LASIK Eye Surgery - Experiences

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I'm booked to have LASIK surgery. I really want to be able to see properly and not have to rely on glasses.

But I am absolutely shitting myself. I'm really squeamish. I nearly fainted at the consultation when they prodded my eyeballs.

Do they hook your eyes open during the operation? How long does the actual procedure last? How does it feel? I'm so scared.

I had it done three months ago, really quick painless procedure. Really love not having to wear glasses.

Haha, I love your username, very apt

When you say 'quick' - how quick? I'm looking forward to not wearing glasses but I'm so scared.

I had LASIK in 2004. I'm extremely squeamish with my eyes - the thought of contact lenses made me feel sick. The procedure itself was ok; as I remember they administer some sedative drops so the whole hooking thing was fine, just surreal.

I think the actual laser part only took around 30 seconds for each eye; the weirdest bit was the burning smell I managed to use the eye drops for two weeks without a problem despite never having done it before.

It was the best thing I've ever done, you'll be fine!

I had it done in 2003. Best thing I ever did. You don't really feel anything with the drops in but it's a strange sensation. Over really quickly though!

Ah yes the smell, no one prepared me for the smell 🤣
However it was quick and painless. I could tell the difference straight away (I was sat in a dark room afterwards and I could see my mums face from across the room)

Cost a small fortune but worth every penny.

Looking back it was very quick. Yes to the smell. For hours after I felt like I had sand in my eyes, but for the actual procedure they put numbing drops. Over 10 years later I had a routine opticians appointment and they said they couldn’t tell I had anything done and if everyone did it they’d pretty much be out of business. It wasn’t fun for about a day for me, but what I gained was absolutely amazing, I’m nearly 46 now, still don’t need glasses I remember the first time I opened my eyes after having it done and everything being so clear and colourful, it was a million percent worth it.

I had it about 20 years ago. 9 seconds 1 eye, 15 on the other (different prescriptions.) The prep takes more time.

17 seconds one eye, 27 seconds the other eye. I didn’t notice a burning smell, I was aware there was a gentle fan though this may have alleviated it. It’s an unusual sensation but not unpleasant.

Thank you all so much.

Are your eyes hooked open?

Is there a person looming over you fiddling with your eyes? Or do the lasers do it from a distance?

Thanks for heads-up about the burning smell. I'm so glad you told me, I'd have worried that I was on fire

I don't remember a burning smell. They do clamp your eyelids open, but it was mildly uncomfortable rather than painful at all. I'd had anaesthetic drops of some sort.

The laser is away from you - a bit like the overhead bright light at the dentist. They told me to look at the red light... I was there to correct short-sightedness, I had no glasses on and they'd just cut a flap in my cornea. So I just laughed and hoped that looking straight ahead was pretty much it. Seemed to work.

The actual procedure was fine, I don’t remember the smell but I do remember a series of lights. No pain during the treatment, but be warned, about an hour later the anaesthetic drops wear off and it is uncomfortable . They will give you drops to use at home, anaesthetic and antibiotic, my surgeon advised me to put in the drops at home , put on my protective goggles and go to sleep for a couple of hours. It was good advice. When I woke up a few hours later my eyes felt fine though a bit blurry , which was temporary. I carried on with the drops as directed , and wore the goggles at night.

I can’t tell you how amazing it is to wake up the next morning, open the curtains and be able to see properly without glasses or lenses.

And read the clock at the end of the swimming pool, and your bag on the beach, and all the way from the Needles to Old Harry, and not falling asleep while reading to find your glasses have dug painfully into your nose, and being outside in the rain and not having to decide between blurred or blotchy and steamed up...