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Laser Eye Surgery Treatment Day: What You Need To Know

Published on 16th January 2020

If you’re considering laser eye surgery, we’re sure that you’ll have lots of questions about the treatment that you’d like to ask before you book.

The best way to have all your questions answered is to call our friendly patient advisors on 01204 387467 or book a no-obligation consultation with our surgeon.

But to start you off, we’ve put together some of our most frequently asked questions about treatment day…

Can I have both eyes treated at once?

We often get asked if it’s possible, or safe, to have laser eye correction on both eyes in one day or if you should have them done several weeks apart. Simply put, yes it is safe to have both of your eyes done at once.

Particularly if you’re getting LASIK treatment as there is very little discomfort post-operatively and a very quick visual recovery, it’s perfectly safe to have both eyes treated at once.

If you’re having a SURFACE treatment, you may wish to discuss this with your surgeon at your consultation but as a general rule, both eyes are treated together with this procedure method too.

Does laser eye surgery hurt?

Because anesthetic eye drops are used to numb your eyes, the procedure itself is painless. Some patients have said it feels a little odd and uncomfortable, but not painful at all.

After surgery your eyes will feel a little delicate for the first few hours or so, will be sensitive to the light and will likely water quite a lot. The best thing to do post-op is to go straight home, lie down in a darkened room and keep your eyes closed for a couple of hours.

Following LASIK, your eyes will soon feel comfortable enough to open them again but be sure not to make any plans for the rest of the day. If you’re having a SURFACE treatment, your eyes can be moderately uncomfortable for the first couple of days after your treatment. We provide comforting drops to help with this.

How long does it take? 

If you’re having both eyes treated, laser eye surgery will only take between 20 and 30 minutes in total. The actual laser part of the procedure only lasts a matter of seconds per eye.

Can I wear makeup? 

No. You should not wear any makeup on the day of your laser eye treatment, and you should not wear any eye makeup for at least one week after treatment either. For full information about timescales for when you can wear makeup before and after treatment, read our previous blog here.

Should I bring someone with me?

We highly recommend that you bring someone with you on treatment day if possible. You will not be able to drive yourself home afterwards, and because your eyes may feel sensitive and water a lot, it can feel a bit disorienting. For this reason, it can be reassuring to have someone accompany you home. If you can’t bring someone with you, please let us know ahead of time and our team can arrange a taxi for you.

What happens after?

Thorough aftercare is essential when it comes to recovering from laser eye surgery. Every Visualase patient benefits from a comprehensive aftercare plan, starting on treatment day through to your 12 month checkup.

For full details of our aftercare service (and tips for how to look after your eyes after treatment), click here.


Have a question we haven’t answered here? Or if you’d like to book a no-obligation consultation with the surgeon who would be performing your laser eye surgery, please call our team on 01204 387467 or complete the form below.

All eye surgical procedures carry a level of risk including not obtaining the desired outcome, through to varying levels of visual loss. Your eye surgeon will discuss the risks and benefits, including ones specific to your circumstances, at the time of your pre-operative consultation.