Laser vision · Rajesh Khanna, MD
LASIK in Beverly Hills and Westlake Village
Reviewed by Rajesh Khanna, MD
LASIK corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism by reshaping the cornea. A femtosecond laser makes a thin flap, an excimer laser reshapes the tissue underneath, and the flap is laid back in place. Many patients return to desk work the next day. Your VIP consult shows whether your corneas suit it.
How it works
What LASIK is
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is the most familiar laser vision correction. A femtosecond laser creates a thin, hinged flap in the cornea. Dr. Khanna lifts the flap, an excimer laser reshapes the cornea to your prescription, and the flap is laid back down. It seals without stitches.
Treatment is planned from detailed corneal maps. The price range reflects the laser technology chosen for your eyes, and your written quote shows which platform you are getting.
Related option: SuperLASIK uses a thinner epithelial flap that, unlike a LASIK flap, is usually discarded.
Compare
LASIK vs SMILE Pro vs PRK
All three reshape the cornea with a laser. They differ in how the laser reaches the tissue.
| Feature | LASIK | SMILE Pro | PRK / ASA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flap | Yes, made with a femtosecond laser | No, small incision only | No, the surface layer regrows |
| Treats | Nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism | Nearsightedness, with or without astigmatism (U.S. approval) | Nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism |
| First week | Often back to desk work the next day | Often back to desk work the next day | Slower: a bandage lens for several days |
| Monthly cost | About $99 per eye for 24 months | $150 per eye for 24 months | About $99 per eye for 24 months |
| Learn more | On this page | SMILE Pro | PRK and ASA |
Candidacy
Are you a candidate for LASIK?
A glasses prescription alone can’t tell whether your cornea is safe for a flap. Your VIP consult measures it.
Often a good fit
- Age 21 or older
- A prescription that has been stable for 12 months or more
- Corneas thick and regular enough for a flap
- A healthy or well-treated eye surface
- Realistic expectations about recovery and results
May not be right, or not yet
- A prescription that is still changing
- Thin or irregular corneas, or keratoconus
- Significant untreated dry eye (SMILE or surface laser may fit better)
- Pregnancy or nursing
- Certain autoimmune or eye conditions
- Contact sports or impact-prone work, where a flap-free option may suit you better
Over 40? The conversation changes
LASIK corrects distance vision. It does not stop presbyopia, the natural loss of near focus with age. Dr. Khanna will talk through your reading and screen needs, and may suggest PIE or another plan.
Procedure day
What LASIK day is like
Map and plan
Corneal maps, wavefront measurements and a tear-film check at your VIP consult set the plan.
Numb and position
Numbing drops, no needles. A gentle lid holder keeps you from blinking. You stay awake and may feel pressure.
Flap and reshape
The femtosecond laser makes the flap. The excimer laser reshapes the cornea while an eye tracker follows small movements.
Protect and go home
The flap is laid back, your eye is checked, and you go home with shields, drops and a driver.
Recovery
Many see well quickly. Healing still takes time.
Many patients notice clearer vision within hours to a day. Your eyes keep settling over the following weeks, so follow Dr. Khanna’s written schedule rather than a timeline from social media.
Surgery day
Watering, light sensitivity and haze are common. Rest, use your drops, wear the shields and don’t rub your eyes.
Next day
First follow-up visit. Many patients go back to desk work, with screen breaks and lubricating drops.
First week
Keep using drops as directed. Wait a week for eye makeup. Light exercise only.
Water and contact sports
Wait at least 3 weeks for swimming, hot tubs and contact sports, and only after Dr. Khanna clears you.
Call the surgical team right away for increasing pain, sudden vision loss, marked redness or discharge.
Benefits and risks
The honest version
Why people consider LASIK
- Many suitable patients see well soon after treatment
- Treats nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism
- A long track record in laser vision correction
- Fine-tunings and enhancements are included in the price
- Less dependence on glasses or contact lenses
What no one can promise
No refractive surgery is risk-free. Possible effects include dry eye, glare, halos or starbursts at night, under- or over-correction, flap complications, inflammation, infection, and the possible need for glasses, contacts or more treatment.
