Is a laser vision correction surgery painful? What will I feel during the procedure and during the convalescence period?

Do you have a refractive error and feel tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses? Would you like to practise your favourite sports without any limitations, get a dream job and live your life to the fullest? Would you like to have perfect eyesight, but are afraid of pain experienced during the surgery and a long convalescence period? There is no reason why you should wait any longer to pursue your dreams! In this article we will dispel your concerns. Laser vision correction is a short procedure (lasting approximately 10 minutes per eye), painless and the safest of all aesthetic surgeries, and sometimes, depending on the correction method, you can return to your everyday activities even on the next day afterwards!

Let’s begin with the information that there are various methods of laser vision correction. Which one you are qualified for is determined by a number of individual factors. The method is chosen by a doctor after a preliminary qualifying examination. Each method is good and brings the same results. Depending on the method, chosen to conduct the surgery, the length of time required to return to everyday activities may vary. But let’s start from the beginning…

Will I feel any pain during the procedure and right afterwards?

Prior to the surgery, painkiller drops will be applied into your eyes, which is why the procedure is completely painless regardless of the method. The condition after the surgery and the length of convalescence period depends on the correction method. If after the examination the doctor recommends an SBK LASIK method, then the eye regeneration is quick and painless. The method is based on creating a flap for the laser to reshape the underlying corneal tissue. The flap is then closed, and the corneal epithelium remains intact. At the end of the procedure special contact lenses are used to act as a dressing which will be removed by the doctor during a follow-up examination the next day after the surgery. Most patients do not complain of any ailments after the procedure. Some of them suffer from lacrimation, which usually ceases after about 3 hours. Patients begin to see everything clearly after a few hours or even right after the surgery. However, it is an individual matter, depending on the severity of the refractive error that has been corrected and on the age of the patient. It is usually possible to return to everyday activities, including driving a car (after a floow-up examination), on the next day after the procedure.

Two other methods which are used for laser vision correction in our Centre are LASEK and TransPRK. In order to enable the laser reach the deeper layers of the cornea in the first method an alcohol solution is applied to remove the epithelium. In the second method the epithelium is removed with an excimer laser. At the end of the procedure soft contact lenses are applied. They are removed by a doctor during a follow-up examination approximately 7 days after the surgery. If the correction is conducted using LASEK or TransPRK, pain appears a few hours afterwards and ceases about 2-3 days later. In order to alleviate the pain during this period painkillers are administered. The convalescence period lasts one week and the doctor provides the patient with a sick note for this time. It is possible to return to everyday activities a week after the procedure. In case of these two methods visual acuity improves gradually. Final results will be seen approximately 2-4 weeks after the procedure.

Included in the price of the surgery, you will receive a set of eye drops for the whole convalescence period.

Are there any restrictions after a laser vision correction surgery?

First and foremost you should refrain from rubbing your eyes for the first 7 days after the procedure. As it is a rather automatic reaction to any discomfort in the eyes, to prevent yourself from doing it you can wear sunglasses during the day and special eye shields at night (both glasses and shields are included in the price of the surgery). Sunglasses will additionally protect the eyes from wind and dust. We should avoid staying in dusty and smoky environments. Until the first follow-up examination (the time depends on the correction method) it is not allowed to drive a car. And if you are planning air travel, you should not schedule it earlier than 3-4 days after the correction. Remember to have lubricating eye drops with you at all times while flying (they are included in the medicine kit you will receive prior to the procedure). For the period of one month after the surgery it is forbidden to swim in any natural water reservoirs or sunbathe without sunglasses. It is not recommended to go to a swimming pool, a sauna or a gym – these activities should be postponed for about a month after the surgery. Mild physical activity is allowed. Women probably wonder whether it is not forbidden to wear make-up. For the first two weeks after the surgery you have to do without it and avoid cosmetics such as eye cream. While washing the face and hair you should be careful not to let the shampoo or face cleansing gel get into the eyes.

Thousands of people have already undergone a laser vision correction procedure in our Centre, not to mention millions all over the world, and they can all enjoy perfect visual acuity. Fear makes things look twice as bad as they are, but now you have all the important information about the procedure and there is no reason why you should let your fear prevent you from taking the decision.

Take a step towards realising your dreams – contact us via phone or fill in an on-line preliminary qualification form and find out whether the surgery is suitable for you! If you have any questions, submit them through a questionnaire under the ASK A DOCTOR tab!

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