Does Laser Eye Surgery Hurt?

The most asked question we hear is “Does laser eye surgery hurt?”.

For almost all patients the answer is, “No”. This is because anaesthetic drops are applied to the eye before the procedure and this has a numbing effect to ensure you feel no pain. Some patients report feeling a little bit of pressure during the procedure but no actual pain.

The laser surgery itself lasts less than one-minute and from entering the surgery to completion of both eyes your procedure will likely last no more than twenty minutes.

Often people have the thought that laser eye surgery is a painful process because they believe a laser beam is red hot and could burn their eyes. However, quite the opposite is true, because the laser beam is actually cold.

Relaxation medication option

If you are particularly anxious about your laser surgery your Ophthalmic surgeon may provide you with medication, such as Valium, to help you remain calm and relaxed during the procedure. You can discuss this with your surgeon during your suitability examination.

Discomfort after surgery

After laser eye surgery, it is common for patients to feel a slight itching or in a few cases a burning sensation in your eyes, but this feeling should go away very quickly.

The level of discomfort you experience depends upon the type of laser eye surgery you’ve undergone, which in turn depends upon the eye condition being treated. However, any discomfort will not last more than a day or two and you should be enjoying improved vision very quickly.

All of this should be clearly explained to you by your surgeon before you come to the clinic for your laser eye surgery so that you feel as relaxed and informed on the day.

We are here to answer all your questions

If you have any fears or questions such as “Does laser eye surgery hurt?”, you can discuss these with our Senior Ophthalmic Surgeon, Mr John Fenton, who has successfully performed over 10,000 laser eye treatments.

We offer a complimentary video or phone consultation with Mr Fenton where you can ask him any questions about suitability, outcomes, or discuss any fears you have about laser eye surgery such.

Fill in the form on this page and we will call you back to arrange a convenient time or use our Self-Service Booking System to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Print Or Share This Page (click the last icon to see more options)  [Sassy_Social_Share_Pro id="7"]