Lasik and Laser Eye Surgery in Nepal

By Eye Health Nepal On Dec 24, 2017

Refractive Surgery in Nepal

Refractive surgery is the surgical procedures that correct refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia) to reduce your dependence on prescription eyeglasses and/or contact lenses.

In Nepal Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology is providing World-class Lasers and High-Quality refractive Surgery. Tilganga’s Refractive Surgery Unit opened in January 2012 and offers the latest in laser technology for the correction of corneal problems. It has been developed with TIO partners to become a leader in laser surgery in the developing world.

TIO is the first public hospital in Nepal to create a dedicated laser facility for the treatment of refractive error. Treatments include laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Refractive errors like myopia (short-sightedness), hypermetropia (long-sightedness) and astigmatism are some of the most common causes of vision loss, globally. In developing countries like Nepal, these conditions are typically managed through the provision of affordable spectacles.
As a model for laser treatment in the developing world, the new Refractive Surgery Unit is delivering free laser treatment where it is too difficult for people to wear spectacles in the long term. For people living in Nepal’s remote and mountainous regions, days away from the nearest medical facility broken, outdated and lost spectacles can be almost impossible to replace. This independence to people who wouldn’t otherwise have the chance.

Located in the former Tilganga outpatient clinic, the new unit is equipped with world-class lasers and offers the same high-quality surgery found in the developed world. It is staffed by a dedicated team of specialists including an ophthalmologist and technician trained in the United Kingdom by project partner London Vision Clinic.

The new service also forms an important part of TIO’s cost-recovery model, whereby the fees from those who can afford laser surgery will indirectly subsidize eye treatment of the poor who cannot afford it.

Some Frequently asked questions about LASIK.

1. What is LASIK?

Laser-Assisted in SItu Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a procedure commonly used for removal of spectacle number (Glass prescription) of the patient. The surgery is done on the cornea which is the outermost clear part of the eye. A flap is created as a part of the process followed by laser delivery on the cornea to remove the glass number. The flap is positioned back at the end of the procedure.

2. What ocular conditions can be treated by LASIK?

LASIK is most commonly performed for Myopia (Negative spectacle power) and its variants like High Myopia, Myopic astigmatism (patients with cylindrical glass power), Anisometropia (difference in glass power of both eyes).
LASIK can also be done for Hypermetropia (Positive spectacle power), Off late, it has been increasingly done for presbyopia(Age-related positive power beyond 40 years of age.)

3. How safe is a LASIK procedure?

LASIK is one of the most evolved procedures in ophthalmology today. It has been more than 20 years since the first procedure was done. It’s SAFE and EFFECTIVE in patients who want to get rid of their glasses.

4. What are the criteria to be fit for LASIK?

The criteria are

Expectation: the expectations of the patient should be realistic
Stability: the glass number should be stable over a period of 6 months to 1 year
Corneal Thickness: the corneal thickness should be adequate so that the procedure can be done safely. The cornea should be disease-free.
Retina: Patients with retinal diseases need treatment for the same before proceeding for LASIK

In patients who don’t have adequate corneal thickness a procedure called ICL is done in which a thin lens is implanted in front of the natural lens.

5. What should a patient expect before and after LASIK Surgery?

The expectation of the patient before the procedure should be realistic. Most patients who wish that their number should never come back should consider that it took 20 + years for the number to develop and expecting the doctor to predict that it will not come is unrealistic. But if the number has remained stable and all above-mentioned criteria are met there is less than 1 % chance that it will come back.
After LASIK one can resume normal activities from day 1. Eye rubbing and swimming should be avoided for at least one month.

6. What are the possible complications or risks associated with LASIK surgery?

LASIK is one of the safest and most rewarding surgery. The patient starts seeing from day 1 post-surgery. Dry eye is most common and can be controlled with eye drops. Other complications like Regression of number, Ectasia can also occur.

7. How can I make an appointment for LASIK surgery in Nepal?

Call at Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology and book an appointment for a pre-surgery check-up on Refractive Surgery Unit (RSU). Telephone no. is 977-1-4493775 or 977-1-4493684 to book an appointment. Please ask to book the appointment for RSU. Different type of test like the test for dry eye, corneal thickness measurement, Retina evaluation is done on Pre surgical check-up.