​​How long does laser eye surgery take?

If you’re thinking about laser eye surgery, you might be wondering: how long does it actually take?

At Elite LASIK & Cataract in Indianapolis, we specialize in safe, fast procedures that fit easily into your life. Here’s a simple breakdown of the timing—before, during, and after surgery.

How long is the actual laser eye surgery?

The laser part of the surgery only takes about 10–15 minutes per eye. That’s it!

Most patients are surprised by just how quick the procedure itself is. In fact, you’ll spend more time getting ready than you will under the laser.

What happens on surgery day?

Expect to be at the clinic for about 2–3 hours in total.

This includes:

• Pre-operative checks
• Final measurements
• Preparation with numbing eye drops
• Surgery itself
• Brief recovery and post-surgery instructions

Most of the time is spent making sure everything is perfectly planned and safe—not doing the surgery itself.

Is the procedure painful?

No. Thanks to numbing drops, you won't feel pain during the procedure. You might feel some pressure or notice strange lights, but no sharp discomfort.

Most people say the experience feels weird, not painful.

How soon will I see clearly?

• LASIK: Many patients see improvement within a few hours and can drive the next day.
• SMILE: Vision improves steadily over 1–3 days.
• PRK: Healing takes a bit longer—around 4–5 days.

Your final vision sharpness keeps improving over the next few weeks.

What about recovery time?

Here’s what recovery looks like:

• Back to work: 1–2 days (for LASIK or SMILE)
• Light exercise: 1 week
• Swimming and heavy sports: 2–4 weeks

We’ll guide you step-by-step through recovery to make sure your healing stays on track.

Key takeaways:

• The procedure itself is very quick—about 10–15 minutes per eye.
• You’ll be at the clinic for 2–3 hours total.
• Most people are back to normal activities within a day or two.

Laser vision correction fits easily into even the busiest schedules!

Ready to find out if laser eye surgery is right for you?

Take our quick suitability self-test now and take the first step toward clear vision.