LASIK Recovery Timeline

The First Week

At least one checkup session will be scheduled within the first few days of your LASIK eye surgery recovery. You must get your doctor’s clearance prior to resuming driving after surgery, as well as follow any other doctor’s recommendations to ensure proper recovery. Continue to avoid activities that might jeopardize the healing of your corneal flaps.

What to anticipate during the first week after surgery?

Day 1 or Day 2 Following Your Procedure: You’ll visit your physician for a post-operative checkup. Your doctor will do an eye exam to see how well your eyes are recovering. Additionally, they may inquire about your eyesight and how your eyes feel. Your doctor will almost certainly clear you to drive at this visit, but do not drive until your doctor thinks it is safe. It may take a bit longer to see well at night and to drive at night after your lasik eye surgery. You may shower at this stage in your LASIK recovery, but avoid contacting your eyes with soap, shampoo, or any other material. In most circumstances, you may resume work and other normal activities the next day.

Up to Day 5 Following Your Procedure: For the first 4-5 days following surgery, or as instructed by your doctor, use your eye shields whenever you sleep. This guarantees that you do not touch your eyes in your sleep or get anything in them that might irritate your recovering corneas during your LASIK surgery recovery period.

Up to 1 Week After Your Procedure: During the week following your operation, you’ll take prescription eye drops to help prevent infection and irritation. Utilize them on a consistent basis as prescribed to guarantee optimal recovery. Continue to rest your eyes if they get weary, strained, itchy, or burn. It is crucial to prevent damaging your corneal flap throughout the healing process after LASIK. This involves being cautious of anything that comes into contact with or enters your eyes. As such, you should avoid the following within the first week after surgery:

  • Using eye makeup or eye lotion in the area around the eyes
  • Contact with dust, dirt, sand, or smoke o Yard or garden labor o Public gyms
LASIK Recovery Timeline

The First Month of LASIK Recovery

After the first week of your LASIK surgical recuperation, you will begin weaning yourself off of your prescription eye drops. Additionally, you will be permitted to discontinue using your eye shields at night. You may resume exercise, but caution should be used in protecting your eyes. Additionally, you will need to abstain from certain activities for the first month after surgery, just to be cautious. 

What to anticipate during the first month after surgery?

You may now exercise, even in a gym, up to two weeks after your procedure. Wear sports goggles and exercise extra caution if you choose to engage in any contact sport or activity that may result in flying objects or objects striking your eye. After two weeks, you should be allowed to resume applying eye makeup and eye lotions or creams. You must still exercise extreme caution to prevent touching your eyes in order for your corneas to recover properly. If your eyes get dry or scratchy, use the eye drops prescribed by your doctor to help keep them moist. Consider using sunglasses or other eye protection if you’re having difficulty remembering not to touch your eyes.

Up to 1 Month Following Your Procedure: You may now swim in a pool, hot tub, lake, river, or ocean, while goggles are suggested to protect your eyes and remind you not to rub them. In other instances, your physician may request that you wait until the two-month mark. Always adhere to your physician’s directions. Prior to one month, use extreme caution when: 

  •  Carrying tiny children or pets
  • Yard labor or gardening 
  • Participating in contact sports or other activities that expose your eyes to physical contact

Additionally, it is critical to keep all eye care visits indicated by your surgeon and to carefully follow all doctor’s recommendations. Even though your eyesight seems to be normal and you have no side effects, your corneas are still repairing. Your surgeon’s recommendations will aid in the proper healing of your eyes, resulting in the greatest eyesight outcomes possible. Click here to get about lasik for athletes.

LASIK Recovery Timeline

The First Year of LASIK Recovery

Your eyes are still mending following your treatment up to the one-year mark, so exercise care and maintain contact with your physician. What to anticipate during the last six months after your LASIK recuperation.

For up to six months after your procedure: Because your eyes have not completely recovered, you should exercise care in some circumstances. Driving at night may be challenging owing to halos or glare, and your eyes may remain dry or sensitive to light. During this time period, you may also notice some persistent variations in your eyesight. To be safe, keep your doctor informed of any visual changes or concerns you may have.

Up to One Year Following Your Procedure: You may continue to have issues with light sensitivity or dry eyes. Protect your eyes outside by wearing shades and keeping lubricating eye drops on hand. Attend all of your surgeon’s suggested visits to allow them to monitor your healing process.

Your recuperation period after LASIK eye surgery may vary based on your initial prescription and the specifics of your vision correction plan. Patients who are nearsighted, for example, or who have had more extensive repairs may require a bit longer to recuperate than others.

After LASIK, Take Care of Your Eyes to Ensure the Best Results

While it may seem that you are being too cautious while caring for your eyes after LASIK surgery, being cautious assists your eyes to recover correctly and completely as fast as possible. This helps guarantee that you obtain the finest possible vision correction outcomes with the fewest possible adverse effects. Pay careful attention to your eye surgeon’s guidance and follow all of their recommendations properly to ensure a smooth recovery.

Bear in mind that since each eye is unique, each patient’s LASIK recovery timeframe will be somewhat different. Additionally, each patient will have somewhat distinct feelings while their eyes recover. One patient may have dry eyes, whereas another may not. Certain individuals are very sensitive to light, while others are completely unaware. Regardless of your particular healing experience, it is important to look after your eyes and be prepared to handle any new sensations to ensure a speedy recovery.

Finally, keep in mind that after your surgery is complete, enough healing time is critical to achieving the desired outcomes. Take care of your eyes in the critical days and weeks after surgery and avoid everything you are ordered to avoid. With a little additional care, you may assist in ensuring that your recuperation continues according to plan.