Recovering from surgery can be a daunting task that may turn you off of a surgical procedure. But LASIK is a procedure that is well worth the effort required.
And even better: recovery is actually not all that difficult. You will need to be more careful about getting things in your eyes and try not to exert yourself.
Over the course of your recovery period, you will be able to slowly resume your normal life and your routine.
Your surgeon will provide you with instructions on what you need to do during your recovery. This is information you’ll receive during your LASIK consultation at Frantz EyeCare.
Here are some more detailed tips on how to ensure a speedy recovery from LASIK!
1. Avoid Water in Your Eyes
After LASIK, your eyes will be particularly in danger of becoming infected. Even clean tap water can carry germs and microbes that cause infection.
Chlorinated pools or hot tubs are no better, as the chemicals can be irritating to irritated eyes. As such, you should not plan on swimming for several weeks after your surgery.
Avoid all bodies of water like lakes, pools, the ocean, and even hot tubs. You should also be careful to not get water or shampoo in your eyes while showering.
Keep your eyes closed as much as possible until your eyes have healed more.
2. Do Not Bend or Lift Heavy Things
During the early stages of your recovery, your eyes will be extraordinarily delicate. An important part of the procedure involves creating a flap in the cornea.
This is essential to reshaping the cornea and removing corneal tissue. These flaps need enough time to heal, as they are more likely to become detached.
A detached flap can lead to serious complications. You should be careful not to damage your eyes by playing sports or doing other risky activities.
At the beginning of recovery, say no to strain or any kind of lifting or bending at the waist. Even this mild strain can be enough to create pressure on the delicate flaps. Do yourself a favor and take it easy for the first week after you have LASIK.
3. Do Not Rub Your Eyes
There’s never a good time to rub your eyes, but after getting LASIK is the very worst time to do it. Your eyes may be itchy and irritated after the procedure.
You may be extremely tempted to rub your eyes but it’s a sure way to cause flap complications. It will also not provide lasting relief.
Instead, use eye drops proactively to prevent itching from occurring. You should be applying drops regularly to keep your eyes hydrated during recovery.
You should do this even when your eyes are not itchy. Applying eye drops and artificial tears can make a difference in reducing dry eyes.
4. Attend Your Follow Up Appointments
Within 48 hours after the surgery, you will need to check-in with your doctor. This is so they can see how your initial recovery is going.
You’ll also need to come back several times over the next few months as you continue recovering. These are helpful for both you and your doctor.
If there are any problems or complications, they will be able to catch them before they get out of hand. If your eyes are bothering you, let your doctor know sooner rather than later.
Ready to start your journey to clear vision? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Frantz EyeCare in Fort Myers, FL! Why wait any longer when summer is right around the corner?
