Life After LASIK
LASIK surgery itself only lasts about 15 minutes. The recovery process however can range from immediate to six months since a person's vision takes time to stabilize. Overall recovery is short term, but there are stipulations that vary from patient to patient such as sensitivity to bright lights, in which protective wear is instructed to be worn, and the possibility of prescriptions such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. Occasionally moistening eye drops are recommended, but again it will always depend on your unique situation.
Multiple Doctor Visits
Doctor check-ups are normal and necessary to ensure your eyes are healing properly. So don't be fooled into thinking you'll only be visiting the doctor only the one time for surgery. LASIK surgery is irreversible, so multiple check-ups can help stop a problem dead in its tracks, and prevent any problem from getting worse. Plus, having the same doctor look at your eyes repeatedly over the course of weeks and months can help him or her become more acquainted with your individual eyes, which helps to diagnose other conditions such as Dry Eyes early on.
Varying Recovery Times
Recovery times will always vary based on a person's unique condition. Certain LASIK procedures have longer recovery times, while some patients simply have faster healing times. Of course it will depend on which type of LASIK procedure you endure.
Nearsighted patients usually return to a functional vision within 24 hours. However, there are some people who have trouble reading for the first few days, and still have to wait close to a few months for their vision to be restored completely. Farsighted patients almost always see dramatic results within 24 hours. However, some patients report that distant objects appear fuzzy, but only temporarily. Astigmatism patients on the other hand have the longest recovery times. Even though astigmatism patients are candidates for LASIK surgery, surgeons have a harder time correcting their vision verses farsighted and nearsighted patients. However, astigmatism patients can still achieve the same results and eventually have dramatic improvements.
Possible Complications
Even though complications can occur, most patients who have LASIK surgery can return to work and their normal activities within 24-48 hours after the procedure. It's said that there is little to no postoperative discomfort, however most doctors will recommend you go to sleep as soon as possible to reduce the amount of postoperative pain that can be associated with the surgery. Then once you're asleep and you awake, the improvement of your vision will have become noticeable.
Possible Post-Operative Complications:
- Dry Eyes
- Halos
- Pain
- Discomfort
- Sensitivity to light
- Burning sensation
- Epithelial growths
Again, doctor check-ups are necessary and will be scheduled for the weeks and months following the procedure. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms well after the original surgery, your doctor might recommend a follow-up surgery to correct any complications.
LASIK Complication Statistics
More than a million people undergo LASIK surgery each year. The FDA reports that out of those million cases, 1 of 5 patients will experience complications after surgery. Other statistics that postoperative LASIK patients include:
- Glare and sensitivity to light affect 1.7%
- Visual fluctuations occur in 2.6%
- Halos around light sources are experienced by 3.5%
- And almost 3% of patients report vision worse than before the procedure
So again, make sure you are doing your homework before choosing a surgeon and a specific type of LASIK surgery. There are many variations of LASIK surgery that include conventional LASIK, Bladeless LASIK, LASEK, EPI-LASIK and PRK. Many surgeons will recommend a specific type of procedure, so it's up to you to find out what's different about each one, including how the procedure is performed, why it's chosen over another procedure, who are better candidates for certain procedures and recovery and postoperative expectations of each.
Post Surgery Care
Your doctor should give you a list of things not to do, especially within the first 24 hours after surgery. Caring for your eyes in the days, weeks and months following the original surgery can help to prevent any future problems with your eyes. Remember that LASIK surgery is irreversible.
Watching TV, reading, staring at the computer, driving and any other strenuous things for your eyes are not recommended. The goal is to let your eyes relax. Sleeping and lying down with your eyes closed are always encouraged to help your eyes relax as much as possible. You'll also be directed to avoid rubbing your eyes at all costs, and wearing some kind of protective shield for the first week at night. Also avoiding dusty and smoky environments will also help prevent any discomfort, burning or pain. Baths are recommended over showers within the first week to avoid any direct spray towards your eyes.
Of course your doctor will probably have a few more dos and don'ts to add to the list, so keep in mind these are just the basics.
[Page updated 12/2010]
