Surgery: What to Expect after LASIK Eye Surgery

What to Expect after LASIK Eye Surgery

Surgery: LASIK Eye Surgery

The latest in eye surgery, LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is used to correct your vision and reduce your dependence on devices, such as, contact lenses and glasses. It corrects refractive errors of the eyes, such as, Myopia or nearsightedness, where you have more difficulty seeing distant objects, Hyperopia or farsightedness, where you have more difficulty seeing near objects, and Astigmatism, where the image on the retina is distorted due to imperfections in the cornea.

Though the actual surgery is painless and quick, you need to know what to expect after LASIK eye surgery. Whatever you may have heard about going back to your routine schedule within 24 hours after LASIK eye surgery, it may not be the case always. You may have burning and/or itching sensation in your eyes. In some cases, there is a mild pain and you may be required to take pain killers. Your eye may water and you may have a blurry or hazy vision for a few days. Whatever you feel, do not rub your eyes.

Your eye may be sensitive to light; you may be seeing ghosts, haloes and starbursts. Normally these symptoms would disappear after a few days. If not, it is better to consult a doctor immediately. For your dry eyes, you may be required to take antibiotics, steroids and other medications. You need to use protective shields to keep anything from getting into your eyes.

After the surgery you will be able to put away your eyeglasses or contact lenses. Nevertheless, there are a number of things you should apply to speed up the recovery time:

The First Week

While showering, do not let water strike you directly on the face. Stop soap and shampoo from entering your eye. You may do light exercises but keep sweat out of your eyes. Regularly use the prescribed eye drops for infection, inflammation, and for lubricating your eyes. Avoid swimming, using whirlpools and hot tubs. Do not use lotions, creams and eye makeup.

The First Three Months

You may start strenuous exercises, but keep sweat away from your eyes. You can start swimming, but with eye protection. Unless otherwise advised by your doctor, you can start using lotions, creams and eye makeup.

Three to Six Months

Fluctuating vision is part of the recovery from LASIK eye surgery. It will take this much time for the vision to clear up.

You might need re-surgery to correct certain anomalies. If further correction is necessary, you need to wait until your eye measurements are consistent for two consecutive visits, at least three months apart, before re-operation.