Will I Feel Discomfort During a LASIK Procedure?

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Posted on Sunday, June 21st, 2020 by Dr. Robert Mack
LASIK procedure in Hoffman Estates

LASIK is one of the coolest medical acronyms, but its full name — laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis — sounds vaguely intimidating. “Laser” suggests something hot, or at least uncomfortable. But the opposite is true: LASIK procedures use a cool-to-the-touch instrument and are virtually pain-free.

Below, the experienced vision care professionals of Mack Eye Center describe what you can expect when you visit our office for your comfortable, convenient LASIK appointment.

Quick and Cool

During LASIK, your Mack Eye Center ophthalmologist uses an advanced VisuMax femtosecond laser that generates a precise pulse of cool, focused light energy to reshape the cornea. The amount of contact is brief — during a process that lasts approximately a half hour, the laser touches the eye for no more than 40 seconds.

As a first step to ensuring your comfort, your Mack Eye surgeon will apply a local anesthetic that completely numbs the eyes. You may feel slight pressure on the eye for a very short period, as the laser separates the cornea from underlying tissue by creating tiny bubbles beneath the surface. This creates a flap that allows your surgeon access to the cornea, which will be reshaped by the laser to ensure that the images it focuses on the retina are razor-sharp. In all, you can be confident that your experience will be simple, satisfying and pain-free.

Rapid Recovery

With the laser’s precise corneal incision, healing and recovery are quick. There’s no need for stitches or bandages, and your daily routine will be interrupted only briefly. Within a day you will be seeing clearly.

The greatest chance of mild discomfort occurs during the recovery process. You may feel there is something in your eye, and be tempted to rub the eyes, which could interfere with healing. You may also experience a slight itching or burning sensation for a short period of time. If you are prone to dry eyes, the post-operative period may bring additional dryness.

If you do feel pain as your eyes heal, this is actually an indicator that you need to return to the office so that your vision care professional can check for infection or other side effects that require prompt attention.

If you would like to know more about LASIK, schedule an appointment today at Mack Eye Center, conveniently located in Hoffman Estates.

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