Many prospective patients wonder, “How does LASIK eye surgery feel?” The short answer: It’s a bit awkward but generally painless. Let’s walk through the LASIK experience to demystify the procedure and ease your concerns.
Pre-Surgery Preparation: Numbing Your Eyes
Before your LASIK procedure begins, your surgeon will administer anesthetic eye drops. These feel like ordinary eye drops but contain a local anesthetic that quickly numbs your eyes. As you blink, the numbing agent spreads across your eye surface, similar to windshield wiper fluid. This ensures you’ll feel no pain during the surgery.
The LASIK Procedure: What to Expect
- Keeping Your Eye Open Once you’re lying down in the laser suite, your doctor will use a speculum to hold your eye open. While your eye is numb, your eyelids aren’t, so this may feel slightly uncomfortable at first. Imagine holding your eye open to insert a contact lens – that’s similar to how it feels during LASIK.
- Creating the Flap The first main step of LASIK involves creating a corneal flap. Your surgeon will use a suction device, which may cause a feeling of pressure or mild discomfort. This is typically the least comfortable part of the procedure and contributes to the “awkward feeling” some patients describe.
- Reshaping the Cornea During the actual laser treatment to reshape your cornea, you’ll be asked to focus on a light. Surprisingly, most patients don’t feel any sensation during this part of the procedure.
Post-LASIK Sensations: The Healing Process
After LASIK surgery, it’s normal to experience some burning, tearing, or discomfort for a few hours. This is your eyes beginning the healing process – similar to how a scab might itch as it heals. Your doctor will recommend resting your eyes frequently for about a day post-surgery to aid in recovery.
Remember, while LASIK eye surgery might feel a bit strange, it’s a quick and generally comfortable procedure. The temporary awkwardness is a small price to pay for improved vision and freedom from glasses or contacts.
Considering LASIK? Schedule a consultation with our experienced surgeons to learn more about how LASIK eye surgery feels and whether it’s right for you.
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