Now, eye surgery becomes error-free

The technology uses laser energy to cut the cornea

CHENNAI: Eye transplantation and vision correction using laser are set to take a quantum leap in India, thanks to the arrival of a new technology called femtosecond laser. It uses laser beams to cut the cornea with extreme precision at variable levels, promising more than one transplant from a single cornea as also better vision and speedy recovery.

The first two femtosecond laser equipment, which got the FDI clearance last year, have been installed — one at the Centre for Sight, Delhi and the other at the Dr Agarwal Eye Hospital, Chennai. Mumbai will get its first femtosecond laser in September at the Ojas Laser Eye Surgery Centre.

Femtosecond uses laser energy to cut the cornea at a wide range of thickness from 90 microns to 400 microns. “The new technique almost puts an end to human error,” says Dr Amar Agarwal.