I got my specs removed on 1st March 2021. My first visit to AIIMS was on 25th Jan 2021 via online appointment. It cost me Rs. 21,000 in total. I used no influence (not that I have any) or paid no one, did it just like any average citizen. This article is a followup article from an earlier brief post of mine.
When I told my friends about the surgery at AIIMS, I got two common responses…
isn’t AIIMS for very critical surgeries…, it offers specs removal surgery as well?
I don’t have any contacts (pun not intended), so I can’t get the treatment done.
Here is my job card as proof.
The purpose of this Article is to help people who are convinced about the surgery to navigate AIIMS w.r.t. appointments, visit details, surgery options and to set right expectations. Before you start reading, 18yrs is the minimum recommended age and eye power should be constant for a minimum of 1yr. No surgery would be recommended if you don’t meet these criteria.
Getting the Appointment:
When I applied for an online appointment on 27th Nov’20, I got the dates for 25th Jan and earlier when I tried to get the online appointment in March’20, I was given dates for April’20. What I am trying to say is that the wait time varies. You can cut down the wait time by visiting the AIIMS, thereby you can get an appointment of under one week’s wait time. Following are the two ways to get the appointment:
- Online: Click on https://ors.gov.in/ors/ Or https://ors.gov.in/copp/appointment.jsp. Enter Mobile Number, Aadhar card, Get Otp and pay Rs. 10 online. Appointment details will be send on SMS. This SMS is sufficient at the time of entry, no printout is required.
- Visit AIIMS: Reach at around 11AM and head towards RP Centre, ask guards for assistance, pay Rs. 10 at the counter and get the appointment.
Reaching AIIMS:
It’s a 2 min walk from AIIMS Metro station (Gate Number 1).
The First visit:
Queue is let in at 8:30AM inside the main gate, hence reach AIIMS at 7:30AM and stand in queue next to the Registration center.
This is the seated waiting area between the Main gate and the Entrance to RP Center.
Security guards have to manage a huge crowd of people from all over the country, hence they are expected to be to the point and arms with people management vocabulary and one liners. Rest assured, neither their sharp remarks nor the surgery is that painful of an affair.
Technology and costs for both the eyes combined (inclusive of taxes):
| Technology | Cost at AIIMS both eyes, this includes taxes as well. Test, Consultation, followup visits, all are free. Following fees are only for the surgery. |
| SMILE | ₹52,000 |
| LASIK | ₹21,000 |
| Contoura Vision | ₹21,000 |
At private hospitals, according to the eye7.in website, the cost of Contoura Vision is between ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,15,000 + taxes .
The first visit will be to room number 33 or 30, here the number of your specs will be checked and few other tests will be done, followed by discussion with the doctor.
At AIIMS, doctors would mention that Contoura Vision is just a software, while the actual technology is LASIK.
But the difference between LASIK and Contoura Vision is that there is a specialised equipment called Topolyzer to take eye scans in the case of Contoura Vision. AIIMS has both the required machines for Contoura vision, WaveLight®TOPOLYZER® Vario as well as the WAVELIGHT®EX500 Excimer Laser.
Also at AIIMS, the recommendation will be for SMILE wherever all the three technologies are feasible. Explanation will be given for each technology, choice however will be of patient.
Subsequent Visits:
After the first appointment, further appointments will be to room number 102 for all the assessment, tests and for the final operation as well. Queue is let in at 8:30AM, hence reach AIIMS by 7:30AM.
In the morning there is a separate queue for room number 102, this queue is small and is let-in first, so ensure that you are standing in the correct line once past the main gate and under the roof area.
Room Number 102 is on the 1st floor. As soon as you get to enter inside, run towards the stairs to the 1st floor, climb up and reach 1st floor, take a left then walk 6 steps, again take a left and walk 15 steps, and find a glass door in front of you with 102 written on the top. Join the Queue for the entry. Once the person near the gate gives you the card your queue number is secured. Inquire regarding the wait time and then sit somewhere nearby, guard will then call your name. It’s fine if you miss your name, you will be given priority entry post that.
Tests are done to ensure that the eyes are fit for the surgery, and to find the most suitable surgery. In one of the memorable tests, the nurse will put Dilating Eye Drops which would make you lose focus of the nearby things, reading on laptop / mobile will not be possible for 5Hrs-7Hrs, one should take a leave on that day. No concerns for other tests.
Tip 1: Half the day would go by at AIIMS from 7:30AM till afternoon 12PM-1PM, while the test would not take more than 1hr-2hr. One can get a laptop to work from a quiet place at AIIMS, while waiting their turn in the queue.
Tip 2: Drinking water is available inside, but one can carry tiffin / food / snacks from home. Going out for lunch or breakfast is possible during your wait at room number 102. Inform the guard on the ground floor to consider you when returning back, but it is not reliable.
For subsequent visits, doctors / nurses would give handwritten followup dates in the job card. Do check with the security at the entrance gate to see if this will be allowed, else get a computerised appointment sticker printed from the counter on the ground floor because at times the entry is blocked for the handwritten appointments.
The tests would take around 3 to 5 visits.
Operation day:
It is mandatory to have a friend / relative accompany you on the day of the operation (only that day). Payment form will be given and the payment can be done via cash or credit card.
One can wear comfortable jeans and a t- shirt to the operation room, smartphones are allowed but need to be in silent mode, shoes are to be kept outside.
Scans of both the eyes are taken via the Topolyzer machine, then the patient proceeds to the operation theatre and lies on the bed (shown below). Here is a good reference video of what happens in the operation. Left part of the machine, FS200 femtosecond laser machine then cuts a slice of your cornea, creates a flap, then the bed rotates to the right tower and the patient has to steady the gaze on the green dot in the centre. Laser starts and performs for 5s to 10s. Post that the flap is put back on to the eye and the device is removed from the eye.
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| ALCON, WaveLight®TOPOLYZER® Vario (Click here for Image source) | WAVELIGHT®EX500 Excimer Laser (Click here for Image source) |
Operation would take place usually between 9AM to 1PM. It lasts for 10 mins for each eye from preparation to end. Laser lasts for around 5s to 10s. One can smell a smell similar to the burning of hairs as the laser operates. It pains a lot throughout the day, it’s difficult to sleep during that day. Next day the pain reduces to 10%. Day 3 Onwards, one can comfortably start using the laptop again without much pain. A red mark can be seen in the eyes for 2-3 weeks.
Tip 3: When standing in queues, you create a whatsapp group of friends to help one another with current happenings at RP center, AIIMS.
Post Operation Visits:
Post Operation, Check up is lined up 1 day after the operation, then 1 week after the 1st checkup, then 1 month, then 3 months, then 6 months and then 1 yr. There are no fees for the checkups. Follow Ups happen post 10AM, still one has to reach AIIMS before 7:30AM, the followup doesn’t take more than 1 hr.
3.5 Months later:
My eyesight is as clear as it used to be with specs. Even better as now I don’t have to turn my head to read correctly. I am glad that I underwent the surgery, this is amongst the best thing that happened to me in last 5 yrs. 1-2 moments of dry eyes is felt per week, that is also very mildly inconvenient. Eye drops that are prescribed are only for comfort during that time. The surgery was a success in my case.
That brown color is my natural eye color (good genes). You now know the purpose behind my laser specs removal.
Telegram Group – it’s a 600 + active member group, and people over there would help you with your queries. Please go through / search the previous chats before asking questions. Link to join the group: https://t.me/aiimslasik
CupcakeWarrior 
