Complete Comparison Guide 2026

LASIK vs SMILE vs SILK vs Contoura
Which Laser Eye Surgery Is Right for You?

Name: MySurgery
Address: Gurugram, Haryana, 122001, IN
Telephone: +91-8588967050
Price range: Free consultation

Compare all 7 types of laser eye surgery available in India — technology, cost, dry eye risk, eligibility, and which one gives the best results for your specific eyes.

🔬 Find Which Is Best for Your Eyes →
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🎯 Quick Selector — Which Is Best for You?

I want the best visual quality→ Contoura Vision

I have dry eyes / use AC a lot→ SMILE or SILK

I play contact sports / very active→ SMILE or SILK (flapless)

I want the most affordable option→ Standard or Bladeless LASIK

I want the absolute latest technology→ SILK

My cornea is thin / LASIK not suitable→ PRK or ICL

I have very high power (above -10D)→ ICL (not laser)

I have high astigmatism→ Contoura Vision

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	👁 Standard LASIK Most Common	⚡ Bladeless LASIK Best Value	🗺 Contoura Vision Best Visual Quality	🔬 SMILE Flapless — Best for Dry Eyes	✨ SILK Newest Technology	🔷 PRK / LASEK For Thin Corneas	🔵 ICL Not Laser — For High Powers
Cost per Eye	Rs 15,000 – 35,000	Rs 25,000 – 60,000	Rs 40,000 – 1,00,000	Rs 35,000 – 80,000	Rs 50,000 – 1,10,000	Rs 15,000 – 40,000	Rs 80,000 – 1,50,000
Flap Created	⚠️ Yes	⚠️ Yes	⚠️ Yes	✅ No (Flapless)	✅ No (Flapless)	✅ No (Flapless)	✅ No (Flapless)
Dry Eye Risk	⚠️ Medium	⚠️ Medium	⚠️ Medium	✅ Low	✅ Lowest	⚠️ Medium	⚠️ Medium
Vision Recovery	24 hours	24 hours	24-48 hours	24-48 hours	24 hours	5-7 days	24-48 hours
Tech Level	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Corrects Myopia	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Corrects Hyperopia	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	⚠️ Limited	✅ Yes
Corrects Astigmatism	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Safe for Sports	⚠️ Caution	⚠️ Caution	⚠️ Caution	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Detailed Guide — Each Procedure

👁

Standard LASIK

Most Common

Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis

Standard LASIK is the original laser vision correction procedure. A microkeratome blade or femtosecond laser creates a thin flap in the cornea, an excimer laser reshapes the underlying tissue, and the flap is repositioned. Rapid recovery with good results for most patients.

Cost per eye

Rs 15,000–35,000

✅ Pros

•Most affordable

•Well-established 30+ year track record

•Very fast recovery

•Available everywhere in India

•Can treat high powers

⚠️ Cons

•Creates corneal flap (risk of flap complications)

•Higher dry eye risk than SMILE/SILK

•Not suitable for contact sports

•Blade used in some centres

✓ Best For

•Myopia up to -12D

•Hyperopia up to +6D

•Astigmatism up to 6D

•Cornea above 500 microns

Dry Eye Risk

Medium

Recovery

24 hours

Flap

Yes

Available at

Available at all eye centres

⚡

Bladeless LASIK

Best Value

Femtosecond LASIK (Femto-LASIK)

Bladeless LASIK uses a femtosecond laser (instead of a blade) to create the corneal flap — offering higher precision. The excimer laser then reshapes the cornea. This is now the standard of care at reputable centres and represents the best combination of cost and safety.

Cost per eye

Rs 25,000–60,000

✅ Pros

•No blade — femtosecond laser creates flap

•More precise flap than blade LASIK

•Current standard of care at quality centres

•Better safety profile than blade LASIK

•Good value for money

⚠️ Cons

•Still creates a flap

•Higher dry eye risk than SMILE/SILK

•Not ideal for contact sports

✓ Best For

•Myopia up to -12D

•Hyperopia up to +6D

•Astigmatism up to 6D

•Standard refractive errors

Dry Eye Risk

Medium

Recovery

24 hours

Flap

Yes

Available at

Fortis FMRIMedantaApollo Hospitals

🗺

Contoura Vision

Best Visual Quality

Topography-Guided LASIK

Contoura Vision (WaveLight EX500) is topography-guided LASIK that maps 22,000 individual points on your cornea. It corrects not just your spectacle power but also the microscopic irregularities in your corneal shape. Result: many patients see better after Contoura than they ever did with glasses. The gold standard for visual quality.

