What Does LASIK Really Feel Like?

If the thought of something sharp touching your eye makes your stomach turn, you’re not alone. One of the biggest fears people have before LASIK is the idea of a blade or laser on their eye. But thanks to modern technology, the entire LASIK process is surprisingly comfortable and blade-free. What does LASIK really feel like?

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is designed to correct vision issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism by reshaping the cornea. Two types of high-precision lasers are used in the process: 

Step 1: Creating the Flap with a Femtosecond Laser

The procedure begins with numbing eye drops. You’ll be awake, but your eye is completely desensitized. A special device gently holds your eye open—so there’s no risk of blinking (and even if you were to blink, the laser shuts off and begins again once it refocuses back on the eye). Then a femtosecond laser creates a thin flap on the cornea. It doesn’t cut with a blade. Instead, it uses ultra-fast light pulses to gently separate the layers of the cornea. 

You may feel about 20 seconds of pressure—not pain—on each eye. Some people describe it as a moment of “push” or fullness in the eye and vision might dim or go black briefly. That’s totally normal and expected. 

Step 2: Reshaping the Cornea with an Excimer Laser

Once the flap is lifted, the excimer laser reshapes your cornea by removing microscopic amounts of tissue. You won’t feel the laser at all. You’ll just focus on a blinking light while the laser quietly does its job in under a minute. Some people notice a faint smell, like burning hair, which is just the laser interacting with the corneal tissue. 

LASIK doesn’t feel sharp, piercing or painful. Thanks to numbing drops and advanced laser technology, most people only feel mild pressure or a strange sensation, not discomfort. Afterward, your eyes might feel a little gritty, teary or stingy—similar to having something in your eye—but this usually fades within a few hours. 

Common experiences include:

  • Watery or burning sensation for a few hours after
  • Blurry or hazy vision for the rest of the day
  • Dry eyes for a few weeks (easily managed with drops)

Less common experiences:

  • Halos or glare around lights at night (usually temporary)
  • Flap complications (rare with today’s lasers)
  • Minor touch-up needed later (not uncommon)

LASIK feels weird—but not painful. Thanks to modern laser technologies, the procedure is incredibly precise and quick. For most, it’s a few minutes of mild pressure in exchange for years of clear vision. 
Get started on your LASIK quest by contacting Great Plains Eye Specialists at 605-718-5123 or WEBSITE.