Do you know a lot of people who have been getting LASIK eye surgery? Have you been thinking more about the procedure?
LASIK is one of the most popular types of eye surgery, but why do patients love it? Since becoming FDA approved, LASIK has only gained popularity and evolved.
There are other vision correction procedures but LASIK is the most popular by far. Seriously considering LASIK? Keep reading to learn how long it takes to recover after having LASIK!
Almost Immediate Results
LASIK is impressive because the incisions heal quickly. The procedure lasts about 15 minutes to an hour. After LASIK, you may experience immediate improvements to your vision.
LASIK will not be painful and your vision will continue to improve over the next few days. This short recovery time is one of the reasons the procedure is so popular.
Most patients can go back to work and their normal activities within two days. It takes about 3-6 months for your eyes to finish healing.
First 24 Hours After LASIK
In the first few hours after having LASIK, you will not feel anything because your eyes will be numb from eye drops. The eye drops wear off within a few hours.
While they wear off, your eyes could be sensitive and uncomfortable. Taking ibuprofen and resting once you get home will help you feel better.
When you wake up, you can experience additional improvements to your vision. Skip reading or looking at screens to prevent eye strain.
First Month After LASIK
The day after you have LASIK, you need to attend your first follow-up appointment. At this appointment, your doctor will check to see if your eyes are healing properly.
Post-LASIK, you need to use eye drops hourly. Make sure to follow the instructions your doctor gives you. They help reduce inflammation and the chance of infection.
After LASIK, your eyes will feel dry, so you should use artificial eye drops to help your eyes stay moist. If you think your eyes are fine, you should still use the drops. They help your eyes feel better faster.
During the first week (and during your entire recovery), you need to avoid touching your eyes. They are still healing and will be easily irritated.
It is important to keep soap and face wash out of your eyes too. You need to only use clean water near your eyes. Stay away from any bodies of water for swimming in like rivers, swimming pools, or hot tubs.
You should not go swimming for at least a month after you have LASIK. You should also keep perfumes, cream, and makeup away from your eyes.
They can get particles in your eyes, so skipping them helps prevent infections. Within a week or two after LASIK, you can start exercising but keep it light. You can only use machines and you need to keep sweat out of your eyes.
Two weeks post-LASIK, you do not need eye drops, but artificial tears are still helpful. After one month, you can start participating in contact sports without eye protection. Before then, you need to wear goggles to protect your eyes.
Please contact your doctor if you have any pain during the recovery process. This could mean you are experiencing a complication and need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Are you ready for LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Metro Eye Care in Paramus, NJ now to find out if LASIK could be right for you!
