Does laser eye surgery hurt?

"Does it hurt?" That's probably the number one question my patients ask me when they are considering laser eye surgery. And I can fully understand why they ask it; most people are already anxious about having surgery, let alone one where it's your eyes and you are awake.

Having said that, most patients will given a mild oral sedative on the day to calm the nerves. You won't be able to blink because of the eyelid holder which is placed onto your eyelids- so that's another worry out the window. But yes, I hear you... answer the question! Does it hurt?

No it doesn't. The anaesthetic eye drops we use are really quite strong and the same ones we use for cataract surgery, which is a bigger procedure. You won't feel anything sharp but you will still feel light pressure and a mild sense that something is happening. I tell people it's a bit like being at the dentist- you are not happy to be there, you feel odd because your mouth is being held open, you know something is going on but it's not painful. Most of my patients tell it's actually not as bad as being at the dentist!

Strangely enough both my mum and dad were dentists... and they told me don't be a dentist :)

* Information on this blog is general in nature and should not be taken as professional medical advice or as a substitute for a consultation with a medical professional.