spot scanning lasers: These systems have the potential to produce the smoothest ablations and use radar
technology to track the eye's movement during treatment. They also have the potential to treat irregular
astigmatism and link to topography, and wavefront guided laser treatment.
You can fix an appointment for
free counselling to know more
about this exciting LASIK
treatment.

Call Dr Fogla on 9866076750
to fix appointment for
free counselling on LASIK.
If you are at least 18 years old
and your glasses haven't
required a significant
prescription change, you may
be a candidate for LASIK
treatment.
If you are interested in this
exciting technology to
improve your vision, please
send us your prescription
details and we'll gladly discuss
your treatment options
Are You Eligible for LASIK?

While most patients are eligible for LASIK, not everyone is.

An ideal candidate for refractive surgery
  • Must be at least 18 years of age with stable refraction for 6 months.
  • No associated eye disease.
  • No active connective tissue disorders.
  • Must discontinue contact lens wear prior to refractive surgery, (soft lens 2 days, RGP lens 2 weeks)

Eligibility also depends on the amount of refractive error, the curvature and thickness of the cornea and a
number of other factors that an ophthalmologist must evaluate.
Proper patient selection is vital for successful refractive surgery and a satisfied patient.
Did you know that Tiger Woods
underwent LASIK procedure in
both eyes in 1999, following which
he won four golf championships
Others who have had LASIK
Cindy Crawford
Brad Pitt
These procedures are absolutely painless and are performed as outpatient procedure using topical
anesthetic eyedrops. The entire procedure lasts for only 10 –15 minutes and you will be awake during the
entire procedure.
During the treatment you are required to look at a fixation light while the laser is performed and you will also
hear the noise of the laser machine during the treatment. The actual laser treatment only lasts for 5 to 30
seconds.
Following the treatment you can return home immediately. However you should make arrangements for a
friend or relative to take you home after the procedure.

Will my vision improve immediately ?
There is a considerable improvement in unaided vision following the treatment.  Following LASIK this
improvement is noted right after the procedure and is perfect the next day. Following surface ablation the
vision improves 2-3 days later once the surface healing in complete. A slight fluctuation of vision may occur
over the next few months as the healing process continues and the tear film stabilizes.

What are the possible side effects ?
Usually most patients are quite comfortable following LASIK. There is mild - moderate amount of discomfort
following ASA on day 1, which reduces subsequently. There may be transient light sensitivity, glare & foreign
body sensation, or dryness in the treated eye.
A slight undercorrection or overcorrection can occur while treating higher refractive errors (over -10).
Kenny G
Nicole Kidman
Hear what our patients have to say
We feel it is of extreme importance
that you meet the surgeon who
performs the procedure prior to
making an informed decision on
whether to have the surgery.
The corneal surgeon will discuss
the risks and benefits of LASIK
with you and will try to tell you what
YOU can expect.
The surgery is performed at Eye
Clinic, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee
Hills, Hyderabad, 500033, India
Customized  LASIK - for cost information email us at dr_fogla@yahoo.com or  call us at +919866076750
Will I need to wear glasses or contact lenses after the procedure ?
These procedures are designed to allow you to discontinue the use of corrective lenses for routine daily
work. In some patients with higher refractive errors (over -10) corrective lenses of lower power may still be
required following the treatment. In some individuals this residual refractive error can be corrected by a
second refractive procedure.

When can I resume normal activities ?
You can return to work after 3 days if ASA has been performed. Following LASIK you can return to work the
following day. While most activities can be resumed, it is better to avoid swimming, contact sports etc at least
for a one month duration.

Are the results of LASIK permanent?
LASIK permanently removes corneal tissue to reshape the eye in order to improve refraction. The physical
results are permanent. However, you should be aware that since the eyes can still change with time, LASIK
does not prevent presbyopia or affect this condition once it does occur.

