GH slow to perform Lasik

[1]

Chennai: Lasik, commonly known as laser eye surgery, is done to correct refractive disorders like myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long sightedness), astigmatism and presbyopia.
 
It is the most preferred alternative for eyeglasses and lenses. Even with highly-trained ophthalmologists and patients with refractive defects coming in, the renowned government eye hospital, Egmore, has not performed any lasik surgeries due to lack of equipment. 
 
This is where the private hospitals score, as Lasik has been the USP of these hospitals. An ophthalmologist with a leading eye care center in Chennai said their hospital does around 4,000-5,000 lasik su­rg­eries a year.
 
The doctor added that of all the technologies, Lasik was the most successful and one of the safest procedures performed all over the world. Private hospitals charge anywhere between Rs 30,000 and Rs 1 lakh for these surgeries depending on the type of equipment used.
 
With the number of private eye hospitals springing up already, the number of patients visiting the government eye hospital has come down. 
 
According to a senior doctor at the government hospital, 1,000 patie­nts visit the hospital every day on an average, but he admitted that there has been a 5 per cent decrease in the number of patients over the years.
 
According to hospital sources, Lasik surgery is covered under the chief minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme along with other complex eye treatments like cornea transplant, squint correction and glaucoma surgery. But, the necessary equipment are yet to be provided by the government. 
 
A seni­or doctor said they have already asked for the government to provide with the machines and have been assured that the hospital would get them soon.