Cost per eye

Rs 40,000–1,00,000

✅ Pros

•Maps 22,000 corneal elevation points

•Treats corneal irregularities beyond spectacle power

•Many patients achieve better than 6/6 vision

•Best for astigmatism

•Personalised to your unique cornea

•FDA approved

⚠️ Cons

•More expensive than standard LASIK

•Still creates a flap

•Not for hyperopia above +4D

•Available only at select centres

✓ Best For

•Myopia up to -10D

•Astigmatism (especially irregular)

•Patients wanting better than glasses vision

•Corneal irregularities

Dry Eye Risk

Medium

Recovery

24-48 hours

Flap

Yes

Available at

Centre for Sight DelhiSankara Nethralaya ChennaiNarayana Nethralaya Bangalore

🔬

SMILE

Flapless — Best for Dry Eyes

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction

SMILE (Zeiss VisuMax) is the most advanced flapless laser procedure. A femtosecond laser creates a small lenticule inside the cornea which is removed through a tiny 4mm incision — no flap is created. The cornea is biomechanically stronger, dry eye risk is lowest of all laser procedures, and there is zero risk of flap dislodgement. Ideal for patients with dry eyes, active lifestyles, or contact sports.

Cost per eye

Rs 35,000–80,000

✅ Pros

•No flap — zero flap complication risk

•Lowest dry eye risk of all laser procedures

•Fewer corneal nerves cut

•Stronger cornea post-procedure

•Ideal for contact sports and active people

•Single laser step

⚠️ Cons

•Cannot correct hyperopia (+ power)

•Slightly slower visual recovery than LASIK

•Enhancement done with PRK not LASIK

•More expensive than LASIK

•Available only on Zeiss VisuMax platform

✓ Best For

•Myopia up to -10D

•Astigmatism up to 5D

•Dry eye prone patients

•Contact sports players

•Defence / aviation personnel

•Active lifestyle

Dry Eye Risk

Low

Recovery

24-48 hours

Flap

Available at

Narayana Nethralaya BangaloreCentre for Sight DelhiMedanta Gurugram

✨

SILK

Newest Technology

Smooth Incision Lenticule Keratomileusis

SILK is the newest generation of flapless laser eye surgery, performed on the Johnson & Johnson Vision Elita platform. It improves on SMILE with smoother lenticule edges, faster laser delivery, and potentially better surface quality. Very new in India — limited long-term data available but early results are excellent. The most advanced option currently available.

Cost per eye

Rs 50,000–1,10,000

✅ Pros

•Latest generation flapless technology

•Smoother lenticule edges than SMILE

•Faster laser delivery than SMILE

•Even lower dry eye risk than SMILE

•Better surface smoothness

•Excellent biomechanical stability

⚠️ Cons

•Very new — limited long-term data

•Most expensive option

•Available only at select centres in India

•Cannot correct hyperopia

•Limited centres have the Elita laser platform

✓ Best For

•Myopia up to -10D

•Astigmatism

•Dry eye prone patients

•Active lifestyle

•Patients wanting latest technology

Dry Eye Risk

Lowest

Recovery

24 hours

Flap

Available at

Selected premium centres in Delhi, Mumbai, BangaloreCentres with Johnson & Johnson Elita platform

🔷

PRK / LASEK

For Thin Corneas

Photorefractive Keratectomy / Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis

PRK removes the surface epithelium and directly ablates the corneal surface without creating a flap. Slower recovery than LASIK but suitable for patients with thinner corneas who cannot undergo LASIK or SMILE. LASEK is a variant that uses alcohol to loosen the epithelium. PRK is also used for enhancements after SMILE.

Cost per eye

Rs 15,000–40,000

✅ Pros

•No flap — suitable for thin corneas

•Well-established technique

•Suitable when cornea too thin for LASIK

•Used for LASIK enhancement after SMILE

•Lower cost

⚠️ Cons

•Slower recovery (5-7 days of blurred vision)

•More post-operative discomfort than LASIK

•Risk of corneal haze (rare with mitomycin C)

•Vision stabilisation takes longer

✓ Best For

•Thin corneas not suitable for LASIK

•Myopia up to -10D

•Previous LASIK enhancement

•Patients who cannot have flap

Dry Eye Risk

Medium

Recovery

5-7 days

Flap

Available at

Available at most eye centres across India

🔵

ICL

Not Laser — For High Powers

Implantable Collamer Lens (Phakic IOL)

ICL (EVO Visian ICL) is not a laser procedure — it involves implanting a thin collamer lens inside the eye between the iris and natural lens. No corneal tissue is removed making it completely reversible. Ideal for very high powers or thin corneas where no laser procedure is safe. The EVO version has a central port eliminating the need for a peripheral iridotomy.

