Recovering from LASIK Eye Surgery: What to Expect

Do you rely on glasses or contacts to see clearly? If you’re suffering from refractive vision problems like nearsightedness or farsightedness, LASIK eye surgery can help to permanently correct your vision! After healing from the procedure, you can see clearly without your glasses.

Our team of experts based in New Jersey, usually guide each patient through the entire process. They help to determine what’s right for you while offering the support you require during recovery.

How Does LASIK Work?

Refractive errors result from the cornea being misshapen. Your eyeball may be longer than normal, creating a sharp curvature, or shorter than normal with a flattened cornea. These deformities would cause nearsightedness and farsightedness, respectively.

For your LASIK surgery, a small corneal flap will first be made in the outer layer of the eyeball. Next, the cornea will be reshaped with a specialized laser and then the flap is put back in place without any stitches. The majority of patients don’t experience any discomfort when undergoing the procedure because we use numbing eye drops. The procedure is also quick and the application of the laser takes just a couple of minutes.

Recovery After LASIK

A few hours after the procedure, your eyes will feel uncomfortable, but you can take over-the-counter medication to ease the pain. Even though your eyes may be watery, itchy, or blurry during the initial healing stage, don’t rub your eyes. This could disturb the surgical incision and damage the corneal tissue.

You should avoid direct sunlight for the first few days after the LASIK surgery because your eyes will be more sensitive to light. Your eyes may also appear reddened a few days after the surgery. You can wear sunglasses and apply medicated eye drops to ensure your eyes are comfortable and lubricated. The eye drops also help in preventing an infection.

The surgeon usually checks up on each patient within 48 hours after the surgery. During this check-up, they will examine the healing eyes, remove the eye shielding, and check the progression of your healing. Each patient must also take part in regular check-ins for six months after the surgery. Patients with worsening vision or severe pain should inform the Eyecare Physicians team immediately.

How Long Recovery Takes

After the surgery, your eyes need ample time to heal.

  • Avoid contact sports for at least three days after the LASIK surgery. If you take part in activities such as martial arts or boxing, you should wait at least four weeks.
  • Avoid using lotions or eye cosmetics for at least two weeks.
  • Avoid hot tubs or swimming for at least two months after the procedure.

Within three to six months, your vision will stabilize after the LASIK surgery.

Schedule a Consultation

Many patients have benefitted from the LASIK surgery offered by The Eyecare Physicians & Surgeons of New Jersey. If interested, you can schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified ophthalmologists by contacting one of our six office locations.

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