Is eye pain normal after LASIK?

What's normal

The FDA says that immediately after the procedure your eye may burn, itch, or feel like there is something in it, that you may experience some discomfort or in some cases mild pain, and that your doctor may suggest you take a mild pain reliever. The Academy lists eye pain or discomfort among the common, usually temporary side effects of LASIK, and says eyes may feel scratchy or burning for a few hours.

LASIK is generally less painful than surface procedures like PRK because the corneal surface is lifted as a flap rather than removed. The Academy notes PRK healing takes longer because a thin outer layer of corneal cells is removed rather than replaced as a flap. Most LASIK patients describe the first few hours as burning and watering, then a fast drop off.

The FDA says these early symptoms should improve considerably within the first few days after surgery, and recommends planning on a few days off work until they subside. Napping through the first several hours is a common and reasonable strategy.

Peaks in the first 2 to 6 hours as numbing drops wear off, then usually settles to mild irritation within the first day or two.

When it stops being normal

Severe pain is a red flag, not a stage of recovery. The FDA is explicit: you should contact your doctor immediately and not wait for your scheduled visit if you experience severe pain, or if your vision or other symptoms get worse instead of better.

Pain that starts to increase after it had been improving is the pattern that matters most, particularly with light sensitivity, redness, discharge, or falling vision. StatPearls lists infectious keratitis in less than 0.1 percent of patients, with atypical mycobacteria typically appearing one to two weeks after surgery, and lists flap complications in about 0.1 to 4 percent of patients including flap dislodgement and striae. The FDA notes that complications such as migration of the flap, inflammation, or infection may require another procedure or intensive treatment with drops, and that even with aggressive therapy such complications may lead to temporary loss of vision or irreversible blindness. That is why calling early matters.