Is the procedure painful?

[Hating glasses]

I heard from one person that it is painful but everytihng I have read everywhere else says that the anesthetic they use leaves no room for pain during the procedure. I have a real issue with anyone but myself touching my eyes. How uncomfortable is the tool they use to keep your eyes open during the procedure and finally, how long does the procedure last?

Have I asked enough questions? Hehehe!

[Bright Eyes]

let talk! i found that everyone had a horror story about someone who did it..but the ones who did it love it...total actual surgery time was minutes..they spent 15 telling me what they would do..and the noises and smells...they numbed my eye..used this suction cup thing that pulled the lens away...one eye tickled the other felt like they were pressing my eye a little bit..the suction thing also cut the lens...when that happened your vison fades..they lay the lens back... lasered my first eye 14 seconds the other one 19..and smelled something kinda like a hair burning..but not as strong..after..they smoothed the lens back over with this mini spatula looking thing..again this tickled my eyes..i could tell my sight was crisp..but kinda like the room was smoked filled...no pain at all for me..and even after..my eyes felt dry...but no pain at all..i hated glasses too..i wore hard contacts for 30 years and was stuck in glasses 10 months before my eyes had gone back to normal shape..so i could have lasik! I had mine done 3 weeks ago..and I love it!!! I wish you well in what you decide ;o)

[Hating glasses]

Thank you for your thoughtful response. My biggest issue will probably be with the suction thing. I have a huge issue with others touching my eyes. But, I find that I am determined enough to have it done if I am a candidate (I was supposed to find out tomorrow but due to unforseen events, have been rescheduled for Wednesday) so I think I have actually mind over mattered myself into giving up this ridiculous case of the willies that the very thought of someone, other than myself, touching my eyes gives me. I can now actually think about the suction thing without getting the worst case of the willies up and down my spine. I hate glasses. Cleaning them, re-cleaning them for an obstacle sized particle of dust, recleaning them because I sneezed and accidentally touched a lense with the tip of my finger while going to cover my nose and mouth. Glasses suck. I know that I may not be completely out of them after the procedure but, I really look forward to not having to depend on them for all of my waking hours.
I appreciate your response. You have relieved me a great deal. Now, if only my doctor could have kept my appointment for tomorrow!
Thank you again!

[KelvinG]

I found the worst part, by far, was the metal clamp that the doctor places to keep your eyes open. It hurt particularly on my left eye for some reason. The doctor did the right eye first, and the clamp was moderately painful, and then when he put it on my right eye it was very uncomfortable. I said "Wow, that really hurts" and he said "Yah, the left eye is always worse than the right." I didn't ask why that is the case.

But don't get me wrong, it's not like it's unbearably painful. I guess I noticed because the rest of the procedure was pain free. Even the suction thing on the eye didn't bother me.

[ScionTC05]

Originally Posted by KelvinG

I found the worst part, by far, was the metal clamp that the doctor places to keep your eyes open.

hmm, i thought the one they used on me was a kind of eye shaped plastic clear tool and it suctioned on my eye...then after the cuts were made, they just used tape to hold my lids back i think...it all happened so fast was hard to remember some parts