Is LASIK Painful? A Quick And Comfortable Procedure

LASIK or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis is a groundbreaking technique that helped numerous people gain clear vision by rectifying their vision problems. This is a laser-based surgery that involves correcting the refractive issues of your eyes. LASIK treatment helps to gain a more focused and clearer vision without glasses or contact lenses. 

However, a common doubt regarding this treatment is whether it causes severe pain. While the concept of lasers and surgeries often creates an impression of severe pain and discomfort, LASIK is a comfortable treatment method without any pain. Apart from mild discomfort, LASIK is painless and mostly safe. Read on to learn more about the procedure and other aspects of LASIK surgery.

How Painful Is LASIK Eye Surgery?

Contrary to majority beliefs, LASIK is a painless eye treatment. As mentioned, it is carried out using painless lasers. The major reason that LASIK is a painless treatment is the anesthetic eye drops used in the beginning. This eye drop numbs the surface of the eyes during the surgery, helping to eliminate the pain and discomfort.

In addition to the eye drops, the laser used in this treatment is cool and precise. This helps minimize the sensation and pain during the surgery. However, it is normal to feel slight discomfort and pressure while creating the corneal flap. The anesthetic eye drops also help to reduce this discomfort, offering a painless and comfortable vision treatment.

Understanding The Procedure Of Lasik

Like any medical process diagnosis is the first step before LASIK surgery. Your ophthalmologist or eye specialist will analyze your condition and provide you with the instructions to prepare for the procedure. You will be asked to avoid using makeup, lotions, creams, and perfume from a day before the procedure.

The steps involved in LASIK treatment can be broken down into four. They are:

Step 1: Using eye drops

In the initial step, your eyes will be numbed using an anesthetic eye drop, ensuring comfort during the procedure.

Step 2: Creating a flap

A suction ring will be placed on your eyes to keep them in the proper position. Then, a thin corneal flap will be created.

Step 3: Reshaping the cornea

By adjusting the corneal flap a laser will reshape the corneal tissue to rectify the refractive error. In this step, you will be asked to stare at a light as the laser corrects the issue.

Step 4: Replacing the flap

The corneal flap will be repositioned naturally without any stitches.

How Does LASIK Feel Like?

As mentioned before, LASIK is a painless and comfortable eye treatment. You might not experience major sensations during this procedure. However, the common feeling you might have during the treatment is the gentle pressure while placing the suction ring to create the corneal flap.

Once the flap is created you might not feel any sensation including that of the laser. Apart from the sound of the laser working, you will not experience any pain or discomfort during the procedure. However, mild discomfort and irritation after the procedure are normal and will subside within a few days. 

Is LASIK Painful After Surgery?

While LASIK is a painless vision correction procedure, it is common to experience mild discomfort after the surgery. Most people have reported they faced minor inconvenience and irritation after LASIK treatment. However, they are short-lived and will be reduced within a week.  Some of the common discomforts after surgery are:

• Dry eyes
• Gritty or scratchy sensation from the eyes
• Watery eyes
• Photosensitivity
• A feeling of something stuck in the eyes

These symptoms can be treated with the eye drops prescribed by your eye specialist after the surgery. It is important to note that pain and serious discomforts affecting your daily activities are uncommon after a LASIK treatment. These symptoms and unimprovement in the discomforts after surgery are serious problems that need proper medical care.

Potential Risks And Side Effects Of LASIK

LASIK is normally a safe vision-rectifying treatment. The complications associated with this treatment are rare. However, like any other treatment, LASIK has certain side effects and risks. Some of them are:

• Dry eyes

A temporary decrease in the production of tears is normal after a LASIK treatment. However, some people may experience dry eyes reducing their quality of vision for over six months after the treatment. In such situations, you will be recommended to take eye drops or tear drain plugs.

• Flap issues

The removal of the flap from the front may cause complications. Excess teary eyes and infections are common risks of flap problems. Additionally, the overgrowth of corneal tissues under the flap may cause complications.

• Undercorrection and overcorrection 

In some cases, the laser will remove only a few tissues, especially in people with nearsightedness, which will not provide clear vision. such cases are called undercorrections. The situations where the laser removes more tissue also happen. This named overcorrection is more complicated than undercorrection.

•  Double vision and glares

Due to increased photosensitivity, you may find it difficult to have a clear vision at night. Your vision may experience glare, double vision, and halos.

• Loss of vision

Although rare, LASIK treatment may result in reduced vision.

Conclusion

LASIK or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis is one of the most effective vision correction treatments. Performed with the help of a laser, this procedure rectifies the refractive problems of your retina. Although a common misconception is that LASIK is painful, it is a painless procedure with the least discomfort. Even though you will be awake throughout the procedure, you will not feel pain or sensation.

However, after the surgery, you might feel mild discomfort like dryness or scratchy eyes which will be reduced within a week. In rare cases, people might experience flap issues, blurry vision, undercorrection, overcorrection, or loss of vision even months after the surgery. 

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