LASIK in Pakistan: Who Qualifies, Risks and Questions to Ask

LASIK can free many adults from glasses, but only if the eye passes a careful check first: age over 18, a number that has stayed stable for at least a year, a cornea thick and regular enough to reshape, and no keratoconus. Dry eyes and night glare are the common trade-offs, and after 40 you’ll still need reading glasses.

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Wedding photos without glasses. Swimming without blur. No more hunting for the chashma on the bedside table at night. That’s why LASIK in Pakistan draws so many young people, especially those who find contact lenses tiring in the heat and dust. The adverts make it sound like ten minutes and done. The operation itself is quick. Deciding whether your eyes are suitable is the slow, important part.

How LASIK works, explained simply

Picture the cornea as the curved glass window at the front of the eye. Its curve does most of the focusing. In short sight the curve bends light too strongly; in long sight, too weakly; in astigmatism, unevenly. In LASIK, the surgeon lifts a very thin flap from the surface of the cornea, a laser removes a precise, tiny amount of tissue underneath to change the curve, and the flap is laid back down like the cover of a book. No stitches. Most people see much better within a day or two.

Because tissue is removed, there has to be enough of it to spare. That single fact explains most of the eligibility rules.

Who qualifies for LASIK

• Age over 18: many surgeons prefer early 20s, because eyes are often still changing in the teens
• Stable number: your prescription should have stayed almost the same for at least a year. Bring old prescriptions to prove it; our guide to reading an eye prescription explains the numbers
• Corneal thickness: measured with a scan (pachymetry). A thin cornea may rule LASIK out
• No keratoconus: a condition where the cornea thins and bulges into a cone. A corneal map (topography) looks for early signs. LASIK can make keratoconus much worse, so this check is non-negotiable
• Healthy eyes otherwise: no active infection, uncontrolled glaucoma, significant cataract or severe dry eye
• General health: uncontrolled diabetes and some autoimmune conditions slow healing. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can shift the number, so surgery is usually postponed until afterwards

If LASIK isn’t right for you, don’t lose heart. Surgeons may suggest surface laser (PRK), a newer keyhole technique for some prescriptions, or an implantable lens for high numbers or thin corneas. Which one suits you is a decision for the eye surgeon after testing.

The pre-surgery assessment: what should happen

1. Stop contact lenses first: lenses change the shape of the cornea temporarily. The clinic will tell you how long to go without them before measurements, often longer for rigid lenses. Our contact lens care guide covers safe wear in the meantime.
2. Full eye test: distance and near vision, with and without dilating drops.
3. Corneal scans: topography (shape) and pachymetry (thickness), ideally repeated if anything looks borderline.
4. Dry eye check: tear film testing, because existing dryness gets worse after LASIK.
5. Pupil size in dim light: large pupils can raise the chance of night halos.
6. Retina and pressure check: especially important for people with high short sight.
7. A face-to-face talk with the surgeon, not just a counsellor, about your results and risks.

Risks and side effects, honestly

Most people are happy with their result. Still, surgery on a healthy eye deserves a clear look at the downsides.

• Dry eye: the most common one. Eyes may feel gritty for weeks to months, and a few people have long-lasting dryness
• Glare, halos and starbursts at night: common early, usually fading. Some people find night driving harder for good
• Under- or over-correction: you may still need glasses for some tasks, or a second touch-up treatment
• Flap problems: the flap can wrinkle or shift, especially after a knock to the eye in the early weeks
• Infection and inflammation: uncommon, but they need quick treatment
• Ectasia: rare weakening and bulging of the cornea, more likely if keratoconus was missed. This is why the scans matter

Myth: LASIK means never wearing glasses again

LASIK corrects the number you have now. It doesn’t stop the lens inside the eye from ageing, so in your 40s you’ll almost certainly need reading glasses like everyone else. It also doesn’t protect against cataract or glaucoma later, and people with high short sight keep their higher risk of retinal problems. Tell every future eye doctor you’ve had LASIK, because it affects eye pressure readings and the lens calculations for cataract surgery.

Questions to ask the clinic

Take this list with you and write the answers down:

• Who will do my surgery, and how many of these procedures do they do?
• What did my corneal thickness and topography scans show? Can I have copies?
• Am I a good candidate, a borderline one, or better suited to another procedure?
• What result do you expect for my eyes, and what’s the chance I’ll need a touch-up?
• How is dry eye checked and managed before and after?
• What exactly does the price include: follow-ups, medicines, a repeat treatment?
• Who do I call at night or on a holiday if my eye becomes painful?
• How long should I stay off work, swimming, makeup and dusty places?

A good clinic welcomes these questions. If you feel rushed, or someone promises “guaranteed 6/6 vision”, treat that as a reason to get a second opinion.

You’ll find more vision and glasses guides in our Eye Care section.

LASIK questions people ask