Should I undergo LASIK ?
Ophthalmologists all over the world have been reshaping the cornea using the excimer laser since the
1990s. LASIK has been performed internationally for approximately 15 years now. Laser refractive surgery
when performed by a qualified, cornea specialist, does promise reducing one's dependence on contacts or
glasses. For many people, this will allow them to more freely pursue their hobbies, sports activities or career
options.
For more information on correction of refractive errors with laser treatment call us or send us an email to schedule an appointment

Dr Rajesh Fogla DNB, FRCS, MMed  has been performing LASIK treatments since 1998. He has received formal training in corneal disorders and
laser treatment at Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai. He was the first surgeon to introduce LASIK in Sri Lanka in 2002. He has published several
papers in international journals on LASIK treatment, and has delivered lectures on the same topic on numerous occasions both national and
international symposiums. He has worked with the Summit Omnimed, Summit Apexplus, Wavelight 200Hz and the Wavelight 400 Hz Laser
systems, and used the Hansatome, Amadeus 1 & 2, SKBM, and Moria microkeratomes. With 9 years of laser experience, and having treated
over 6000 eyes, you can depend on Dr Fogla to ensure perfect and safe outcome following laser treatment.

Dr Fogla is available in the clinic on weekdays between 9am to 5pm, ( 5 - 8 pm with prior appointments only)

You can reach him on +91 9866076750 or dr_fogla@yahoo.com
Wavelight Allegretto Eye Q laser
500th installation at Eye Clinic
Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills
Hyderabad 500 033, India
The Eye Clinic at Apollo Hospital is now equipped with the ALLEGRETTO  Wave Eye-Q Excimer laser system.
This advanced new generation laser system has a scanning laser spot of 0.68mm diameter along with active eye
tracking system (tracks the eye movements 400 times per second). This small laser spot size along with 400Hz
repetition rate is essential to create fine corneal curvature following laser ablation. The laser is capable of
performing both the wavefront guided and topography guided ablation for customized treatment. This laser is built
for customized LASIK only, & performs treatment 4 times faster than the conventional zyoptix laser system.
           How is the procedure performed ?

Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)

This procedure involves first creating a thin flap of cornea with an
instrument called the microkeratome. Followed by lifting of the flap and
laser treatment to reshape the cornea. The flap is then repositioned in
its original place. Improvement in vision is noted within 30 - 45 minutes
post procedure.
The beam profile of
Wavelight laser has been wavefront optimized,
hence it removes lesser amount of corneal tissue when compared to
other laser machines, thus making the treatment more safer for your
eyes.
Wavefront optimization also ensures that you do not experience any
glare or halos during the night while looking at bright lights.
Wavelight laser allows multiple options for customized treatments, such
as wavefront optimized, wavefront guided, topography guided, Q factor
guided treatments. Such treatment modalities are far superior when
compared to those with other lasers such as zyoptix, custom vue, or
custom cornea. Unlike other laser systems, there is nothing called
standard treatment with the wavelight laser. It performs only customized
treatments to ensure perfect results.

Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA)

During preoperative evaluation, if the corneal thickness of your eye is
not sufficient enough for LASIK procedure, (which involves creating a
corneal flap) you can undergo the laser procedure directly from the
corneal surface without creating a corneal flap. This procedure is called
advanced surface ablation. Your surgeon will take extra precautions to
preform this procedure, and ensure perfect outcome. The results are
similar to Customized LASIK if not better.

Wavelight allgretto 400Hz Eye Q laser is currently the fastest
laser system available, & it performs treatment 4 times faster
than the zyoptix laser, ensuring crystal clear vision following
treatment.
Cornea Clinic
Tel 91 40 23607777,  Fax 91 40 23608050 ,24 hours emergency services call 1066
Cornea Clinic - Eye Department - Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033, A P,  INDIA
Cornea Clinic - toll free number 1600 345 1066, other numbers 91 40 23608333 / 23548888 / 23606655
Cornea
Lens
Retina
LASIK Article in "The Nation"
Newspaper...patients perspective