With that said, our team has noticed that the winter months seem to be some of the most convenient times for our patients to undergo LASIK. Here is why we agree that that is a good idea:
More Vacation Time
Winter is full of holidays — not only Christmas and New Year’s Day, but also Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day in the months to follow. That gives you more flexibility to schedule your procedure close to a holiday. That allows you to stay at home and recover without taking additional time off from work.
Furthermore, if you time your surgery around a holiday season when you know a loved one will also have time off from work, that makes it easier to have someone to drive you home from the procedure and take care of you during the limited span of time when your vision is impaired.
You Are More Inclined to Stay Inside
You may be more inclined to go outside and be social during the summer months, but winter is the time of the year when you want to stay cozy indoors. Since you will be spending more time inside anyway, that makes it an even easier proposition to devote a day or so to relaxing on the couch or in bed while you wait for your vision to be restored.
While the recovery period for LASIK is only a few days, there are certain activities you will be advised to avoid for a few days or weeks, such as swimming and contact sports. In the dead of winter, these activities are probably not on your schedule anyway.
Seasonal Allergies Are Not an Issue
Many Americans are prone to seasonal allergies, which are caused by the presence of pollen in the air. Symptoms include coughing, congestion and red and itchy eyes. If you have seasonal allergies, often referred to as hay fever, then you will exhibit those symptoms depending on the time of year the plant you are allergic to is in bloom. While that time is different for various plants (spring, summer or fall), there is no plant that triggers seasonal allergies during the winter.
By having LASIK in the winter, you will avoid having surgery at a point when your eyes may be already irritated by seasonal allergies. You are not supposed to rub your eyes in the weeks following LASIK surgery, so by taking seasonal allergies out of the equation, that should make it easier to follow that instruction.
Make an Appointment
If you are ready to kick off the new year with improved vision, Optima Eye is here to help. Schedule a personal consultation with Bay Area LASIK and corneal specialist Mark Mandel, MD, by sending an email or calling 877-210-2020 ext. 3 today.