Will it hurt? Is it painful?

The procedure itself is painless and usually takes about 10 minutes. There are no needles. Anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye at the time of the procedure. During the PRK procedure a speculum will be placed to keep the eye open during the procedure. It could be a little uncomfortable while the eye is held open. Light will be shined onto the eye to permit the surgeon to work. The surgeon then gently removes the outer layer of skin (epithelium) on the cornea to prepare the surface for treatment. This layer usually grows back within 2 to 3 days. During this time patients may feel a slight irritation or scratchy feeling. After the PRK procedure you will use a combination of drops as well as a bandage contact lens which makes the eye more comfortable. After the LASIK or PRK procedures when the anesthetic drops wear off, you will have some discomfort for a few hours. The majority of patients may experience irritation or a foreign body sensation for a few hours. The amount of pain varies from person to person and drops and/or tablets will be prescribed to relieve any pain that may develop. The following day the eye will be sensitive to light and may feel irritated. This may last 3 to 4 days for PRK and 1 day for LASIK (though the majority of people do not report pain). Dryness in the eyes can last up to two days. Very rarely do patients experience pain. Most patients are able to resume normal activities within a few days.

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