LASIK eye surgery is a popular choice for individuals who want to be free of the hassle of wearing glasses or contact lenses. If you have decided to undergo LASIK surgery, it is important for you to understand what to expect once the procedure is completed.
What to Expect Post Surgery
Once you have scheduled your LASIK procedure, knowing what to expect after surgery will help you make plans in advance. We recommend the following actions:
- Plan to have someone drive you home. While your eyesight will show improvement after surgery, it may be blurry or hazy for one to two weeks afterward, so just to be safe, it’s wise to have someone on hand to drive you home.
- Expect to feel some mild discomfort the day of surgery. After the numbing drops wear off, most patients report mild discomfort for the first few hours.
- Plan to spend the day resting. A long afternoon nap will allow the eyes to feel more comfortable and for the healing process to begin. You should not plan to return to work the day of your procedure.
- Use eye drops. A frequent complaint during the post-op period is ocular dryness which can be alleviated with artificial tears.
- Wear protective eye shields at night for the first week. These shields prevent you from rubbing your eyes and protect them while they heal from surgery.
- Return to normal activities. By the next day most of our patients can return to normal activities the next day, including work. There will be certain restrictions for exercising.
What to Avoid Post Surgery
After LASIK surgery, you should be able to quickly resume most activities. For the first week, you should avoid activities that involve small particles that could irritate your eyes. For example, the smoke from a bonfire, yard work, or wearing eye makeup should be avoided. Additionally, take care to keep soap and chlorine out of your eyes for the first two weeks. You can bathe and shower normally but should avoid pools and hot tubs during that time.
While these are general guidelines, it is important that you discuss your concerns with your doctor directly. The doctors of Florida Eye Specialists will discuss your lifestyle with you and make personalized recommendations for your post-operative care. If you are thinking about LASIK, contact our office today to make an appointment with one of our LASIK specialists.