“But for those who can receive the operation, the outcome is usually promising.”

Practitioners are required to pass an examination organized by the Chinese Medical Association before they get a certificate to carry out the procedure, according to Yu Jing, an ophthalmologist and vice-director of the Department of Excimer Laser with No 10 People’s Hospital of Tongji University at Shanghai.

“The better the devices are, the better the prognosis will be,” said Yu.

“The new devices are expensive. Before 2004, there were many private and small hospitals competing in the market. Now it is much better.

” However, Guo warned some practitioners may carry out the surgery when it is not suitable because they are only interested in the money.

She said some patients came to her because they are suspicious that the doctors in other hospitals have tried to talk them into the surgery. On many occasions, those patients were unsuited for the surgery, she added.