Does LASIK Hurt?

Does LASIK hurt? The question of pain is a common concern and a major deciding factor for people who want to undergo LASIK. People are anxious not about thee procedure but more of the possible pain that it may cause. But does it really hurt? You’ve might have heard stories yourself of people who had undergone the procedure who felt no pain at all and then there are other stories you hear that tell you otherwise. So, what is it? Does LASIK hurt?

If you have undergone pre-op assessment and results show that you are a good candidate for LASIK, everything will be A-OK. Immediately prior to the procedure, anesthetic eye drops will be applied to your eyes to thoroughly numb them. During the first step of LASIK which is the creation of the protective corneal flap with a laser, you will likely feel some pressure on your eye. But typically this is not painful, and the sensation lasts less than a minute.

Some LASIK surgeons provide a prescription for pain medicine at home in case patients need it later on to manage short-term eye discomfort after surgery. But most patients find that if they experience eye discomfort after LASIK, it usually is relatively mild and resolves within several hours without medication.

When you return home from your LASIK surgery and the effects of the anesthetic eye drops wear off, it’s common to experience photosensitivity and watery eyes, as well mild to moderate eye discomfort for a few hours, but never severe. Generally, if this is persistent, over-the-counter pain medications will ease the discomfort.

If, however, pain on your eyes is severe, burning in character,  and does not resolve with over-the-counter pain medications, call your LASIK surgeon for advice.

So does LASIK hurt? No it generally doesn’t. Go ahead and read some of our LASIK success stories if you must!