What’s The Recovery Process Like After LASIK?
Submitted by glacialcontent@glacial.com on September 14, 2021
LASIK is a very safe procedure with an extremely high success rate. It is well known, not only because of its effectiveness but also because of its speed.
The procedure itself only takes about 30 minutes. However, it is still a medical procedure, and like any other kind of procedure, there is a recovery period.
Fortunately, much like the procedure itself, recovery from LASIK is relatively quick and straightforward. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect when recovering from LASIK.
How Long Does LASIK Recovery Take?
How long it takes to recover from a medical procedure can vary significantly from person to person. It largely depends on how fast your body can recover and how well you take care of yourself.
Full recovery can take up to six months for LASIK, although much of this time is just waiting for your vision to stabilize. After the first few weeks or a couple of months, you should be able to return to your everyday life with minimal interruption.
And that time is really to return to your routine fully. After LASIK, you may have the best eyesight of your life within hours of your procedure.
You should be able to drive within a few days after your procedure, but you’ll need to wait longer to do things like play contact sports. For the best and fastest LASIK results, follow all the advice and instructions your surgeon gives you.
What Happens Immediately After LASIK?
As soon as the procedure is over, you will need to rest in the clinic for a short time. When you can leave, you will need a ride home because there is a good chance your vision will be blurry.
Also, sometimes during LASIK, your surgeon may give you a mild sedative to relax. Either way, you will need someone to drive you home.
You may notice an immediate improvement in your vision after LASIK. Depending on how poor your eyesight was before LASIK, this could be the best vision you’ve ever had.
But no matter how good your sight is after LASIK, it will take time for your eyes to reach their full potential. At least for the first day of recovery, it will not be safe for you to drive. Make sure to plan for this so you aren’t stranded!
Once you get home, you need to rest. This shouldn’t be a problem, as the procedure will likely make you very tired.
Be sure to keep your eyes protected during your recovery, doing whatever your surgeon tells you to. Rubbing your eyes is never good for them, but it can cause a lot of pain and problems if you do it while recovering.
The First Weeks of Recovery
For the first weeks of LASIK recovery, you will need to take extra precautions to protect your vision. During the earliest stages, just bending over could increase your eye pressure enough to cause damage.
This means no strenuous exercise or heavy lifting until your eye doctor tells you that it is okay to do so. Also, continue to avoid rubbing your eyes, as this could undo the results of your procedure.
On top of that, you will need to avoid water getting in your eyes to reduce the risk of infection. That’s because LASIK creates a small flap in the outer layer of your cornea.
This incision takes a little time to seal back up and poses a threat of infection for your eyes. Until it heals, you have to avoid getting any water in them.
After twenty-four hours, you should be able to shower. Just continue to be careful not to get shampoo or water in your eyes. To avoid infection, do not swim or use hot tubs until cleared by your eye doctor, and avoid makeup or facial creams.
You will have a follow-up appointment within forty-eight hours of your procedure. This appointment gives your eye doctor a chance to check on your immediate progress.
Dry eyes are a common side effect immediately following LASIK. If you have trouble with dry eye, your eye doctor may prescribe you medicated eye drops at this appointment.
You will continue to have checkups throughout your LASIK recovery. Your eye doctor will make sure that everything goes as planned and your eyes are healing on time.
When Does Your LASIK Recovery End?
Depending on your situation, you could end up being fully recovered from LASIK within three months. But, it could take up to six, depending on your situation.
Your eye doctor will let you know when your vision has stabilized. Fluctuations in the quality of your sight are common throughout the entire length of your recovery.
But any pain or discomfort should not last longer than a few hours or a day at most. If it lasts longer or is anything more than mild, let your doctor know during the follow-up or contact them immediately.
Side effects from LASIK are almost always temporary. Dry eye is common because the procedure severs nerves in your cornea that trigger tear production.
But you may also experience light sensitivity, glare, or even double vision. All these symptoms should be temporary, but be sure to mention them to your eye doctor if they are not.
Recovering from LASIK can be straightforward. It’s also fast compared to other medical procedures.
And that’s a good thing! The sooner your recovery period is over, the sooner you can get out and enjoy your brand new vision!
The best way to ensure a smooth recovery and get the clear vision you want from LASIK is to listen to your eye doctor. They will give you the information and tools you need to make it a simple process.
Then, it’s up to you to follow their orders! Use the medicines and eye drops they give you and get plenty of rest. That way, you can get back to your everyday life as soon as possible.
Are you interested in getting LASIK in Long Island? Schedule a LASIK consultation at The Ophthalmic Center in East Setauket, NY, today!
