Medically Reviewed by: Edward C. Wade, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Does Laser Eye Surgery Hurt?
When people think of lasers, they’re more likely envision destructive ray guns or a light show at a rock concert than eye surgery. It’s no surprise then that many people believe laser eye surgery is a risky and scary procedure. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth; LASIK surgery is not only very safe, it entails very little discomfort as well. But still the mystery remains, what really does happen during LASIK?
Pre-Surgery Preparation
Prior to the surgery, the first thing that the doctor will do is put numbing drops into your eye. These drops are an anesthetic, which begin the process of relaxing your eye. The muscles within your eye will then loosen up, causing you to blink a lot more infrequently than normal. With your eye relaxed, the doctor will apply a clamp to hold your eyelid open for total stability during the operation. There’s no risk of you blinking and messing up the surgery, and you won’t feel any pain or discomfort since your eyes have been numbed.
During the Surgery
When the anesthetic is fully activated and your eye is totally numb and relaxed, a corneal flap is made and the laser begins to reshape your cornea. The laser part of the surgery lasts for less than a minute. It’s possible to feel a little bit of pressure on your eye while the laser is working, but any discomfort you may feel doesn’t last long. There won’t be any burning either, since the laser is actually cold!
Post-Surgery Recovery
LASIK surgery isn’t a painful procedure. The peak amount of discomfort that happens post-surgery lasts for about three to five hours, when it’s best to keep your eye closed allowing your eyes to heal. The corneal flap that is made during the surgery heals quickly by resting the day of your surgery coupled with medicated eye drops for the week following surgery.
Dispel the Myth of Painful Laser Eye Surgery
With all the facts in consideration, we can confidently say that LASIK does not hurt. At most, LASIK causes mild discomfort for a few hours. The biggest hurdles for patients considering LASIK is not the surgery itself, but the misconceptions and fears surrounding the procedure. Thankfully, the remedy for this is simple:
Talk to your doctor at Eye Center of Texas about LASIK and learn exactly what happens during the surgery. Doing so will not only remove any of your uncertainties around the procedure, but will also help you gain confidence that the future of your vision is in the hands of professionals.
Are you ready to improve your vision? Contact Eye Center of Texas today to learn more about laser eye surgery. Or, call with any questions at 713-395-1515.
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Our Locations
Houston/Bellaire
6565 W. Loop S., Suite 650Bellaire, TX 77401
Medical Office:
713-797-1010
Medical Fax:
713-357-7276
LASIK/Near Vision:
Office: 713-395-1515
Fax: 713-357-7278
Pasadena
4415 Crenshaw RoadPasadena, TX 77504
Medical Office:
281-977-8800
Medical Fax:
281-977-8877
Sugar Land
15200 S.W. Freeway, Suite 130Sugar Land, TX 77478
Medical Office:
281-277-1010
Medical Fax:
281-277-4504
Clear Lake
455 E. Medical Center Blvd., Suite 110Webster, TX 77598
Medical Office:
281-332-1397
Medical Fax:
281-282-9152
Katy
Greenhouse Medical Plaza2051 Greenhouse Road, Suite 110
Houston, TX 77084
Medical Office:
346-547-7070
Medical Fax:
281-214-2971
The Woodlands/Conroe
100 Medical Center Blvd., Suite 118Conroe, TX 77304
Medical Office:
936-647-1610
Medical Fax:
936-647-1620