Femto-LASIK is the advanced laser technology used to correct refractive errors like nearsightedness, and astigmatism without the blade. The advanced blade-free refractive procedure gives better results than microkeratome or blade LASIK. Intriguingly, almost 98% of people between the age group of 18-45 years are eligible candidates to undergo Femto LASIK surgery.

For obvious reasons, the most asked question from patients is whether the Femto LASIK procedure is painless or not. Let’s clear the air around it once and for all. The Femto-LASIK procedure is minimally invasive and painless.

Benefits of Femto-LASIK Procedure include

• Offers fast results: The recovery period for Femto laser eye surgery is much shorter than other traditional refractive procedures. Usually, patients regain normal vision within a few hours following the Femto-LASIK procedure.
• Less inflammation in the eye: The laser used in Femto LASIK Procedure is gentle on the corneal layer and hence minimizes the chances of inflammation in the eye.
• Less impact on the corneal strength: The femtosecond laser works precisely to create a consistent corneal flap. The flap created through the Femto laser is thin, regular and does not have a severe effect on corneal health.

Limitations of Femto Lasik Procedure

However, like any other surgical procedure, Femto-LASIK procedure also has certain limitations. The procedure is recommended in the following scenarios:

• Nearsightedness or myopia less than or up to -10 diopters
  
• Farsightedness or Hyperopia up to +4 diopters
• Cornea shouldn’t be too thin (45-550 microns)

To ensure that an individual is a right candidate for Femto-LASIK, eye doctors take the patient through a series of tests called pre-refractive workup. Sometimes, a patient not fit for Femto-LASIK may be eligible for other specs-removal procedures SMILE, Contoura Vision, ICL, etc. Let’s further briefly take you through the procedure to understand how it’s made painless

What happens during the Femto-LASIK procedure?

Before getting started with your refractive procedure, your surgeon will give you some anesthetic or numbing eye drops. You may feel a slight pressure on the eyes while undergoing the procedure and that is a normal occurrence. The eye surgeon uses the Femto laser to create a flap in the outer layer of the cornea. And then, the excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea, removing the refractive error. Then, the doctor places the flap back to its original place. Once the anesthesia wears off, it is normal to feel mild pain or discomfort in the eye. After getting your Femto procedure done, you may also experience:

• Mild irritation
• Burning sensation in the eye
• Itchiness
• Feeling that there is something stuck in the eye

The doctor will also advise you to wear a protective shield so that you don’t rub your eyes by any chance or poke them mistakenly. Using the shield is also helpful in preventing excessive pressure on the eyes while sleeping.

Recovery Period for Femto Lasik Procedure

The exact recovery period varies for every individual, mostly, it may take a few weeks for complete healing. However, you can see clearly within a few hours after Femto eye surgery and are advised to wear an eye shield for 1-2 days. And, show up for your planned follow-up visits to ensure there is no hurdle in vision recovery and overall eye health. Doctors also advise avoiding sports, swimming and cosmetics for at least 2-3 weeks to avoid any injury or infection.

Tips to have a painless recovery from Femto LASIK Procedure

• Prevent direct exposure to direct harsh daylight and artificial light during the initial days after specs removal surgery. Keeping soft or dim light around you helps in the complete healing of the eyes.
• Refrain from taking a head shower for about a week after the procedure so that you can avoid eye infections due to water or inflammation caused by soap.
• Relax your eyes more often as it is highly advised to not strain your eyes post

Femto-LASIK. Use prescribed eye drops frequently and don’t lean into self-medication without your doctor’s consent.

Final Words- on LASIK pain!

Femto-LASIK has gained much preference over traditional LASIK as it’s bladeless. Owing to its greater accuracy and highly desirable results, the Femto-LASIK eye procedure is a reliable option. So yes, we can conclude that Femto-LASIK is painless LASIK and there are no dreadful complications associated with it. It is crucial to meet an eye specialist to get clarity on which is the best-suited specs removal procedure as per your needs and wants. You can visit PLANET LASIK By Centre For Sight and get advanced solutions. To know more or book your consultation with our eye specialists, visit https://www.planetlasik.com/.