Are You Awake During LASIK?
September 23rd, 2024
Do you want to enjoy clear vision without needing glasses or contacts? You may be a good candidate for LASIK.
One of the most common concerns about LASIK is the fear of being awake during the procedure. The idea of undergoing an eye procedure naturally provokes anxiety, and many patients wonder if they will be asleep while it happens.
Keep reading to learn more about whether you are awake during LASIK.
What is LASIK?
LASIK is a laser vision correction procedure that can correct refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It does so by reshaping the cornea with specialized lasers, allowing light to hit the retina at the optimal angle for clear vision.
The procedure is minimally invasive and takes less than 30 minutes. Recovery time is also short, with patients often returning to work the following day.
Will I Be Awake During LASIK?
There are several reasons why being alert and awake during LASIK is necessary. The main reason is that your LASIK surgeon at Laser Eye Center needs to be able to communicate with you.
You will need to look in a particular direction to help your LASIK surgeon find the exact area of your cornea that needs reshaping. This allows a more precise procedure and a more effective outcome.
Another reason is that the risks associated with general anesthesia are greater than the risks of LASIK while you’re awake. Being put under can create complications, including respiratory distress or medication reactions.
It’s not worth the risk to your health when LASIK is safe without general anesthesia. General anesthesia would also substantially increase the cost of LASIK.
You would need to go to a surgical center to get the procedure. The facility costs, plus the costs for a qualified doctor to administer anesthesia, would put the cost of LASIK out of reach for many people.
Will I Feel Pain During LASIK?
Just because you’ll be awake for LASIK doesn’t mean you’ll feel pain. Your LASIK surgeon will use special eye drops to numb the surface of your eyes.
In addition, you may be offered a mild sedative or anxiety medication. After your procedure, you may feel some mild discomfort while you are healing, but any symptoms will likely fade within a few days.
What If I Blink During LASIK?
There isn’t a risk of you blinking during LASIK. This is because your LASIK surgeon will place a device over your eye to hold your eyelids open before the procedure.
This device isn’t painful, though you may feel mild pressure from it. Not being able to blink will feel odd, but your surgeon will remove the device as soon as it’s safe for you to start blinking normally again.
Will I Need Prescription Pain Medication After LASIK?
You should not need anything stronger than over-the-counter pain medicine after LASIK. Medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen should be sufficient to manage any pain you have.
You will need to use prescription eye drops that contain antibiotics. They will help your healing process and reduce the risk of infection and inflammation.
LASIK is a quick, minimally invasive, and virtually painless procedure. Using specialized lasers, your LASIK surgeon can give you precise vision correction in the time it takes to watch an episode of your favorite sitcom.
After your procedure, you may notice improvements in your vision almost immediately. Your vision will continue improving until you reach peak vision around six months after your procedure.
Once your vision has been corrected, you may never need to worry about glasses or contacts again! Imagine how amazing it will be to travel, play your favorite sports, and take in all of life’s special moments with crystal clear vision.
Are you ready to start your journey towards your dream vision with LASIK? Schedule an appointment at Laser Eye Center in Huntsville, AL, today!
