People with 20/40 vision or better are allowed to drive a car without corrective lenses. Overall, most people who have surgery achieve 20/40 vision or better after surgery.

Laser surgeries include:

• LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis), which is currently the most commonly used corrective surgery for nearsightedness in the United States. LASIK has a high success rate and low complication rate for low to moderate nearsightedness. It may also be used to correct more severe nearsightedness. In general, it requires less healing time, is less painful, and offers a faster visual recovery than photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

• PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) and LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis), which are similar surgeries. They are another type of corrective surgery for nearsightedness that is used frequently. Like LASIK, PRK and LASEK have high success rates and low complication rates for low to moderate nearsightedness. They may be used instead of radial keratotomy (RK) to correct severe myopia.

RK (radial keratotomy) in India

Radial keratotomy (RK) is very successful and safe for people who have mild to moderate nearsightedness (less than 3 diopters). Although it is still used in some cases, it has been replaced in most cases by LASIK and PRK.

Corneal ring implants in India

This type of surgery to correct mild nearsightedness was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004. It uses corneal ring implants to change the shape of the cornea.

Intraocular lens implants in India

Intraocular lens implants (IOLs) may be used to correct severe myopia. IOLs, also called implantable contact lenses (ICLs), have been shown to be a safe and effective means of correcting moderate to severe myopia.

Surgery Choices in India

Laser surgery for nearsightedness changes the shape of the cornea to refocus light directly on the retina. There are three main types of laser surgery used to treat nearsightedness.
LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis) makes a small flap in the cornea and removes some of the tissue exposed by the flap.

PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) and LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis) use a laser to reshape the cornea. The laser is applied to the cornea after the surface layer has been removed.

Radial keratotomy (RK) uses several incisions on the cornea to change the curve of the cornea over the pupil.

Other types of surgery for nearsightedness involve the surgical placement of implants to either change the shape of the cornea or replace or assist the eye’s natural lens. 

Corneal ring implants are clear pieces of acrylic that can be surgically implanted to flatten the cornea and reduce nearsightedness.

Intraocular lens implants replace the eye’s natural lens with a clear plastic implant.