|
What to expect during your Lasik eye surgery recovery period Getting lasik surgery can be the best thing you’ve ever done – improving your vision while eliminating your dependence on glasses or contacts. However, you might be a bit worried about the recovery process. Well, you shouldn’t be too worried. While Lasik is a quick operation that takes about fifteen minutes to perform, the speed of your recovery will be significantly aided if you know how to take care of yourself during the recovery process. This article reviews the advice to keep in mind that will help your recovery process go smoothly.
After your Lasik surgery, recovery of your vision will happen within 24 to 48 hours. You should rest for the remainder of the day and apply your eye drops as directed. In fact, it may be best if you go to sleep right after the operation. Don't watch TV, used the computer, read a book, or any other similar activity. Your eyes must stay relaxed, and sleeping is one of the best ways to ensure this. To minimize the chance of infection and speed up the Lasik surgery recovery process, you should keep your hands clean and away from your eyes and avoid hot tubs or swimming pools for one month. After your Lasik surgery is complete, you will be moved to a recovery room. You will be asked to stay here until your healthcare providers feel that you have recovered enough to go home. Usually, this is within an hour. You may need a ride home from the laser suite because it will be difficult for you to see. You will have enough vision for walking around, but not enough for driving. After the medicine wears off, your eyes may begin to feel scratchy, or you may feel like you have an eyelash in your eye. These are normal sensations. Sometimes, one eye may be more uncomfortable than the other. Remember that your healthcare providers want you to recover without any problems, so be sure to report anything that feels abnormal or "not right." Don't wear makeup or use any scents or colognes. The dust and the fumes could cause irritation which might interfere with the recovery process. Read the article on makeup and contact lenses for applicable advice. You should wear sunglasses right after the surgery, until your eyes have recovered. Also, don't take showers, because the spray from the water could cause issues. Opt for bathes, instead. Also, avoid any sort of dusty environments during the recovery period. Don't drink any alcohol for at least two ways after the surgery. Also, make sure that you do not rub your eyes at all. Your doctor should give you a mask that will help shield your eyes, but since your eyes will be slightly itchy and irritated, you might be tempted to cheat. You need to exercise self control and avoid doing this. After a day or two, the itching should start to clear up, and your vision should be much clearer, however, complete recovery might take up to six months. Just take it easy, and wait for the healing to complete. However, the precautions described above only apply to the first few days. When you leave the laser suite, you will be given specific eye care instructions and discharge instructions for driving, activity level, medication, and any further restrictions necessary. Your healthcare provider will go over any symptoms that require medical attention. You should rest for the remainder of the day and apply your eye drops as directed. After a few hours, when you remove the eye shields to apply your eye drops, you may notice that your vision is improving. It still may not be perfect at this time, but your vision should recover over the next 24 to 48 hours. Most patients are able to return to work within 24 to 48 hours of their Lasik eye surgery. To minimize the chance of infection, you should keep your hands clean and away from your eyes, avoid hot tubs or swimming pools for one month, and use the eye drops as directed. It is also important to avoid rubbing your eyes. If needed, you can gently pat your eyes with your eyelids shut. Occasionally, small red areas over the white part of your eye may appear. These are caused by the pressure of the suction ring. These are harmless, but may take a week or two to go away. You can expect to return for a follow-up examination the day after your Lasik surgery. So, most of this is pretty common sense. Just protect your eyes from particulate matter, fumes, and strain. As stated above, one of the best ways to recover is to simply kick back and sleep for a while. When you wake up, you'll find yourself enjoying better, clearer vision than ever before, thanks to the miracle of laser eye surgery. |
