Clear vision ahead: Lasik surgery reshaping eye care in India

Aesthetic appeal, convenience and social media influence drive demand

Demand for laser eye surgery in India, valued at USD 64.20 million in 2023, is projected to reach USD 111.53 million by 2030, growing at a compound annual rate of 8.21 pc, according to a market research report. The growth is driven by technological advancements, increasing aesthetic consciousness, and the availability of safer as well as more affordable procedures.

Harkirat Singh, an aspiring filmmaker with a myopic vision of -1.75 diopters, had struggled with the discomfort of wearing glasses for years. Seeking a permanent solution, he recently visited an eye clinic in Delhi’s Panchsheel Park. using advanced technology, Singh was amazed to find that within minutes, he no longer needed glasses.

Singh’s experience is not an isolated case. In India, many young people, particularly those in their late teens and early twenties, are increasingly turning to laser eye surgeries, known by their medical terminology, Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis or LASIK, to enhance their lifestyle and eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. This trend is driven by factors such as increased screen time, a sedentary lifestyle and the growing use of technology in the workplace.

This increasing trend for correcting vision is reflected in numbers and according to a report by Insight10, an Ahmedabad-based healthcare market research based firm,  the Indian laser eye surgery valued at USD 64.20 million as of 2023, is set to grow at a Compound annual growth rate of 8.21 pc from 2023 to 2030, reaching USD 111.53 million by the latter year.

According to doctors, the rapid rise of vision correction surgery in India can be attributed to a perfect storm of factors, starting with the availability of cutting-edge technology, the growing prevalence of vision issues, and the powerful influence of social media. With more people seeking clear, hassle-free vision, turning to lasers has become the go-to solution for many looking to ditch their glasses and contacts.

Dr Sanjali Tadas, an ophthalmologist and head of the department at Pune’s Pawana Multispeciality Hospital, says that the growing popularity of laser eye surgery can be largely attributed to people’s desire to enhance their appearance and the power of word-of-mouth recommendations. This has led to a surge in the number of individuals opting for the procedure.

“LASIK surgeries have become more accessible, with people becoming increasingly aware of their appearance and no longer wanting to rely on glasses for vision. The rise in popularity is also driven by word-of-mouth publicity and the awareness spread through social media and platforms like YouTube, making the procedure not only risk-free but also affordable for many,” Tadas tells Media India Group.

According to Dr Abdul Qadir, Senior Consultant at Delhi’s Kailash Hospital and Chief Ophthalmologist at Radiance Eye and Laser, one of the key factors driving the preference for vision correction surgery is the rise in common vision problems caused by excessive screen use.

“There has been a noticeable increase in refractive errors in the society, which is why the demand for LASIK surgery is continuously rising. The incidence of refractive errors is largely due to prolonged screen time and continuous near work. Additionally, the rising cost of glasses is making LASIK a more common procedure. Furthermore, many individuals pursuing government or army jobs prefer to have clear vision without the need for glasses,” Qadir tells Media India Group.

Additionally, technological advancements and the presence of affordable but risk-free surgery also contributed to the rapid popularity of lasik surgery.

Singh, the aspiring filmmaker based in Delhi, says he chose LASIK surgery for its safe, effective, and quick solution to his vision problems.

“I opted for LASIK because wearing glasses was inconvenient. My prescription was -1.75 and -1.5, so I only wore them while driving or watching TV, but often struggled with my look at events. I didn’t like wearing glasses, but without them, I couldn’t see clearly. Contact lenses irritated my eyes, so LASIK seemed like the quickest and most effective solution,” Singh tells Media India Group. 

According to opthalmologists, over the past 30 years, LASIK surgery in India has been evolving rapidly, keeping pace with global advancements.

From the early blade-based techniques of the 1980s and 1990s to today’s all-laser, high-precision procedures, technology continues to improve, offering safer and more personalized vision correction. With innovations like femtosecond lasers, wavefront-guided LASIK, and Contoura Vision, India is embracing cutting-edge advancements, making clearer vision more accessible than ever.

