LASIK at HEC — fourteen minutes per eye, finished by mid-morning
LASIK is the most data-rich refractive procedure in modern ophthalmology.
At HEC we run LASIK as a same-day, in-and-out daycase. You arrive at the suite at 08:30; you are in the recovery lounge by 09:30; most patients are in a taxi by midday. No overnight admission, no hospital gown, no inpatient paperwork.
What it is
LASIK reshapes the front surface of the cornea so light focuses cleanly on the retina without glasses or contact lenses. A femtosecond laser creates a thin flap in the corneal epithelium; that flap is lifted; an excimer laser ablates the underlying stroma to the corrected curvature; the flap is replaced. Laser-time per eye is about 14 minutes.
We use the Schwind Amaris 1050RS platform. Its 1,050 Hz repetition rate and active eye-tracking keep the ablation precise even with micro-movements. The wavefront-optimised algorithm reduces post-operative higher-order aberrations — the source of "halo at night" complaints in earlier laser generations.
Same-day choreography
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 08:30 | Pre-op assessment, dilating drops, consent re-confirmation |
| 09:00 | Right eye laser — 14 minutes |
| 09:20 | Left eye laser — 14 minutes |
| 09:45 | Recovery lounge, first eye check, antibiotic + steroid drops |
| 12:30 | Discharge with medication and protective shields |
| +24 h | First post-operative vision check |
| +90 days | Final outcome assessment by video |
| +12 months | Closing video review |
Who is a candidate
LASIK works for myopia up to about −10 D, hyperopia up to +4 D, and astigmatism up to 6 D. The non-negotiable safety criteria are:
- Stable refractive error for at least 12 months
- Corneal thickness above 480 µm (measured on the Pentacam HR)
- No keratoconus or pellucid marginal degeneration
- No active anterior segment disease
- Age 21 or above
If your cornea is too thin, your prescription too high, or your topography shows ectasia risk, we will not perform LASIK — we will refer you to ICL. The trade-off of doing LASIK on a marginal cornea is post-LASIK ectasia, which is irreversible.
Recovery
Hour 0–4 — Vision blurry and tearful while the corneal epithelium re-adheres. Wear shields, sit in a dim room, do not rub eyes.
Day 1 — Most patients see well enough to work at a screen. Video check.
Week 1 — Drops continue on a tapering schedule. No swimming, no eye makeup.
Month 1 — Most dry-eye symptoms resolved. Normal exercise resumed.
Month 3 — Final refraction stable. The 90-day video review closes routine cases.
What it is not
LASIK does not slow age-related presbyopia. If you are over 45, you will still need reading glasses after LASIK. LASIK is not for high myopia (over −10 D) — ICL is. It is not for keratoconus. The 24-hour written, specialist-signed plan tells you specifically which procedure fits your anatomy.
The package
The all-in package includes both eyes, the daycase suite, all medications for 4 weeks, optional one hotel night with transfers, translator, and 12 months of video follow-up. One number, paid once. The refractive ophthalmologist who will perform the procedure signs your written plan before any payment is taken.
