Are You Awake During LASIK?

At Columbus Laser & Cataract Center, our surgeons have delivered clear vision for countless patients thanks to LASIK. This advanced laser eye surgery corrects refractive errors for patients who are ready to improve their vision. However, despite LASIK being very popular, there are many questions and concerns that people have about how the LASIK procedure works—specifically if you are awake during surgery. Read on to learn more and discover what to expect during your LASIK experience.

What happens during LASIK surgery?

LASIK, which stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a quick, comfortable, and safe procedure that has been performed for decades. During LASIK, one of our expert surgeons will use an advanced laser to reshape your cornea and correct refractive errors, like myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. The result is permanently clearer vision—without contacts or glasses. Though LASIK is the most common refractive error surgery, it is not the only one available. Certain conditions, anatomical issues, and prescriptions are not suitable for LASIK. Since not everyone is an ideal candidate, we offer advanced surface treatment (AST) at our practice, which is an alternative vision-improving procedure.

Overall, LASIK is a comfortable procedure with a mild recovery and excellent results. During surgery, your surgeon, Dr. Weber or Dr. Beran, will precisely make a flap in your cornea. Next, he will reshape the tissue beneath it to correct refractive errors. Finally, he will replace the flap. The entire process for LASIK takes only 10-15 minutes per eye.

Are you awake during LASIK?

We often hear the question, “Are you awake during LASIK?” at our practice. When it comes to surgery, many people are initially intimidated by the idea of the LASIK procedure—especially being awake during the surgery. Fortunately, once patients learn how mild and comfortable LASIK surgery is, many are thrilled with the opportunity to undergo this procedure and improve their vision.

There are many steps that we take to ensure every patient has a comfortable LASIK experience. Before surgery begins, we give patients a sedative to help them relax. Next, we use numbing eye drops, which will ensure a pain- and discomfort-free process. Since the surgery takes only a few minutes, there is no need for general anesthesia. Though you will be awake, there is no discomfort during LASIK—though some patients feel slight pressure.

Because you take a sedative to reduce any anxiety you may have, many people do not remember their LASIK experience at all. The only thing you need to do is lay down and relax. Throughout your eye surgery, we gently keep the eye open with a small device, so there is no risk of accidentally blinking or negatively impacting your result.

Overall, LASIK has one of the highest patient satisfaction rates of all elective surgeries. Still nervous about getting eye surgery? We encourage you to read some of our hundreds of reviews from patients who loved their LASIK surgery experiences. Most importantly, remember that your eyes are in skilled hands. From our expert surgeons to our dedicated team, we are here to deliver a comfortable procedure, and of course, excellent vision!

Expert laser eye surgery

At our practice, your LASIK procedure is performed by our world-class surgeons using only the best and safest technology. Drs. Beran and Weber use a highly specialized laser, the WaveLight® Allegretto Wave® Eye-Q Laser, which was created with excellent vision results in mind. Over the years, laser technology has advanced tremendously. Using this advanced technology for LASIK patients allows our surgeons to achieve the highest level of precision and minimize post-surgical side effects that used to be more common, like glare or halos.

Your procedure at Columbus Laser & Cataract Center

After booking an appointment for a LASIK consultation, we will provide any pre-visit information that is needed. For instance, before your first visit, patients should stop using contacts if they wear them and switch to glasses. This is because a contact lens can change the shape of the cornea and impact our surgeons’ initial LASIK examinations.

At your first visit, we will discuss your health history, any existing eye conditions, like glaucoma, as well as assess your current eye and vision needs. While LASIK may be the right choice for you and your eyes, certain issues may make another refractive surgery, like AST, a better option. If that is the case, we will discuss this with you. Finally, our surgeons will provide you with education about LASIK, devise a custom treatment plan, and schedule a time for your procedure. Then, you can discuss payment options for your eye surgery, go over potential insurance benefits, and talk with our team about available discounts. Always be open and communicative with our team—we are here to serve you!

After LASIK eye surgery, it is important to follow our team’s instructions for post-surgical eye care. All surgery requires some downtime; however, LASIK recovery is generally quick and comfortable. As long as you listen to our care instructions, which include visiting us for follow-ups, being careful with your eyes after LASIK, and not smoking, you can enjoy a mild recovery and healthy result. Within just a day or two, you’ll be able to resume most of your daily activities with clearer vision.

Let LASIK improve your vision

When you see clearly, you live confidently! If you are ready to improve your vision today, contact our Columbus Laser & Cataract Center team for an appointment at 614.939.1600. By trusting your vision to experts, you can enjoy an excellent LASIK experience and the healthy result you deserve. In addition to LASIK, our expert surgeons also specialize in dry eye as well as cataract treatments and advanced implantable lenses.