Does laser eye surgery hurt?
Is laser eye surgery painful?
This is perhaps the most commonly asked question we get from prospective patients. If a person has been hesitant about proceeding to laser eye surgery, chances are it’s because they have reservations about the levels of discomfort involved with the surgery and recovery. However, we’re here to provide some answers and, quite simply, the question of whether laser eye surgery hurts can be answered with one word: no.
You wouldn’t have any surgery without a form of anaesthetic, and laser eye surgery is no different. Before your treatment, we will administer some numbing eye drops. This essentially acts as the anaesthetic, preventing you from feeling any discomfort during the surgery. The surgeon will use an eyelid holder to keep your eyes open during the treatment, before a cool beam laser is applied to your eye. Most of our patients report feeling a slight pressure on their eye during treatment, but some say they feel nothing at all! The laser is actually only on your eye for a matter of seconds, the exact number of which depends on your prescription, but usually for no more than 30 seconds.
Does laser eye surgery recovery hurt?
The recovery process is the part of treatment which typically has more discomfort involved than surgery day itself, as is normal while your eye heals after the procedure. Your exact recovery and timeline will differ according to whether you have LASIK or LASEK treatment. We have written previously about the variations between these two types of laser eye surgery, but to recap: LASIK creates a flap in your cornea which is lifted before the laser is applied. LASEK, however, softens the top layer of your cornea and it is gently moved to the side before the laser is applied. The way in which the cornea is removed differs so, naturally, the way it heals after each of these treatments will also be a bit different.
For LASIK patients, the recovery process tends to be quicker as the incision made to create the flap begins healing immediately after treatment. After your surgery, you are likely to experience a gritty sensation in your eyes so we recommend lying down with your eyes closed and getting some sleep if you can. Lots of our LASIK patients say they feel ready to return to work the next day, but we would advise avoiding digital screens where possible and wearing sunglasses for the first few days. Most LASIK patients go back to work around 3 days after surgery.
LASEK patients will experience a longer, more uncomfortable recovery process than LASIK patients, simply because the epithelial cells need to regrow in the cornea. LASEK patients typically require 3-5 days off work, and occasionally up to a week. LASEK patients will also likely experience a gritty sensation in the eye, and occasionally some stinging as if you have cut onions. However, we give all patients – after both LASIK and LASEK – two types of eye drops; hydration and antibacterial. Using these will help to reduce your chance of developing an infection in the recovery period, as well as soothing any discomfort, dryness or stinging you experience.
Optimax laser eye surgery aftercare programme
We want to make sure that your healing process is going to plan, so we will invite you in for a series of aftercare appointments where we’ll check your vision and eye health.
LASEK Aftercare Appointment Programme:
Appointment 1: 3-5 days after surgery
Appointment 2: 7-14 days after surgery
Appointment 3: 1 month after surgery
Appointment 4: 3 months after surgery (you will be discharged after this, if the optometrist is satisfied with your vision)
LASIK Aftercare Appointment Programme:
Appointment 1: 1 day after surgery
Appointment 2: 7-14 days after surgery
Appointment 3: 1 month after surgery
Appointment 4: 3 months after surgery (you will be discharged after this, if the optometrist is satisfied with your vision)
In the unlikely event that you experience any severe pain on the day or during the night of your surgery, you should call your surgeon. We will provide you with their direct overnight mobile number, for use in the very rare case you that you have complications. If you experience any other symptoms in the days or weeks after your surgery which you would like to ask us about, you can call your clinic directly, or our Customer Services team on 0800 093 1110 who have a wealth of information to set your mind at ease.
Reasons to choose Optimax for your laser eye surgery
- Lifetime Aftercare Guarantee
- Longest established laser eye surgery providers (est. 1991)
- Fixed prices, regardless of your prescription
- 0% interest payment plan
- Nationwide clinics
Book online or call us on 0800 093 1110 to secure your free consultation and start your journey to clear vision.
