Most people don’t feel pain during laser eye surgery. You might feel a bit of pressure, but the surgeon will give you drops to numb your eyes before the surgery so that it won’t hurt much.
We’ll discuss these topics in this blog:
- Does laser eye surgery hurt?
- Why do people think that LASIK hurts?
- Side effects of laser eye surgery
- Before eye surgery
- After eye surgery
- Faq’s
Does laser eye surgery hurt?
Getting LASIK laser eye surgery usually doesn’t hurt. You might feel a bit of pressure in your eyes during the procedure, but it’s not common.
Before the surgery, the doctor will give you drops to numb your eyes. Then, they’ll use a small blade or laser to make a flap in the outer layer of your eye, called the cornea. After that, they’ll use the laser to reshape your eye.
After the surgery, your eyes might:
- Feel like they’re burning
- Itch
- Feel like there’s something in them
You’ll get a shield to protect your eyes while you sleep and to stop you from rubbing them accidentally. This helps prevent putting pressure on your eyes.
After the surgery, when the numbing wears off, you might feel a little discomfort or pain, but it’s usually not too bad.
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Why do people think that LASIK hurts?
You might have heard scary stories about laser eye surgery that make people think it’s painful. But that’s just a myth! Why do people believe it then? Well, in the past, eye surgeries could be painful, but not anymore. Doctors have been improving eye surgery techniques since the 1960s. LASIK, which is a type of laser eye surgery, wasn’t even approved by the FDA until 1999, so it took a while to develop. Before LASIK, older procedures could cause discomfort, which is why some people wonder if laser eye surgery hurts.
Side effects of laser eye surgery
After LASIK, while your eyes heal, you might experience:
- Finding light too bright
- Feeling like your eyes are burning or stinging
- Eyes feeling dry
- Seeing halos or glares around lights.
Sometimes, there can be unexpected problems, like:
- Your vision not improving enough or becoming worse
- Getting an infection
- Having issues with the flap made on your cornea
- Developing a condition called corneal ectasia.
If you have severe pain after LASIK, it could mean something’s wrong. Make sure to contact your doctor right away if you feel this way.
Before eye surgery
Before eye surgery, the doctor will apply special eyedrops to the patient’s eye to numb it and reduce any discomfort. Following this, a small device called a speculum will be gently placed to keep the eyelids open throughout the procedure. This helps ensure that the surgeon has clear access to the eye and can perform the surgery safely and effectively.
After eye surgery
If the patient has PRK or LASEK, the surgeon will replace the surface layer of the eye and place a soft contact lens to protect it.
For LASIK patients, the surgeon will put back the flap of the cornea and may give them protective glasses to wear at home. The flap sticks back on its own quickly. LASIK patients will also get eye drops to prevent dry eyes.
Faq’s
Q1. Is laser eye surgery painful afterward?
A1. The first 24 hours after LASIK are typically filled with gritty and sore eyes. Severe pain is uncommon, but you should contact your surgeon immediately if you experience severe pain. For 2-3 days following trans-PRK/LASEK, you may experience pain and photophobia as the eyes heal.
Q2. Can you blink during laser eye surgery?
A2. During surgery, eyelashes are taped out of the way with special adhesive drapes, and gentle eyelid retainers keep the lids open.
Q3. How does laser eye surgery feel?
A3. During the creation of the flap on your cornea, pressure will be felt, but the numbing drops won’t cause discomfort. It is also not painful to undergo laser treatment. It is common for some people to get anxious at the sound of the laser, but the oral sedative relieves this.
Q4. Is crying after LASIK OK?
A4. LASIK patients can cry after their surgery. If you want to cry for any reason, natural tears won’t harm your eyes or delay your recovery.
Q5. What happens if you cry during laser eye surgery?
A5. Even if you cry during LASIK surgery, the doctor can wipe away your tears and pause the surgery for a few seconds if it happens. Involuntary movements will not affect the surgery. It doesn’t take long for LASIK surgery, and it is usually finished too quickly for crying. If you are concerned about dryness, you can request a drying medication from your doctor.
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