Night-vision halos are usually temporary, but they can last in some patients. We can promise a careful evaluation and a clear recommendation. We cannot promise perfect vision or the same recovery for everyone.
Video
Watch: Angela’s LASIK experience
Your surgeon
The technology is advanced. The judgment is personal.
Rajesh Khanna, MD is a UCLA clinical instructor with 25+ years in practice and 25,000+ vision procedures.
At your visit, Dr. Khanna decides whether surgery is the right choice, which procedure fits your eyes, and how to manage the result. Patients who trust him include actress Brenda Song and Corbin Bleu.
"I've operated on my own mother, my wife and my son." (Dr. Khanna)
About Dr. KhannaCost and financing
What LASIK costs
| Option | Per eye, per month |
|---|---|
| LASIK | About $99 for 24 months (technology varies) |
Monthly amounts are for qualified applicants through our financing partners. Approval, APR and terms are set by the lender, not by Khanna Vision Institute.
Our procedure prices include all exams, measurements, surgeon’s and anesthetist’s fees, implant fees where applicable, 24 months of follow-up, all fine-tunings and enhancements, dry eye care, YAG where applicable, and the drops needed for surgery.
Your written quote at the VIP consult shows which laser technology you are getting.
We have dropped, and will continue to drop, HMO and optical (vision) insurance plans. For questions about a specific plan, call (310) 482-1240.
Not a candidate for LASIK?
- SMILE Pro: flapless, small-incision laser
- SuperLASIK: an epithelial flap that is usually discarded
- PRK / ASA: flapless surface laser with a slower first week
- EVO ICL: an implanted lens; no corneal tissue removed
- Glasses or contacts: still a valid choice
Vision questionnaire
Take the 2-minute vision quiz
Four quick questions point you to the options Dr. Khanna will look at first. No name, email or phone needed, and your answers stay on this page.
LASIK questions
How much does LASIK cost?
LASIK is about $99 per eye per month for 24 months, depending on technology, for qualified applicants through our financing partners. Your written quote at the VIP consult shows which laser platform you are getting.
Which lasers do you use?
LASIK at Khanna Vision Institute is blade-free. The flap is made with a femtosecond laser (IntraLase or VisuMax), and the correction is done with an excimer laser platform (VISX or Allegretto).
Does LASIK hurt?
Numbing drops are used, so most people feel pressure rather than pain during the treatment. Afterwards your eyes may feel scratchy or watery for several hours.
Will LASIK affect my night driving?
Some patients notice halos or glare around lights while the eye heals, usually for weeks to a few months. In a small number of patients it lasts longer. Your pupil size and prescription are checked at the VIP consult.
How soon can I exercise after LASIK?
Light activity such as walking is usually fine within days. Wait at least 3 weeks for swimming, hot tubs and contact sports, and only after Dr. Khanna clears you.
Will LASIK make my eyes dry?
Dryness can occur while the eye heals. We check your tear film before surgery, match the procedure to your dryness risk, and dry eye care is included in your price.
Does LASIK last?
The corneal correction is long-lasting, but eyes keep aging. Presbyopia after 40, cataracts later in life and natural changes can bring back a need for glasses.
Does insurance cover LASIK?
Usually not, because it is elective surgery. We have dropped, and will continue to drop, HMO and optical (vision) insurance plans. Many patients use HSA or FSA funds.
VIP consult
Request your VIP consult
Your first visit is a VIP consult: more time with each patient, and enough time with the surgeon, Dr. Khanna. Candidacy is decided there, and the answer may be a procedure or no surgery at all.
- VIP consult for SMILE Pro, SMILE, LASIK, EVO ICL, PIE, PRK and LASEK
- A surgery consultation, not a full eye exam
- In-office or virtual, as offered
Beverly Hills: Monday and Thursday · Westlake Village: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday · 8 AM–5 PM, last appointment 4 PM. Saturday by arrangement only: please call.
Sources
- U.S. FDA: LASIK
- U.S. FDA: What should I expect before, during and after LASIK?
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: LASIK
Medically reviewed by Rajesh Khanna, MD (review pending before launch). This page is educational and does not replace an exam. Eligibility, risks, benefits, alternatives and recovery are reviewed with your surgeon. Results vary.