WHEN the ball comes towards Chris Dawes this season, he'll see it clearly and unaided for the first time in his career after successful laser eye surgery in October last year.

The 23-year-old Collingwood forward has relied on contact lenses since he started playing, with his eyesight blurring teammates and the ball, especially in night games.

But after last year's operation, Dawes will play on Friday night against Hawthorn without uncomfortable and gritty lenses threatening to pop out mid-game.

Click here to watch Dawes' screamer against St Kilda during the NAB Cup.

"I heard about the surgery and they told me there was no chance of me going blind and a 99 per cent chance of me having my vision permanently corrected," Dawes told AFL.com.au this week.

"I jumped at the chance and got it done as soon as I could.

"I was playing with contacts, which achieved the same sort of thing [as the surgery] but it will be a slight improvement and it will help my footy in terms of being one less thing I have to worry about on game day.

"I don't have to worry if my contact lenses are stinging or anything, or am I going to get through the game … probably twice I lost one while playing seniors, a finger in the eye and it would come out."

Dawes had the surgery in the week following the Grand Final and after an operation to clean out his ankle.

The decision to schedule the procedures close to each other was designed to reduce the amount of time he was off his feet. 

"That whole week was just sort of a blur for me memory wise, because of the amount of different drugs I was on for the two operations," he said.

"I don't actually remember much. It was a strange time.

"I think [laser eye surgery] is quite painful. You're sedated although you're awake.

"Apparently for the three days afterwards, I was in a fair bit of discomfort according to my family members, but I can't actually remember it.

"It wasn't that haunting an experience for me."

Dawes said the surgery had made an immense difference to his football, and life in general.

"All the detail in the distance were blurry, which at the elite level, means you can’t clearly see which teammate it is or pick up on body hues or where the ball is as easily," he said.

"[It's made a difference] not just in footy but in life. Just being able to wake up and see clearly, not having itchy, dry eyes and having to worry about where your contacts or your glasses are."

Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.