LASIK surgery can be a life changing treatment, restoring your vision and eliminating your reliance on glasses and contact lenses. With up to 95% of patients reporting high satisfaction levels, it’s easy to see why LASIK is a popular treatment.
If you are considering laser eye surgery, understanding the recovery is essential. Here’s everything you need to know about life after LASIK including the recovery timeline, side effects and results.
Immediately After the Procedure: The First Few Hours
Immediately after treatment, you will experience some improvement in your vision. Many patients liken the feeling to opening their eyes underwater, where their vision is slightly blurred and hazy.
You may also experience irritation, tiredness and dry eyes but rest assured that within just a few hours this feeling will begin to fade, and you will be able to see a lot clearer.
Following treatment, you will be given protective eyewear to shield your eyes and it’s advised that you avoid any activity for the rest of the day. This is a time for rest and recovery, and you should be careful to not strain your eyes through overuse. You will need a family member or friend to drive you home.
The First 24-48 Hours: Initial Recovery & Rest
In the majority of cases, you will be advised to take 24 to 48 hours away from your normal routine to recover and rest. You will be sent home with some specific instructions on optimal recovery. These include not rubbing your eyes, keeping them closed as much as possible, avoiding bright lights, minimizing screen use and using your eye drops as prescribed.
If you are experiencing any side effects such as scratchiness, irritation or dry eyes, your antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops will help. This period of initial rest and recovery will see a huge improvement in your symptoms.
The First Week: Returning to Daily Activities
As the first week progresses, your vision will continue to stabilize. Patients often report that their sight steadily improves each day, feeling sharper and more consistent. During the first week, you will find that discomfort and sensitivity subsides as well as some of the common side effects.
During this time, you can return to daily activities for the most part, but it’s recommended to continue avoiding swimming, using makeup and dusty environments. You should keep up with the application of eye drops as prescribed and be careful to wear protective sunglasses when outside. Physical activity and sports should still be avoided during the first week to allow yourself to heal.
The First Month: Final Results and Follow-up Care
As you progress through the first month following surgery, your vision will continue to improve. Many patients find their vision is stable enough to return to work as early as the next day, with most resuming light exercise and screen use within the first week. By the end of the second week, your vision will be much more stable and reliable, and you can also return to swimming at this point.
Your eyes will continue to adapt following your treatment and you may still experience some tiredness and discomfort in the eye area. But rest assured that this is both normal and temporary. It’s wise to use UV protected eyewear and continue with your eye drops as needed until you have attended your follow up appointments with your consultant.
Common Side Effects and how to Manage Them
You may experience some sensations in the first 1 to 2 days following surgery including scratchiness, mild irritation, slight blurring and sensitivity to light. The most common side effect that patients experience is dryness of the eyes which has been reported to last up to 6 months following surgery in some cases.
Regular use of your prescribed eye drops can help to reduce this symptom and rest assured that it will be temporary.
If you find that the side effects are uncomfortable and unmanageable, even with use of the prescribed eye drops, it’s recommended to close your eyes for a prolonged period of time. In the first 4 hours following treatment, this has been noted to relieve the majority of symptoms.
Expected Long-Term Results and Maintenance
Results of LASIK surgery will typically last a lifetime. Most patients will not undergo laser eye treatment more than once in their life. The long-term results is just one of the reasons why it’s such a popular surgery option for correcting vision.
LASIK surgery is extremely effective and is associated with improving your vision long term. But it’s important to note that it does not prevent other eye issues from arising. As your eyes age, it’s common to experience vision changes called presbyopia, an age-related condition.
This affects a part of your eye that hasn’t been treated during laser eye surgery. It’s important to see your healthcare provider for regular eye exams to monitor for any conditions that can threaten your vision.
When to Contact Your Eye Surgeon
When recovering from LASIK eye surgery, complications are rare but if you have concerns or queries, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your healthcare provider. Such complications include a sudden decrease in vision, severe pain or irritation that doesn’t resolve within a few days, large floaters in the eye and infection.
Remember, time is of the essence and contacting your eye surgeon as soon as a problem arises can prevent it from becoming worse. If you are recovering well and don’t have any cause for concern, you should follow the advice that was given after surgery and in any follow up appointments.
This will optimize your recovery and enable you to return to your normal activities without delay.
Speak to an Expert Today
Are you considering laser eye surgery? Get in touch with the experts at IQ Laser Vision. With over 60 years in the industry and over 300,000 successful surgeries performed, we have a wealth of knowledge and experience. Find out more by calling us on (888) 727-0253 or completing an online enquiry form today.
