What to Expect after LASIK Eye Surgery
Properly preparing for LASIK surgery means you should know what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. There are many requirements a patient must adhere to immediately after surgery and into the first couple recovering months. Here is a list of some things to expect after you undergo LASIK:
Immediately after surgery: Your eyes will be irritated right after surgery, and many patients report itching and burning for which they can take over-the-counter pain relievers. Vision will probably be hazy or blurry, and it will be necessary to have someone else drive you home. Shields will be placed over the eyes to protect them until your follow-up visit, and strict instructions not to rub or touch the eyes will be given. It will be necessary to let the flap over the resurfaced area fuse with the rest of the cornea. For this reason, many surgeons advise their patients to go home and sleep for a few hours immediately after surgery.
The first week: Your follow-up exam will be 24-48 hours after surgery is performed, and by then a great improvement in haziness and irritation should be achieved. However, light sensitivity can continue for another week or two. At the follow-up visit, drops for dry eye may be given, which will also help with any remaining irritation or gritty feeling. You will be advised to avoid lotions and face make-up for one to two weeks after your surgery, and thorough cleansing of the eyelashes will be advised to help avoid any possible infection from entering the healing eye.
A month after surgery: Certain sports may not be resumed until after a month has passed since the procedure, including karate, boxing, and other strenuous or dangerous sports. In addition, swimming pools and hot tubs will be off limits for one to two month following surgery. This is to protect the cornea as it heals. Avoiding injury to the eye will reduce the chances of needing an additional “enhancement” surgery. Not all additional surgeries can reverse damage, therefore it is important to protect your eyes during any activities through which they can be rubbed or bumped.
Six months after surgery: From three to six months after having LASIK, your vision will fluctuate as your eyes heal and adjust. By the time six months have passed, variations in visual acuity should have subsided, and most side effects of the procedure ceased. Halos, double vision, or starbursts that remain at this point may become a permanent result of the surgery. Driving at night may still be a problem, and dry eyes may remain a problem. Because of the decreased ability for the eye to produce natural tears, dry eye may need to be permanently controlled with prescription lubricants such as Restasis®.
While everyone’s experience with LASIK may be slightly different, surgeons have guidelines and recommendations to follow for a reason. Knowing what is to be expected of you, as well as what will happen with your eyesight after surgery, will make all the difference in enjoying all the benefits LASIK has to offer.
