Unlike many other surgeries, it is not necessary to have general anesthesia (be put to sleep) for LASIK eye surgery, and in fact, it is necessary that you are awake for the procedure.
In addition to the numbing eye drops, you will be given a mild oral sedation so although awake, you will feel relaxed. Before the LASIK procedure begins, patients may be offered a very mild oral sedative. This sedative will help you feel relaxed while remaining awake.
Being put under anesthesia can be a lengthy and expensive process that may also introduce various unwanted complications. Due to LASIK's short duration and relative safety, general anesthesia isn't required, as it will only increase the cost and require more recovery time.
The short answer: Blinking or sneezing will not affect the outcome of your surgery. Let's explore this a little more.
What is done to prevent corneal abrasions? Corneal abrasions can usually be prevented by careful protection of the eyes. Small pieces of sticking tape are commonly used to keep the eyelids fully closed during the anaesthetic. This has been shown to reduce the chance of a corneal abrasion occurring.
While you may still feel a little bit of pressure during the procedure, you should not feel any pain. Your surgeon may also give you another medication, such as Valium, to help you remain calm and relaxed during the procedure.
During Surgery. The surgery should take less than 30 minutes. You will lie on your back in a reclining chair in an exam room containing the laser system. The laser system includes a large machine with a microscope attached to it and a computer screen.
In minor surgeries, there is no need for the surgeon to open the body cavity, neither breathing assistance nor general anesthesia are typically required, and recovery does not require hospitalization. In all these regards, cataract surgery meets the definition of minor surgery.
You should expect to be in hospital for between three and six hours if you are having your operation under local anaesthetic, or between five and eight hours if you having your operation under general anaesthetic, depending how quickly you recover from the anaesthetic.
In most cases, vision improves immediately after surgery, although pupils may remain dilated for 1-2 days. As the eyes heal and adjust, some patients may experience blurry vision.
It's okay to cry after your LASIK surgery. Whatever the reason you may want to cry, natural tears won't harm your eyes or delay the healing process. Crying may actually keep your eyes lubricated and that helps the healing process. In fact, many patients cry immediately upon sitting up after LASIK.
LASIK surgery has a good track record. Complications are rare, and most people are satisfied with the results. Certain side effects, particularly dry eyes and temporary visual issues (such as glare), are fairly common.
Your Recovery
After surgery, your eye may feel scratchy, sticky, or uncomfortable. It may also water more than usual. Most people see better 1 to 3 days after surgery. But it could take 3 to 10 weeks to get the full benefits of surgery and to see as clearly as possible.
The ophthalmic surgeon will then gently open the eyelids with an eyelid clip to stop you from blinking during the surgery. The other eye will blink as normal. The clip does not hurt at all.
An eye holder gently keeps the lid open during the procedure to prevent blinking.
Numbing drops along with an eye-opening device are used to keep your eyes open.
Generally speaking, most LASIK eye surgeons agree on 25-40 as the ideal age range for LASIK eye surgery candidacy for a few reasons. By the age of 25, eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions have most likely stabilized. A stable prescription is one of the hallmarks of a good LASIK candidate.
Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.
The intraoperative complication rate of Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) has been reported to be in between 0.7-6.6%.
Immediately after cataract surgery
You will need to have a family member or friend with you to take you home. Once you get home, it is recommended that you rest your eyes and nap. Several hours post-surgery, most people are able to watch some television or look at a computer screen for a short period of time.
Since your eye doctor will instruct you to avoid screens and bright lights for a day (LASIK) or two (PRK), you'll want to have a game plan for keeping your mind busy while you're recovering from PRK or LASIK. Consider downloading podcasts music or books to help you relax.
Don't rub your eye. Don't get soap or shampoo in your eye. Don't drive until your doctor allows it. Avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting.
Wait Before Watching TV
In the first 24 hours after surgery, your eyes need rest. Try to keep them closed as much as possible to allow them this initial period of healing.
Because of this, it's recommended to wait at least 24 hours before using your phone, computer, tablet or watching TV. Using your phone immediately after the procedure can cause your eyes to strain, and that may negatively affect the healing process.