During the treatment sessions, some patients experience a minor amount of discomfort. It is hard to predict the patients in whom this will happen, but many patients benefit from pretreatment application of EMLA cream. This is a prescription item that is applied under the occlusive dressing two hours prior to the laser treatment session. It is wiped off just prior to the actual laser surgery. Detailed instructions will be distributed to you if you choose to use this anesthetic cream preparation.
Some patients prefer that local anesthesia be injected into the site prior to laser therapy.
During laser treatment, your eyes will be covered with protective eyewear. The actual laser treatment takes a very small percentage of the total clinic visit. Following the treatment session, a dressing will be placed on the treatment site. Furthermore, a follow-up appointment will be scheduled prior to your discharge from the clinic. This open sore on your skin in the treatment site will heal over the course of the ensuing one to three weeks.