Does it Hurt to Keep the Eyes Open During Lasik?

LASIK is a medical procedure that is used to correct vision and reduce the need for people to use glasses or contact lenses. Some people are concerned about whether it hurts to keep their eyes open during the surgery. During the pre-operation procedures, your surgeon will treat your eyes so that it does not hurt to keep them open during LASIK.

History

• LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. A laser is used to adjust the shape of the cornea that impacts the point at which it hits the retina.

Surgery

• It is common for doctors to give patients a sedative prior to surgery. In addition, a numbing drop is applied to the eye or eyes that are being operated on. Typically, the surgery will take 30 minutes or less to complete.

Benefits

• The benefit from LASIK is an improvement in your vision that can remove and/or reduce the need for glasses or contact lenses.

Misconceptions

• While there is no guarantee that surgery will completely eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses, most patients find that their vision does improve.

Considerations

• LASIK has become increasingly common, but it is still not available for everyone. Age and certain conditions can impact whether you are a good candidate for it. Your ophthalmologist can provide specific details regarding your own situation.