The First Few Hours after Surgery
Immediately following your surgery, you will be escorted to a recovery area and monitored for a short time before being released to go home. You are required to have someone drive you home, and you will need to wear special sunglasses on the drive home to prevent the sun’s rays from getting into your eyes. Once you arrive home, you should get into a comfortable resting position and relax the rest of the day.
For the first few hours after surgery, your eyes will probably still be numb from the anesthetic drops administered prior to surgery. As they wear off, you may feel slight burning or discomfort in your eyes; you can take medication as prescribed to alleviate these symptoms. Your eyes may also water or tear, look bloodshot or feel sensitive to light in the hours following surgery. You may feel like you have an eyelash in your eye. These symptoms are very common.
Most patients opt to nap for the remainder of the day. You will need to wear a protective eye shield while sleeping to prevent you from rubbing them or getting a foreign object in your eyes.
The Next 24 to 48 Hours
It is common to notice an improvement in vision the day of surgery or the following day. Vision will continue to improve over the next few days.
Post-operative symptoms like sensitivity and bloodshot eyes typically dissipate quickly. Your vision may seem hazy at first, and you may see halos around lights, but these side effects should subside fairly quickly.
Dr. Mandel will want to see you 24 to 48 hours after your LASIK procedure to check your eyes and ensure they are healing correctly. If you are still experiencing any side effects, he can advise whether there is anything to worry about.
The timeframe for resuming normal activities is slightly different for every patient. In general, many patients return to work and their normal activities within a few days of surgery.
The Weeks and Months Following Surgery
For the next few months after LASIK, you will have periodic follow-up appointments with Dr. Mandel to check your progress and visual improvement. Vision has typically stabilized by the six-month mark.
If you experience any lingering side effects or potential complications, Dr. Mandel can advise whether your symptoms are normal or whether you may need further care.
Book a LASIK Consultation
To learn more about the LASIK procedure and recovery, Dr. Mandel invites you to book an informative consultation. Please call 877-210-2020 or email Optima Eye today to make an appointment.
