Patients are not put to sleep during LASIK surgery. Rest assured that you won't feel any pain because the procedure begins when the eye doctor numbs your eyes with eye drops. During more invasive or major surgeries, anesthesia is used to induce sleep. Anesthesia prevents you from feeling pain because of the procedure being performed and is generally considered very safe.
However, general anesthesia requires the help of an anesthesiologist, a doctor who specializes in administering anesthesia. Sleeping during LASIK surgery isn't a good idea. The LASIK surgeon needs to know how the eyes feel during the procedure. You may have the impression that, since this is surgery, you will have to sleep to be able to perform it.
Some people assume that because they are undergoing a surgical procedure, they will be given anesthesia and put to sleep. However, this is not the case with LASIK surgery. The procedure is done while you are awake and alert. This allows the surgeon to monitor your eye movements and make sure that the laser is properly aligned with your eye. The LASIK surgeon will use a special device called a microkeratome to create a flap in your cornea.
This flap is then lifted up so that the laser can reshape your cornea and correct your vision. The entire process takes about 15 minutes per eye and you will be awake throughout the entire procedure. The most important thing to remember is that you won't feel any pain during LASIK surgery because your eyes will be numbed with eye drops before the procedure begins. You may feel some pressure or discomfort during the procedure, but it should not be painful. If you are considering LASIK surgery, it's important to talk to your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have about being put to sleep during the procedure. Your doctor can provide more information about what to expect during LASIK surgery and answer any questions you may have.
