First, What is Lasik?
LASIK is a refractive correction surgery that stands for Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis. This surgery is meant to fix any problems in the eye, more precisely in the cornea. If the cornea is curved or shaped incorrectly, it could lead to refractive errors in the eyes such as hyperopia or myopia. (Farsightedness and nearsightedness) This surgery works to attempt to reshape the clear layer of the eye known as the cornea. This will help fix any problems of light not entering the eye and not focusing on the retina correctly.
What does post-Lasik recovery entail?
Although Lasik has an incredibly high 95% success rate, it includes quite an important recovery that could potentially damage your eyes if not taken care of correctly. This recovery includes visits with your surgeon, recovery plans, consulting, and specific guidelines. Lasik surgery includes creating an incision to make a tiny flap on the cornea, which then will allow the eye to reshape itself. This part is pretty simple as the only action required is to simply not damage the eye or the cornea. The tiny flap will soon reseal itself without a need for any medical supervision or stitches. Although there isn’t really anything to do when it comes to healing the wound, it is crucial to the recovery process that you do not rub your eyes or risk an eye infection in any way. While the cornea is reshaping itself, the eye is at its most vulnerable state, and messing with it in any way could dislodge the flap or cause a serious infection through the flap. This is why it is so important to touch your eyes as little as possible and limit their contact with anything at all, as even if you are sure that whatever it touches is clean it could still lead to a physical injury. After around 1 to 2 days, it is ideal to contact and check-in with your doctor to make sure that there isn’t any harm being done to your eyes and that the healing process is going normally.
Timeline of Recovery
During the first 24 hours, it is crucial to recovery that you avoid eye strain as much as possible to avoid damage to your vulnerable eyes. The American Refractive Surgery Council suggests that it should be possible to resume your daily activities and resume your normal life after around 2 days of recovery. The FDA has also suggested that it would be ideal to try and take a few days off of work to not have to run into early disturbances such as glares and halos. It is normal to experience strange and foggy vision as the eyes adjust themselves. It is also common to feel blurry vision for a little longer as well as some burning and itching as the anesthesia begins to wear off, although U.S NLM (National Library of Medicine) does report that this is completely normal and should begin to fade away after a few short hours. Once again to represent the importance of it, it is incredibly important to avoid any rubbing or bumping the eye. Although most blurriness is diminished, it is known that it’ll take up to 6 months for any vision problems to completely clear.
This timeline is the usual and healthy line of recovery for Lasik.
First Six Hours After Lasik
- Keep your eyes closed as much as possible and avoid glare and eye strain. Discomfort may be experienced as the eyes adjust to their temporary vulnerability. Your doctor may prescribe a medication to help the pain and even eye drops to protect from infection and lubricate the eye.
The First Day Of Recovery
- The first 24 hours post Lasik are best spent avoiding eye strain as much as possible. This includes avoiding:
- Reading
- Video Games
- Television
- Screen Time Such As Smartphone Usage
- And Computers
It is important to avoid these to not risk any damage to the cornea as to properly heal it back to full health. You will most likely receive an eye shield to help prevent the strain of the eyes and can shower as soon as a day after the surgery. Although it is a possibility to take a shower so soon after the surgery, it is important to keep any products or harmful chemicals out of your eyes that could burn or strain them.
One to Two Weeks Post Lasik
- You can begin to exercise around a week after the surgery although it is important to avoid the Sun if you can. Avoid any makeup or any sort of cream or lotion around the eye. Swimming in any bodies of water that may be contaminated is not advised as contaminated water is a very easy point of access for diseases to enter the eye.
From now on, it is pretty straightforward when it comes to recovering for the next couple of months. Just make sure to avoid large amounts of strain and screen time, and make sure to avoid UV rays and direct sunlight. If there are significant refractive errors, keep in mind that it could take longer to heal.