Cost per eye

Rs 80,000–1,50,000

✅ Pros

•No corneal tissue removed — completely reversible

•Excellent for very high powers

•No dry eye as cornea untouched

•Often better quality vision than laser for high powers

•Can be combined with LASIK for residual power

⚠️ Cons

•Surgical implant — more invasive than laser

•Higher cost than all laser options

•Rare risk of cataract

•Requires adequate anterior chamber depth

•Annual check-up recommended

✓ Best For

•Very high myopia above -10D

•Thin corneas not suitable for any laser

•Dry eye patients

•Reversible option preferred

•Age 21-45

Dry Eye Risk

None

Recovery

24-48 hours

Flap

Available at

Apollo HospitalsMedantaSankara Nethralaya

Cost Comparison — Per Eye (India 2026)

👁 Standard LASIKRs 15,000 – 35,000

⚡ Bladeless LASIKRs 25,000 – 60,000

🗺 Contoura VisionRs 40,000 – 1,00,000

🔬 SMILERs 35,000 – 80,000

✨ SILKRs 50,000 – 1,10,000

🔷 PRK / LASEKRs 15,000 – 40,000

🔵 ICLRs 80,000 – 1,50,000

* Costs shown are per eye in Indian Rupees. Both eyes typically cost 1.8-2x the per-eye price. ICL is per eye including all charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SMILE and SILK?

Both SMILE and SILK are flapless laser procedures. SILK (Johnson & Johnson Elita) is the newer generation — it creates a smoother lenticule edge than SMILE (Zeiss VisuMax), potentially offering better surface quality and slightly faster delivery. Both have similar outcomes. SILK is newer and has less long-term data but early results are excellent.

Which laser eye surgery has the least dry eye risk?

SILK has the lowest dry eye risk, followed by SMILE. Both are flapless procedures that preserve more corneal nerves than LASIK. Standard LASIK has the highest dry eye risk. If you already have dry eyes, SMILE or SILK are strongly recommended over LASIK.

Is Contoura better than SMILE?

They serve different purposes. Contoura gives the best visual quality — many patients see better than they ever did with glasses. SMILE has the lowest dry eye risk and is flapless. Contoura creates a flap while SMILE does not. If visual quality is your priority, choose Contoura. If you have dry eyes or play contact sports, choose SMILE.

Can I get SILK laser surgery in India?

Yes — SILK is available at select premium eye centres in India, primarily in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai. It is the most expensive option (Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,10,000 per eye) and availability is limited compared to SMILE or LASIK.

Which laser eye surgery is best for high astigmatism?

Contoura Vision is the best option for significant astigmatism as it maps 22,000 corneal points and treats both the spectacle power and corneal irregularities. SMILE also effectively corrects astigmatism up to 5D.

Is ICL better than LASIK?

For most patients with standard powers, LASIK or SMILE is preferable — they are simpler procedures. ICL is better for very high myopia (above -10D), thin corneas where laser is unsafe, or patients who want a reversible procedure with no corneal tissue removal.

How do I choose between all these options?

The best procedure depends on your corneal thickness (pachymetry), corneal topography, prescription power, dry eye status, and lifestyle. A comprehensive pre-LASIK evaluation at an experienced centre takes 30-45 minutes and will tell you which procedures you are eligible for. Call MySurgery at 8588967050 for a free consultation.

Not Sure Which Is Right for You?

Our eye care specialists will evaluate your corneal profile and recommend the best procedure for your specific eyes and lifestyle. Free consultation.

🔬 Find Which Is Best for Your Eyes →
Book Free Consultation WhatsApp Us

🏥 LASIK city guides →📋 LASIK FAQ →✓ Am I eligible? →

LASIK vs SMILE vs SILK vs ContouraWhich Laser Eye Surgery Is Right for You?

🎯 Quick Selector — Which Is Best for You?

Side-by-Side Comparison

Detailed Guide — Each Procedure

Standard LASIK

Bladeless LASIK

Contoura Vision

SMILE

SILK

PRK / LASEK

ICL

Cost Comparison — Per Eye (India 2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SMILE and SILK?

Which laser eye surgery has the least dry eye risk?

Is Contoura better than SMILE?

Can I get SILK laser surgery in India?

Which laser eye surgery is best for high astigmatism?

Is ICL better than LASIK?

How do I choose between all these options?

Not Sure Which Is Right for You?

LASIK vs SMILE vs SILK vs Contoura
Which Laser Eye Surgery Is Right for You?