Getting any type of treatment, whether medicine or surgery, is simple, but recovering from it cannot be easy. There are chances of things going south if you do not take the proper steps that are advised by your doctor/surgeon.
That is why we are here to guide you in case you recently had LASIK eye surgery and are confused as to what to do and what not to do.
Introduction: LASIK Eye Surgery
Due to the modern lifestyle, which includes gadgets and screens everywhere, an average person’s eyes are affected by them a lot more than they used to be in the past. Due to them, 9 out of 10 people have myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism, or a combination of them. To solve such problems, a lot of people decide to undergo eye surgeries like LASIK.
LASIK is a very well-known form of eye surgery. The majority of patients live with the effects of the surgery for the rest of their lives; as a result, you will always have 20/20 vision.
To achieve clear vision, the cornea is reshaped during the Lasik (laser in-situ keratomileusis) procedure. To do this, some of the tissues at the tip of the cornea are also removed. You can select between two different LASIK procedures to correct your corneas: the traditional method, which uses a blade, and the more recent procedure, which uses a laser called the Femto laser in place of a blade.
How Safe Is LASIK?
Although there are a few complications that some patients may encounter during or after the procedure, there are very few risks involved. A successful LASIK procedure only takes a short time, and the results are immediately apparent.
Preoperative procedures, which include a small test to check that there are no complications with your eyes, are not harmful. In order to have a successful operation and avoid complications afterward, your surgeon must be experienced and have the necessary qualifications.
Postoperative precautions are very important to follow for a successful surgery and recovery. These have been discussed in the next section.
What to do to get Recovery from LASIK Eye Surgery?
A lot of times, the patient may suffer from complications that might arise due to poor postoperative care. Your surgeon may provide you with many instructions following the surgery. You must adequately follow them in order to complete your recovery and get the desired results. Below is a list of the majority of them, along with the most important ones:
- You should frequently use the eye drops and artificial tears that your surgeons have prescribed for you. They help in keeping your eyes lubricated.
- Keep driving off-limits for the first 24 hours. Bring someone along with you to drive you home after the surgery.
- After surgery, you should refrain from exercising for a week, especially strenuous exercise.
- Swimming should be avoided for at least three weeks.
- Keep your follow-up doctor’s appointments so they can keep an eye on your recovery.
- After surgery, refrain from using eye makeup or similar products for a month.
- Cut down on time you spend staring at your computer, phone, or TV. It would be better if you could avoid them altogether for the time being.
- When performing tasks requiring intense eye focus, long-term eye strain shouldn’t impair your vision; this might get in the way of your recovery.
- Be extremely cautious when washing your hair to avoid getting any soap or water in your eyes.
- When you are outside in the sun, always wear sunglasses because too much brightness can harm your eyes. In order to protect the eyes, the surgeon also advises wearing glasses with no power.
Conclusion
Following the surgeon’s advice is very important, just like every step in the surgery is. If you want complete recovery, take care of your eyes, take all the prescribed medicine and eye drops, and have regular checkups. In a few months, you will see that your eyes have fully recovered, and now you do not need power glasses.
