What to Expect After LASIK Surgery

LASIK surgery is used to repair and correct refractive defects of the eye. This treatment reshapes the eye cornea so that it may produce a clearer vision. LASIK eye surgery treats farsightedness, astigmatism and myopia (nearsightedness). This reduces the need for patients to use glasses or contact lenses. This article will tell you on what to expect after LASIK surgery.

Once LASIK eye surgery has been performed there are a number of symptoms that one can expect to endure. Usually there is a short period a patient is allowed to relax before they go home after the procedure. The physician may at times give medication for pain and also antibiotics to prevent infection, the eyes of the patient may experience a burning or itchy sensation immediately after the surgery, this is normal unless it becomes severe.

This discomfort will barely last beyond the day of the surgery and it is part of the standard healing process. When a patient gets home, it is advisable that they rest.

While resting a patient should close his/her eyes. The purpose of keeping the eyes closed is so that the discomfort that the patient feels is minimized and enhances a speedy eye recovery. One has however to be careful not to squeeze the eye lids shut, this might dislodge the flap. The protective shields given by the doctor after the procedure should be kept on until the next visit to the doctor for the postoperative checkup.

Another commonly experienced symptom is light sensitivity. One may also experience a runny nose and eye redness. This will only last a few days after the surgery, further more it is usual and very mild.

Also some patients may feel that their eyelids are bruised or tender for the first few weeks following the surgery. This may be as a result of the pressure of the suction ring or lid holder which is used for the treatment. This feeling will reduce with the progression of time.

It is also common for the blood vessels in your eye to leak slightly into the white part of the eye. The reason for the leaking of blood vessels is the suction ring used to create the cornea flap. This might cause some red spots on the whites of the eye, though alarming they are completely harmless and will clear in a matter of weeks.

Another symptom is that one’s eyesight focus might fluctuate occasionally, especially in the first week after the surgery. One's visual recovery should stabilize by the second week; this is despite the different recovery times for each patient. Nearsighted patients before the surgery tend to have their vision stabilize quicker than other patients.

Your distance vision is expected to clear before your close range vision. This is common, if you are over 40 however your age is what determines when and if at all your reading vision will return. Patients who are over 45 years will usually need reading glasses this is even if monovision correction had been chosen.

During the first 2 to 6 months, most patients will experience dryness of the eyes after LASIK surgery, this is best treated using artificial tears (drops provided by your doctor) as frequently as possible. During the creation of the cornea flap, nerves of the cornea are served and this reduces normal cornea sensitivity. This sensitivity is what makes us blink when the eyes are slightly dry or when foreign objects get into the eye.

When this sensitivity is lost you will not realize that you need to blink as often even if your eyes do not feel dry. The use of artificial tears should then be frequent. Within a month or two, the nerves will start to grow where they had been previously cut and your normal eye sensitivity will start to return to normal.

Some patients will also experience night glare. Night glare is caused by the normal swelling of the cornea after surgery, this is often experienced during the first few weeks. After one month night glare will bother very few patients and bothers even fewer by six months following the surgery.

In some instances the flap gets displaced, this is however very rare and does not happen frequently. This is a serious problem, it generally occurs within the first 24 hours following surgery. When flap gets displaced, it causes pain, eye redness and blurred vision. It is important to have your doctor evaluate you if you feel that your eyes are not healing as they should.

After surgery there are some activities that you can do immediately and those that will have to take some time. You can read, watch TV or use the computer, this should be done in moderation though, this is because such. Activities like reading and watching TV need concentration and this reduces your blinking and causes dryness of the eyes and this leads to unstable vision.

You can shower but try to keep water and soap of your eyes as much as possible. If crusting forms on your eye lashes due to artificial tear use, you can clean it up using a wet towel with warm water. Do not use a hot tub a whirlpool or a spa, neither should you go swimming for the first ten days after the surgery, this is to prevent infections.

Do not use makeup, aftershave or cologne for the first five days, also no use of mascara for two weeks. When removing makeup, use a lot of care and do not rub your eyes aggressively. When applying makeup you may need to use a magnifying mirror, this will help you a great deal. You can wear sunglasses for your comfort, this is because you will be light sensitive for the first few weeks following the surgery. Avoid dusty dirty or smoky areas for at least a week. Do not rub your eyes if you get something in your eye or if irritated by the smoke.

You should remember to wear protective glasses if you intend to partake in any activity that may put your eyes in danger of being hit or poked or have something splash in it. You can obtain such glasses at your local hardware store. Do not use contact lenses after surgery unless your doctor has approved of its use. Remember to use artificial tears often even when you feel you do not need them.

You can wear sunglasses for your comfort, this is because you will be light sensitive for the first few weeks following the surgery. Avoid dusty dirty or smoky areas for at least a week. Do not rub your eyes if you get something in your eye or if irritated by the smoke.

Do not use contact lenses after surgery unless your doctor has approved of its use.

• Pain and Itching After LASIK - A common complaint of eye surgery patients which is compounded by the fact that you cannot rub your eyes for several weeks.
• Excessive Tearing - Due to inflammation and irritation some patients experience excessive tears.
• Sensitivity to Light - Temporary condition typically seen weeks after surgery.
• Blurry Vision and Halos - Many LASIK patients experience halos, especially in low light situations.
• Difficulty With Night Driving - In low light, halos are common and may be exacerbated by the dilated pupil.