We have come across several patients in our hospital who were afraid to get LASIK surgery for their vision problems. This fear is not unnatural because the idea of a laser in the eyes is quite intimidating. People think that it’s going to hurt a lot, and after surgery, other issues will arise. So, is LASIK surgery painful, or is it just another medical myth?
Well, to know this, one first needs to understand why LASIK surgery is done and what happens during and after the procedure. Yes, this is what we will be discussing in this blog, so that you don’t have any doubts about your eye treatments.
When Should You Get LASIK Surgery?
LASIK surgery is done fix these vision problems:
Myopia or Nearsightedness:
What happens in Myopia is that one’s distant view becomes blurry. It means that they can see things up close like a book or mobile screen, but struggle to get a clear view of things that are at a distance, like road signs, watching TV while sitting on the sofa, etc.
Hyperopia or Farsightedness:
People with hyperopia experience exactly the opposite of what people with myopia do. Farsighted things appear clear to them, but they struggle to see things close up.
Astigmatism:
It’s a condition that affects a person’s total vision, which means both their farsighted and nearsighted vision are compromised, and the world appears distorted or blurry to them without glasses.
So, if you have any of these, you can get a LASIK surgery, but you need to be declared perfectly fit for the surgery by your surgeon. You must have:
- A stable vision prescription for a year.
- No signs of diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, or dry eyes.
- Healthy corneas
- Overall good general health
- No pregnancy or lactation
What Happens During LASIK Eye Surgery?
Is LASIK eye surgery painful? The answer lies in the surgical procedure:
- Numbing eye drops are used in the patient’s eye to eliminate the chances of irritation as the patient stays awake throughout the surgery. (Remember, despite being awake, the patient can’t feel anything because their eyes are numb.)
- A thin flap is created on the corneal surface using the femtosecond laser.
- After that, the doctor slightly lifts the flap to expose the cornea.
- Then, the cornea is reshaped with either an excimer laser or a femtosecond laser based on the vision problem the patient has.
- The flap is then placed back.
*Note:
In more advanced LASIK surgeries such as SMILE Pro, PRK, and Epi LASIK, no flap is created. So, how painful do you think these surgeries are? They are actually 100% painless.
What Happens After LASIK Eye Surgery?
So, LASIK surgery isn’t painful. But another question arises: is LASIK eye surgery painful afterwards? Here’s what happens:
- After the surgery, it takes a few hours to be able to see clearly.
- Mild irritation may be there, but patients don’t usually experience this as they rest during those hours.
- They often get back to their regular activities in 24-48 hours.
Ending Note:
Through LASIK surgery, thousands of people have been able to see clearly without the help of glasses and live comfortably and confidently.
Remember, even though LASIK eye surgery is a one-day procedure, the preparation starts a week before. Your surgeon advises you to stop using contact lenses, eye makeup, etc.
At Sohana Eye Hospital, be it LASIK or any other vision correction surgery, our experienced team of ophthalmologists takes total care of the patients, right from consultation to post-surgery care. So, if you are thinking of getting LASIK done, feel free to visit us for a smoother, comfortable, and reliable experience.
