How Long Does It Take To Recover From Laser Eye Surgery?
11 July 2019
Laser eye surgery recovery will vary from patient to patient and will depend on the patient’s age, the issue the patient had with their vision, as well as the intensity of the laser upon the eye and many other factors.
Generally, if you have undergone LASIK eye surgery, you will begin to see improvements to your vision within a day or two after treatment. LASEK eye surgery may take a while longer due to the nature of the procedure, however to see full recovery from laser eye surgery, it’s best to remember that this may take up to 6 months.
Luckily, both treatments are minimally invasive, meaning even if you opt for LASEK, you are able to be back work within a week post-surgery. Despite this though, there are certainly important things you need to remember for the recovery process.
Post–Surgery Recovery: Dealing with Discomfort
It’s important to arrange transportation from the clinic as you will not be allowed to drive yourself. You will be sent away with instructions from the surgeon regarding medications to prevent inflammation and infection, as well as emphasis on rest for the days following treatment.
You will experience discomfort a couple of hours after the procedure – this is normal. Remember that although it is minimally invasive, it is still a surgery and there will be a degree of irritation; this may include weeping or a grain like feeling within the eye, however this will subside after a course of medication and rest.
We recommend that you wear an eye patch for the first few days post-treatment, particularly while sleeping. This is to avoid any potential eye rubbing that you may do during slumber.
You will also be quite sensitive to light, so remember your sunglasses!
For LASIK, you will be required to go back to the clinic for your first aftercare appointment. This will differ if you have had LASEK treatment, where you will have a bandage contact lens placed upon the eye and your first aftercare appointment will be 4-5 days following your surgery.
It is not recommended that you wear the contact lenses you had prior to treatment even if your vision is blurry as this will not aid your eyes healing.
What to Expect in the Long Term
It can take up to 6 months to be fully recovered from your laser eye surgery treatment. In that time, you will have attended a number of aftercare appointments. You may experience some blurriness at some stages, but please know that this is normal – it will take some time for your eyes to settle after surgery, so it’s important that you go to your aftercare appointments, not only for peace of mind but to ensure your Lifetime Guarantee maintains validity.
These checks are vital to ensure your recovery is going as expected; particularly after the surgery, your vision should not be neglected!
You will of course need to return to work within this time. If you work in an office, it is advised that you ensure that your eyes are well lubricated with drops, drink plenty of water and take the required breaks to keep dry eyes at bay.
If you work on a construction site, for example, it is advised that you wear safety goggles to avoid the risk of dust and debris entering your eyes.
If it is a particularly sunny day, or you work within a sunny environment, it is advised that you wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection for the first few weeks of recovery and thereafter.
To avoid complications, it is recommended that you avoid any high impact tasks, however should this be something that you have planned, speak to your optometrist who will advise you on the best course of action for this.
Laser eye surgery recovery can vary from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the particular treatment that you will have had, however over the course of a couple of months, you will see the full potential of your treatment.
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