LASIK is many things: fast, effective, and very low risk, but it is not painful. This is a common misconception.
LASIK does not have any blades anymore, and instead only uses lasers to reshape the cornea. How can something that uses lasers to reshape part of your eye not be painful? Keep reading to learn more about why LASIK will not hurt!
How Does LASIK Work?
LASIK changes your vision at its source by altering the shape of your cornea. The cornea is the transparent tissue at the front of your eye.
It focuses as much as three quarters of the light that enters your eye. Unfortunately, many people are born with corneas that are misshapen.
This causes light to come into focus before or after it reaches the retina, or splitting into several focal points. This causes nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Before LASIK begins, you’ll have numbing drops put into your eyes. As you blink, they’ll move over the surface of your eye.
This is a major component of why you don’t feel any pain during LASIK. Your surgeon will then use a special laser to cut a hole in the top layer of the cornea.
They’ll leave the tissue attached so it creates a flap that can be closed at the end. You may feel some slight discomfort when the flap is created, but it shouldn’t be painful.
The actual reshaping of the cornea happens in the middle layer, as this has the most tissue to work with. The reshaping uses a different laser and computer software to guide it.
After completing the task, the surgeon will close the flap. The tissue will reattach itself fairly quickly, so there is no need to use glue or stitches.
If you want to find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK, book a consultation with us in Littleton, CO! This is the only way to find out if LASIK is right for you.
Recovering from LASIK
While there is no pain during the LASIK procedure, you can expect to experience some levels of discomfort or pain after the numbing drops wear off. This shouldn’t be anything severe.
It may include burning, dry eyes, and general discomfort. This should stop within a few days of recovery. If it does not or if the pain is more intense than you’d expect, don’t hesitate to contact us and set up an appointment.
You’ll be checking in with us for follow-up appointments throughout your recovery. Your first follow-up appointment will be 24-48 hours after your procedure.
Though problems are rare, it’s important to deal with them early on before they cause permanent damage. If something doesn’t seem right, you’re better off finding out what’s going on!
You will want to be much more careful with your eyes as you heal from LASIK. They will be prone to injury and infection, particularly at the beginning of recovery.
After a few weeks, much of your normal routine will be safe to resume. You will learn all the specific guidelines you should follow during your consultation. Feel free to ask any questions!
Think that LASIK could be the vision correction procedure for you? Schedule your LASIK consultation at Colorado Eye Consultants in Littleton, CO!
Why wait if you’re ready to find out if 2020 could the year you finally experience visual freedom for yourself?
