Facts About LASIK Recovery

LASIK eye surgery is amazing technology that can correct a person’s nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism (the refractive errors that cause people to need prescription lenses). You can live your whole life with these refractive errors, find out you are an excellent candidate for LASIK and have the procedure done in just minutes per eye – effectively erasing the vision problems.

For most patients, the recovery period for LASIK is faster than you might think. In fact, you may be able to return to work or other normal activities the day after your procedure.

LASIK recovery steps may include:

• Wearing dark sunglasses when you leave the office
• Wearing a protective eye shield the first few nights to prevent rubbing while you sleep 
• Taking eye drops to moisten your eyes
• Taking antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medication
• Resting at home for a few hours following your procedure, limiting  reading or television watching
• Taking over-the-counter pain medications, if needed (although most patients do not experience any pain or discomfort during or after the procedure)
• Taking a bath instead of a shower for the first 24 hours after the procedure
• Avoiding rubbing your eyes
• Avoiding eye makeup for several days
• Avoiding areas that are dusty or smoky for several days
• Avoiding alcohol consumption for 48 hours after surgery
• Returning to your LASIK provider for a post-op appointment the day after your procedure

Because your eyes will need to relax, you cannot drive yourself home after LASIK, but you should be able to drive yourself to your post-op appointment the following day. The post-op appointment will identify any complications, such as infection, so it is important to keep your scheduled appointment to ensure your LASIK is successful.

      As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with LASIK, including:

• Mild, moderate or severe dry eye 
• Vision problems, such as halos, glare, starbursts and double vision 
• Need for glasses or contacts after surgery 
• Loss of vision

With or without LASIK surgery, many people develop presbyopia (or the need for reading glasses) as they grow older. 

 

To learn more about LASIK recovery and all the facts about LASIK, contact Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea and Refractive to schedule a free LASIK consultation at charlestoncornea.com or call 843-856-5275.