Medically reviewed by Dr. Ahmed Shaarawy · Last reviewed July 22, 2026 · Review policy (Arabic)
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A few months ago, a patient came to see me from Saudi Arabia — 34 years old, a bank employee. He had myopia of -5.5 in the right eye and -6 in the left, and had worn glasses since elementary school. He told me: "Doctor, I'm planning to get LASIK in Egypt — but every time I ask around, I get conflicting answers. I just want someone to tell me the truth." I said, "Let's start with the exam and see what your eyes tell us."
After an hour-long full workup, we did Femto-LASIK the next day. Within 24 hours, he was seeing 20/20 in both eyes. But the story isn't always that simple — and that's exactly what you'll learn in this article.
LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis — essentially, reshaping the cornea with a laser. The cornea is the clear, curved layer at the front of the eye, responsible for focusing light onto the retina. When its shape isn't quite right, light focuses in the wrong place, causing:
LASIK reshapes the cornea with computer-guided precision to correct this. Most patients are able to give up glasses permanently.
This is the question I get asked most in clinic. The core difference is how the corneal surface is handled:
Uses a mechanical device (a microkeratome) to cut a thin flap in the corneal surface. The technique has proven itself over decades, but flap thickness is less precise than with a laser.
Same concept, but the flap is created with a femtosecond laser instead of a blade. It gives me finer control over the flap's thickness and diameter, and puts less pressure on the eyeball. It's my preferred option for most cases.
No flap is created at all. The laser shapes a small disc of tissue (a lenticule) inside the cornea, which is removed through a tiny opening. The result: a more stable corneal surface and less dryness. It suits some patients whose corneal thickness isn't enough for Femto-LASIK. If you want to go deeper into it, read the article Femto-SMILE: Everything You Need to Know About SMILE Surgery.
| Criteria | Traditional LASIK | Femto-LASIK | SMILE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flap tool | Microkeratome | Femtosecond laser | No flap |
| Recovery speed | 1-2 days | 1-2 days | About a week |
| Dry eye | Possible | Less likely | Least likely |
| Best for | Simple cases | Most cases | Relatively thin corneas |
| Approximate cost | EGP 8,000-12,000/eye | EGP 12,000-20,000/eye | EGP 15,000-25,000/eye |
Not every eye is suitable. My initial exam takes an hour to an hour and a half and covers a complete evaluation.
If you're excluded from LASIK, that's not the end of the road. I might recommend PRK or ICL lenses (costing EGP 40,000-60,000 per eye, but excellent for high prescriptions).
Takes one to two hours and includes:
You'll notice an immediate improvement in vision, despite some blurriness and mild burning. Within 4-6 hours, vision improves noticeably. Most of my patients wake up the next day seeing the world clearly without glasses for the first time in years.
| Period | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| First 4-6 hours | Tearing, light sensitivity, mild burning — sleep once you get home |
| Day one | Good vision, mild transient blurriness |
| First week | No rubbing the eye, drops on schedule, eye shield at night |
| First month | Vision gradually stabilizes, no swimming or diving |
| 3-6 months | Full stabilization, regular follow-up visits |
As a cornea surgeon, I'm the one who sees LASIK complications when they happen. LASIK is one of the safest elective surgeries in the world — but you should still know:
I see patients from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Libya — for a combination of reasons you don't find everywhere:
No. Anesthetic drops are enough. Afterward you might feel mild burning that goes away after a few hours of sleep.
Results are permanent in suitable candidates. Any refractive changes that occur years later are natural changes in the eye, not a failure of the surgery.
Most of my patients return to office work by the second or third day. Jobs involving dust or friction need a longer break, which I determine during the exam.
No, there's no issue — as long as you follow the protective instructions for the first few weeks: sunglasses, avoiding dusty areas, and no rubbing the eye.
Yes, that's standard practice at most specialized centers and is completely safe.
If you're considering LASIK, the comprehensive exam is what determines everything — whether you're a candidate, which technique suits you best, and what result to expect. The exam at my clinic in Dokki costs EGP 900 and covers all the tests I've mentioned. You can also get an initial cost estimate for your case beforehand using the LASIK cost calculator. And if it turns out your eyes aren't suited to LASIK, I'll tell you honestly and talk through the alternatives with you.
Because my goal isn't just to perform the surgery — it's for your eyes to stay healthy for the long run.
