8 Things to Expect During Laser Eye Surgery Recovery
What will my recovery from laser eye surgery look like or what to expect after laser eye surgery , is something people frequently ask. Most are curious about what they can expect in the hours and days post-surgery and want to plan for any changes they may need to make life easier. For most people, the visual recovery from laser eye surgery is short. Vision improvements are almost immediate, making room for a positive recovery from laser eye surgery. However, there are a few things to note to ensure the long-term outcome is the best possible.
What to Expect During Laser Eye Surgery Recovery
#1 Sore Eyes
A local anaesthetic is used on your eyes during surgery, which will wear off soon after. You can then use over-the-counter pain relief medication to help with any pain or discomfort you may feel during the laser eye surgery recovery time process.
#2 Nap After Surgery
Straight after laser eye surgery, you’ll be advised to go home and aim for a three-to-four-hour nap. Sleep is necessary for the healing process to begin. For the following few days, nap if you feel your eyes need a rest and don’t force yourself to stay awake.
#3 Tired Eyes
Most people will be ready to return to work after a few days of rest at home. If you work in front of a computer or spend prolonged time reading or studying your eyes may feel more tired than before surgery during the laser eye surgery recovery period. This is common. Try to rest your eyes to reduce the feeling of tiredness.
#4 Eye Protection
You should wear eye protection while you sleep for a few weeks post-surgery. While sleeping, you’re at risk of accidentally rubbing your eye, and an eye guard protects the eye so you can slumber without worrying you’ll injure yourself. Be conscious of not rubbing your eyes during the day, as you can damage the cornea flap while it heals.
#5 Time Off Work
Most patients need to take some time off work after laser eye surgery. While recovery rates vary between patients, you shouldn’t need more than a few days off work after LASIK surgery. Some people return to work the following day. Patients post Photo Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) surgery need a little more time off work to heal properly than those recovering from LASIK.
#6 Fast Results
Within a few hours after surgery, you will notice a significant improvement in your vision and will continue to improve a little more each day. Expect several months before your final vision is completely clear.
#7 Use Eye Drops
After surgery, don’t forget to use eye drops to stop possible infections and aid recovery. Your surgeon will give you instructions, best practices to use the drops, and the dos and don’ts post-surgery.
#8 A Long Wait Before You Know What Your Final Sight Will Be
While you’ll notice a vast improvement in your eyesight soon after surgery, it can take a few months for your eyes to completely recover. It’s not until then that you will know what the outcome of your vision is.
Do’s and Don’ts of Laser Eye Surgery Recovery
Let’s discuss dos and don’ts after laser eye surgery to make our recovery phase easy.
Do’s of Laser Eye Surgery Recovery
Follow the following tips for a speedy laser eye surgery recovery:
- You must be tired eyes after lasik so get plenty of rest. Remember your eyes are always working while you’re awake. If it was a knee operation, you could sit down and put your leg up to rest but to rest your eyes, you need to close them. When your eyes feel tired and need a break, take a nap.
- Organise to have a family member care for you straight after surgery. You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for the night. Your vision may be poor for several hours after surgery, so plan for assistance.
- Follow the advice of your surgeon. Patients who follow the instructions provided are more likely to enjoy a full and fast laser eye surgery recovery.
- Contact your surgeon for any queries about your surgery and recovery. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Don’ts of Laser Eye Surgery Recovery
There are a few simple rules to follow to aid recovery and what to expect after laser eye surgery to keep your eyes safe.
- Don’t wear eye makeup and limit makeup on your face while your eyes recover. Makeup can cause an infection in the eye, and going makeup-free will minimise the risk of complications.
- Don’t get your eyes wet for 2-3 weeks after surgery. Water from the shower or tap can contain bacteria and pathogens that can cause the flap on the cornea to slow down its healing from what it should. If you can, take a bath instead of a shower, and be careful by avoiding water splashing onto your face.
- Stay away from the pool, spa, and beach for the next 4 weeks after laser eye surgery. Any kind of water can increase the likelihood of an infection.
- The main area of concern post-eye surgery is sport. Avoid all contact sports for one month after surgery. Your eyes need time to recover, and sports can cause too much pressure on the eye or even an injury.
We hope now you got some better understanding on how long does it take to recover from laser eye surgery .If you have any questions or wish to discuss laser eye surgery further, please contact us online or call us on (08) 9381 0758 to speak with one of our clinical coordinators. Alternatively, you can take our free online suitability test to find out if you may be eligible for laser eye surgery.
Contact Lions Laser Vision
Please call us at Lions Laser Vision and speak with one of our clinical coordinators who will be able to answer your questions and schedule an initial consultation with one of our refractive surgeons.
Alternatively, complete the form below and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
PHONE: 08 9381 0758
FAX: 08 9381 0700
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Lions Eye Institute
Lions Laser Vision
1st Floor,
2 Verdun Street
Nedlands WA 6009
St John of God Murdoch
Murdoch Medical Centre
Suite 4B,
Ground Floor,
100 Murdoch Dr
Murdoch WA 6150