Laser vision correction treatment, the revolutionary eye care treatment, has the potential to reduce or completely eliminate dependence on spectacles and contact lenses to see clearly, informed team of ophthalmologists addressing a seminar on Laser Vision Correction held on Sunday at Surana Udyog Auditorium, Hyderabad.

The five prominent ophthalmologists comprised of Dr. K.B. Nandkishore, Dr. Madhukar Reddy, Dr. Hemant Shetty, Dr. Milind Bhide and Dr. C.V. Padmavathi spoke at the talk show organised by New Vision Laser Centers, one of the pioneers of Laser Vision Correction in India.

People who have refractive errors (resulting in an inability to see clearly at a distance) need 'spectacles' or 'contact lenses' to see clearly. However, these artifical aids may prove to be inconvenient to people in professions like modeling, sports, security related jobs. Whatever may be the reasons, cosmetic or medical, people are longing to get freedom from spectacles. Contact lenses, which provided solace to the problem, but, needed lot of care and has high incidence of eye infections. The efforts made by ophthalmologists resulted in LASIK (Laser In-Situ Keratamelusis) treatment informed the speakers.

The highlights of the treatment informed the doctors are its reliability, short duration of treatment (15 to 30 minutes). According to the doctors, the treatment is stable and permanent, the procedure is global. More than four million people have undergone the treatment wordwide. However the treatment is recommended to those in the age group of 18 and 50 years. People below 18 or above 50 are not encouraged for various reasons. But, it is not advisable for persons whose power has changed significantly in the past year or is likely to change again in future. The treatment is mainly for correcting distance vision and not near vision.

In India more than 40,000 eyes were treated using this method of treatment by various clinics. India has over 125 centres using this kind of a treatment. More than 1000 eyes were treated by New Vision Laser Centre in Hyderabad alone, they informed.

The objective of the seminar, according to A.M. Rao, the organiser was to educate people and create awareness about Laser Vision Correction, clear myths, doubts and fears if any about the treatment. And help people get rid of their spectacles and contact lenses he informed. The talk was first of its kind of seminars organised by New Vision Laser Centers as part of their Continuing Medical Education Programme in twin cities. More such seminar are planned in the city in near future.