Is Lasik Painful?

There are a few reasons why someone may fear getting lasik done. Pain one of those concerns for many people getting laser eye surgery. Fortunately, the lasik procedure is painless.

The numbing drops we use for lasik (and trust me you get plenty) take care of all pain. These numbing drops are incredibly effective! And they only take roughly 15-20 seconds to work! That’s not to say that there is no sensation whatsoever. The numbing drops only affect the pain receptors on the eye. You will still feel a pressure or stretching sensation from time to time. And, if you focus intensely on those other sensations, your brain can trick yourself into thinking it is pain. Therefore, a lot of lasik is simply making you comfortable to ease the brain. Many providers (me included) give an anti-anxiety pill (such as valium) beforehand. Many lasik places play good music during the procedure (perhaps you can even request your favorite tunes 😀). And I find that talking you through each step dramatically helps you feel at ease. With all of that, lasik just flies by!

While the lasik procedure itself is painless, the recovery afterwards does have some discomfort. Fortunately, this discomfort is short-lived and varies per individual. And beyond that, before you know it, you’re living a glasses-free life!

Also check out Does Lasik Hurt? on EyeMountain.com

Related Articles