Should I Be Anxious About Laser Eye Surgery?

How to Feel Completely at Ease About Your Procedure

If you’re feeling anxious about laser eye surgery, it’s important to recognize that feelings of uncertainty are human. Anxiety is your body responding to a situation where you don’t know what to expect. After the anticipated event is over, the symptoms seem to disappear.

That’s how it is with nerves, and that’s likely what will happen once you know how easy it is to get laser eye surgery from an expert provider.

Start with Your Big Questions About Laser Eye Surgery

Many patients ask, “Does laser eye surgery hurt?” The simple answer is no. During your 10-to-15-minute procedure, numbing drops are used to minimize any discomfort. Patients sometimes experience slight pressure, a slight burning sensation, light sensitivity, or the feeling that there is something in your eye.

Patients also wonder if laser eye surgery is safe. Here’s another simple answer: the risk of laser eye surgery complication is 0.3%. The most commonly reported complications are infection or dry eyes that last for more than six months. However, these complications — which affect only a tiny fraction of patients — can be treated.

Your understanding of what patients typically experience during surgery goes a long way to ease concerns. If you have further questions, share them with your laser eye surgery provider. Select a leading team with highly knowledgeable and trusted doctors, and you’ll feel even more confident than ever about your surgery.

Choose a Laser Eye Surgery Provider That Prioritizes a VIP Experience

The right laser eye surgery team goes out of their way to ensure you feel welcomed, comfortable, and even excited. Accept nothing less than a first-class experience before, during, and after your procedure.

Anxiety thrives on the unknown, but after you schedule your consultation and visit your provider’s office, you’ll get to know the staff, meet your surgeon, and take in the office environment.

Look for a provider with these characteristics to know you’re getting excellent care:

• Kind, welcoming, and compassionate staff
• A soothing environment that feels calming and relaxing
• Amenities like blankets, snacks, and comfortable seating
• Doctors and staff who explain everything to you step-by-step
• The option of a mild sedative for nerves

You deserve to feel understood, heard, and taken care of during your laser eye surgery appointment. Your experience depends on choosing a provider that goes the distance to make you feel this way — don’t settle for a laser eye surgery team that doesn’t put patients first.

Read Patient Testimonials About Laser Eye Surgery

When you decide on services and products today, you often rely on reviews to help you make decisions. You should do the same by browsing laser eye surgery patient testimonials from different teams to understand what others have experienced.

Look for a team with many five-star reviews. Imagine yourself experiencing a similar outcome. Reading testimonials from a provider with significant expertise at delivering premium laser eye surgery will have you looking forward to your upcoming procedure. You should feel nothing less than thrilled that you’re finally making the decision to get rid of your contact lenses or glasses.

Remember the Extraordinary Benefits of Laser Eye Surgery

If you’re feeling nervous, you also may want to remind yourself of the reasons why you considered laser eye surgery in the first place. You’ve likely had enough of contact lenses and glasses and want to experience the many benefits of a vision correction procedure:

• Avoid the risk of infections due to contacts
• Stop paying for contact lenses and bottles of solution
• Save time you used to spend on your contacts routine
• Participate in activities you’ve avoided or never tried
• Enjoy a new look that doesn’t include glasses

Allow yourself to envision how you’ll feel after your surgery, experiencing all the benefits of laser eye surgery. You’re only a free consultation and simple 10-to-15-minute procedure away from forgetting you were ever worried.

More Tips For Your Nerves

Some people’s anxiety is just unavoidable, even when trying to calm down with facts, a better understanding of what a vision correction procedure will be like, or getting to know the staff and office in-person.

Consider using evidence-based strategies for calming your nerves:

• Try mindfulness and meditation
• Use breathing and relaxation techniques, like deep breathing
• Prioritize sleep
• Avoid caffeine
• Take anxiety medications as prescribed
• Exercise
• Journal
• Reach out to a counselor
• Maintain your blood sugar levels

Also remember to be compassionate with yourself. You’re just a person who gets more nervous than others — even when you don’t have a reason for it — and that’s okay.

Further Reading About Laser Eye Surgery

Thoughtful providers go out of their way to publish articles to help settle any nerves or concerns about your procedure. Learn more about laser eye surgery with these articles, so you can enter your provider’s office on the day of your surgery looking forward to your results!

• What are the Risks of Laser Eye Surgery?
• Does LASIK Hurt?
• LASIK Surgery Statistics You Should Know