The core question: why not just pick the cheapest?
In Delhi’s crowded eye care market, you will find LASIK advertised from Rs 20,000 per eye. And you will find Contoura Vision quoted at Rs 95,000. The gap is real - but so is the difference in what you get.
This guide will walk you through exactly what each procedure does, who it suits, and what the visual outcome differences actually look like - so you can make the right decision for your eyes, not just your budget.
Standard Blade-free LASIK: The Reliable Foundation
Standard LASIK uses two steps: a femtosecond laser creates a thin corneal flap, then an excimer laser reshapes the corneal tissue underneath to correct your prescription. The flap is then replaced.
Best for: Patients with straightforward myopia, hyperopia or mild astigmatism. Stable prescriptions. Normal corneas of adequate thickness. Budget-conscious patients who still want a modern, safe procedure.
What standard LASIK corrects: Your spectacle prescription (sphere and cylinder). It does not correct higher-order aberrations - microscopic corneal irregularities that affect night vision quality.
Recovery: Vision by next morning. Return to work in 1 - 2 days. Night vision fully stable by 1 month.
Cost at Eye Veda: From Rs 40,000 per eye.
Contoura Vision: The Precision Upgrade
Contoura Vision is LASIK - but with a crucial additional step: before surgery, a topographer maps 22,000 unique elevation points across your cornea. This creates a detailed 3D map of your corneal surface, which is fed into the excimer laser.
The laser now corrects not just your prescription, but also your cornea’s individual higher-order aberrations - the microscopic irregularities that standard LASIK ignores. These irregularities cause halos, starbursts, and reduced contrast sensitivity, especially at night.
Best for: Anyone who wants the sharpest possible visual outcome. Patients bothered by existing glare or halos with glasses. Those who drive at night regularly. Patients with mild corneal irregularities that might benefit from customised treatment.
Clinical data: FDA trial data shows approximately 30% of Contoura Vision patients achieve vision better than 6/6 - sharper than standard ‘perfect’ vision. 96.7% of patients would choose the procedure again.
Cost at Eye Veda: From Rs 65,000 - Rs 85,000 per eye.
SMILE: The Flapless Revolution
SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a different approach entirely. A femtosecond laser creates a small disc of tissue (lenticule) inside the intact cornea. Through a 2mm keyhole incision, the lenticule is extracted - reshaping the cornea without creating a flap.
Best for: Patients with dry eyes or contact lens intolerance. Active lifestyles - contact sport athletes, swimmers, military personnel. Anyone concerned about flap-related risks. Patients who want the minimal-invasive option.
Why flapless matters: The LASIK flap severs anterior corneal nerves - the primary driver of post-LASIK dry eye. SMILE’s 2mm incision disrupts far fewer nerves, resulting in significantly lower dry eye rates. The anterior corneal lamellae (strongest layers) remain intact, maintaining better corneal biomechanics post-surgery.
Limitation: SMILE corrects myopia up to -10D with astigmatism up to -5D. It does not have a topography-guided version available yet (as of 2024), so Contoura Vision retains the edge for visual quality in straightforward cases.
Cost at Eye Veda: From Rs 70,000 - Rs 95,000 per eye.
Side-by-side: the decision matrix
| Factor | Standard LASIK | Contoura Vision | SMILE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flap created? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Corrects higher-order aberrations? | No | Yes (22,000 points) | No |
| Visual quality potential | Good | Best | Very good |
| Dry eye risk | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| Suitable for active sports? | With caution | With caution | Yes |
| Prescription range | -1 to -12D | -1 to -10D | -1 to -10D |
| Cost (approx., per eye) | Rs 40 - 55k | Rs 65 - 85k | Rs 70 - 95k |
| Recovery to desk work | 1 - 2 days | 1 - 2 days | 1 - 2 days |
The Eye Veda recommendation
At Eye Veda, we do not have a preferred procedure - we have a preferred outcome: the sharpest, safest vision for each patient’s specific cornea and lifestyle.
Our refractive surgeon reviews your topography, OCT pachymetry, tear film status, and prescription before recommending any laser procedure. In many cases, we recommend Contoura Vision for its superior visual quality. For dry-eye-prone or physically active patients, SMILE is frequently the better choice.
The consultation is free. The topography takes 15 minutes. And the decision - made with your surgeon - is yours.
