Are The LASIK and PRK Procedures Painful

Neither procedure in and of itself is painful. In general, the LASIK procedure is more uncomfortable than PRK because pressure is felt when the suction ring is applied during flap formation. In both procedures, patients with small eyes tend to have more discomfort than the average patient  when the speculum is placed. The speculum is the instrument that keeps the eye open and prevents the patient from blinking. Even this is quite tolerable. Patients who have had LASIK or PRK often state the prcedeure was less uncomfortable than they anticipated.