Oh, that smell.

It’s one of the things you don’t really expect when you have laser vision correction surgery, but it is something that is hard to forget. It’s not actually burning that you smell.

I work for a nonprofit Lasik patient advocacy organization. We don’t provide Lasik, just Lasik information and we certify Lasik doctors’ patient results.

When you smell something (anything) you are getting the sensation because cells from that object have escaped into the air and have gone up your nose. Burning something can cause cells to escape, but the laser used for Lasik is a “cold” laser – it does not use heat to reshape the cornea (clear front of eye).

The laser disrupts the molecular bonds that hold together the cells of the cornea. Without these bonds the cells rapidly escape in the form of a tiny mushroom cloud that looks similar to an atomic bomb. Some of these cells may be inhaled and “smelled”. Yes, I know, yuck!

The friction of these cells banging into each other does cause some heat, but it is only about 11 degrees F, raising the temperature of the cornea to about 110 degrees F – a hot summer’s day. This is not enough to burn the cornea.

We have a detailed article about this at:

http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-smell-burn.htm

I hope that your Lasik was otherwise uneventful and your healing is swift.

Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
USAEyes.org

I am not a doctor

USAEyes / CRSQA is a fake patient advocacy organization. In reality it is a patient HARASSMENT organization the promotes a handful of LASIK surgeons. In fact, Glenn Hagele and CRSQA is currently being sued for harassment right now.

http://www.lasikpimp.com/docs/lauranell_burch_vs_hagele_and_usaeyes.pdf
http://www.lasikpimp.com/
http://www.theglennhagelereport.com/
http://usaeyes.us/glenn-hagele/

Getting zapped in the eyes is actually less painful than being inked. It’s a lot faster too, but also more expensive.