Lasik surgery recovery - what to do after the operation

You took a deep breath and had the surgery.

What happens next? What happens during lasik surgery recovery?

First rule - follow your doctor’s post-surgery instructions. Not doing so could mean the difference between an uneventful lasik surgery recovery process, and one fraught with difficulties.

For most people a successful lasik procedure means a speedy and relatively painless recovery. They go to sleep and when they wake the next morning, they see the world through a better pair of eyes - or at least more clearly.

You’ll probably be asked to rest in the doctor’s office for a while, and then to go home to sleep for at least a few hours.

If your doctor covers your eyes to protect them, don’t take these patches off until your doctor tells you to. If he says to keep them on until the next day, he means “until the next day”!

Some discomfort

It’s common to experience some hours of discomfort after lasik surgery. A mild pain reliever such as acetaminophen or naproxen sodium would probably be OK - check with your doctor.

Never take aspirin after surgery unless your doctor agrees. Aspirin thins the blood and can cause bleeding, because there are lots of blood vessels in the eye that could be affected by aspirin.

Your eyes will almost certainly feel itchy, but DON’T rub or scratch them, because you might dislodge the corneal flap made by the doctor during surgery.

You may also be sensitive to light for a few days, but in the majority of procedures this sensitivity disappears quite quickly.

Don’t be a workaholic. Take a few days off to allow for proper lasik surgery recovery. Don’t exercise, don’t do anything strenuous, don’t do any heavy lifting and avoid dusty areas.

If you’re the sporty sort, avoid contact sports for at least a few weeks to make sure that nothing gets in the eye while it is healing.

Your doctor willl probably scheule regular checkups for the first six months of your recovery from lasik surgery, to make sure that you are healing properly.

You might find that your vision fluctuates during this period. If you suffer from “dry eye” your doctor will provide eye drops to help until your tear ducts adjust to the new shape of your eye.

If you experience any irritation or blurred vision, contact your doctor at once.  Follow the rules, be sensible, and your lasik surgery recovery period could be quite uneventful.