What To Expect After LASIK Eye Surgery
If wearing glasses or contacts bothers you, consider having LASIK surgery to correct your vision. This surgery can often eliminate the need to wear glasses, or at least reduce your reliance on glasses or contacts. However, reading glasses may still be necessary as you age. The first step is to have your eyes examined to see if you're a good match for the surgery. The surgery itself is a quick procedure that's done with anesthetic eye drops so you feel no discomfort. Here's what you might expect after having LASIK eye surgery.
You Might Notice Eyesight Improvement Right Away
Unlike cataract surgery where your eye is covered after surgery, your eyes don't have to be covered after LASIK. This means you can have both eyes done at the same appointment if your eye surgeon thinks that's suitable. Your vision might be a little blurry, but you could notice an improvement in your eyesight right away. However, your eyes will undergo changes as they heal from the surgery, so it may be a few months before the full effect of the surgery is realized.
You Could Resume Work The Following Day
It's good to rest on the day of surgery since your vision might be a little blurry and you may be woozy from the sedative medication you take to help you relax for the procedure. You'll probably have a doctor's exam the day after surgery, and you could be given approval to go back to work right away and to resume many of your usual activities. Your vision may not be perfect by the next day, so whether you return to work or not depends on the type of work you do. You might need to wait a few days until the blurriness subsides if sharp eyesight is critical for your job.
You Should Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes
You'll have a tendency to rub your eyes if they feel irritated after the surgery. However, it's important for proper healing that you don't rub your eyes. Try not to tire your eyes for a few days. Avoid working on the computer or doing things that cause eye strain. Your doctor will probably give you eye drops to use that lubricate your eyes to keep them from feeling dry, itchy, and irritated. Your doctor may also give you eye shields to wear so you don't rub your eyes accidentally.
You May Need To Wear Eye Protection For A While
During the initial healing phase, it's important to keep water from a shower, swimming, or from perspiration out of your eyes. Doing this reduces the risk of infection. You may need to bathe rather than shower for a few days. If you swim regularly, you may need to wear goggles for several weeks until your eye doctor clears you for all activities. Also, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun, and try to avoid dusty and smoky environments so your eyes won't be irritated or dry out.
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