New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS): A cataract suite launched at a leading hospital here Wednesday will offer laser-based eye surgeries, minimal eye trauma and shortened surgery time, doctors said.

Unveiled at Medanta-the Medicity, the suite also marked the launch of Medanta's ophthalmology division led by surgeon Sudipto Pakrasi.

"We are fortunate to bring this technology for cataract surgery. We thought it's time to share that there has been a sea change in the way we look at cataract surgery with these technologies," Medanta-the Medicity chairman and managing director Naresh Trehan said.

Seventy seven-year-old Balbir Batra, who underwent a cataract surgery at the suite, told IANS: "It was wrapped up within 30 minutes with no eye pain. I could watch television in the evening. There were no side effects."

The cost of the surgery would be between Rs.50,000 and Rs.60,000 unless a patient demands high-end lenses.

The cataract suite, designed to optimise surgical time and maximise the outcome of the procedures of cataract surgery, intends to deliver near-perfect visual correction and precise alignment of new lenses, the doctors said.

"This suite is a group of four integrated machines that will work seamlessly, from planning to execution. This technology will reduce the time taken by 51 percent," said Pakrasi.

"As far as the patient is concerned, the healing time would be much earlier. There are less chances of reactions and the precision is much higher," he said.