The thought of having eye surgery scares most people. Your eyes are the “windows to your soul,” after all. If you’re like many people, you might imagine an unreasonably worst-case scenario for eye surgery.

Or perhaps it’s just the fear of having pain in your eyes that frightens you the most.

Approved by the FDA in 1999, eye surgeons have continued to perfect the science of LASIK eye surgery. With the help of advancing laser technology, LASIK surgery has become more effective and efficient in correcting your vision.

Will my eyes hurt during the surgery?

It helps to understand the process of LASIK eye surgery. Your eye surgeon will walk you through exactly what to expect weeks before the procedure so you know each step of the surgery.

Before surgery, your eye will be numbed with numbing eye drops that will greatly reduce feeling in and around your eye. In addition, the doctor may give you medication that helps you feel more relaxed during the procedure.

When the surgeon presses on your eye towards the beginning of the procedure, you may experience some discomfort. However, many people say that it’s not painful and just a feeling of pressure.

Will I experience pain after the surgery?

Most people report feeling a burn, itch, or like there is something in your eye for several hours after surgery. You’ll be given eye shields to keep you from scratching or rubbing your eyes because doing so could hinder the healing process.

Some people prefer to take a mild pain reliever like ibuprofen after surgery to reduce any discomfort they’re feeling. LASIK does not, however, require heavy pain medications.

You’ll be asked to return to see the surgeon 24 to 48 hours after the surgery to make sure everything is healing and the healing process is progressing well.

Overall, LASIK is a minimally-invasive procedure with a quick recovery time.