According to Tadas, LASIK has come a long way from the days of manual keratome (blade-based) techniques. Today, the latest innovation, Smile Pro (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction), uses a laser interface to reshape the cornea with remarkable precision. The entire procedure is swift, taking just 30 to 60 seconds, offering patients a faster, safer, and more comfortable vision correction experience.

“LASIK started in India in the 1980s, but back then, the outcomes were quite unpredictable. Initially, we used manual keratome or blade-based techniques. Now, with the latest SMILE PRO technology, the procedure is entirely laser-based and takes just 30 to 60 seconds. Earlier, patients would experience pain and struggle with their vision for a few days after surgery. But with new technology, there is minimal to no pain, and most patients can see clearly by the very next day,”  adds Tadas.

However, as per Qadir, Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is gaining popularity as a preferred vision correction procedure. Unlike Radial Keratotomy, which was limited to treating nearsightedness, PRK reshapes the cornea to correct a wider range of vision issues, including nearsightedness and farsightedness. With advancements in laser technology, PRK is now being increasingly utilised for its precision and effectiveness.

“Earlier, we had PRK and before that, Radial Keratotomy (RK) for vision correction, but RK lacked precision and wasn’t suitable for astigmatism or cylindrical prescriptions. Over time, LASIK emerged, where we created a partial-thickness corneal flap using a microkeratome or motorised keratome, treated the cornea with a specialised laser, and then repositioned the flap. The procedure became much simpler and more effective. Now, PRK has returned in an advanced form. Today, we select the best refractive procedure based on the patient’s prescription, age, and corneal health, assessed through tests like corneal topography or the Pentacam test,” says Qadir.

These advancements highlight the rapid growth of India’s LASIK industry, driven by the rising prevalence of vision problems and the demand for minimally invasive procedures. Recently, a private eye hospital in the city announced a breakthrough in LASIK surgery, reducing treatment time to under 10 seconds per eye using an AI-powered predictive mechanism.

The hospital claims this innovation not only accelerates the procedure but also enhances precision, enabling personalised treatment for each patient. It is thanks to such technological strides that India’s LASIK market is projected to reach USD 111.53 million by 2030.

Limitations galore in eye correction

However, despite technological advancements, rising incomes, and evolving lifestyles driving the growth of the LASIK industry, several challenges persist.

As per experts, one of the biggest hurdles remains the cost of the procedure. As technology advances from standard LASIK to Contoura Vision, SMILE, and even more sophisticated techniques, the cost of treatment continues to rise, whose cost ranges between 50 million and 100 million.

The machines required for these procedures cost a lot of money, making them expensive to acquire and maintain. This, in turn, increases the financial burden on both eye clinics and patients, limiting accessibility, especially in smaller cities and towns where LASIK setups are not widely available.

Another persistent challenge is the lack of insurance coverage. Many insurance companies in India do not cover LASIK surgery for individuals with lower eye power, categorising it as an elective or cosmetic procedure rather than a medical necessity. This makes the surgery unaffordable for a significant portion of the population who might otherwise benefit from vision correction.

Infection control is another factor that cannot be ignored. While the risk of infection remains low with proper surgical protocols, India’s climate and environmental conditions can pose additional challenges.

Furthermore, while India boasts a growing number of skilled ophthalmologists, specialised training in refractive surgery techniques remains limited. Many existing LASIK centres in the country are underutilised, suggesting that LASIK’s expansion may be more industry-driven rather than a direct response to patient demand.

Additionally, awareness about LASIK surgery is still lacking in rural and remote areas, where glasses and contact lenses remain the primary solutions for vision correction.

Despite these challenges, LASIK surgery in India is gaining momentum with technological advancements and growing awareness. Addressing cost, insurance and accessibility barriers will be key to making vision correction more widely available in the coming years.