LASIK is a common surgical procedure that is performed everyday throughout the United States. The biggest concern that most patients have surrounds recovery. It is important to note that although the surgery last only a few minutes per eye, the long-term recovery process, complete healing, can take upwards of six months. Here are some common side effects and how you can relieve them.
Overall Discomfort and Minor Pain
Most LASIK patients describe a certain level of discomfort during and after laser vision surgery. The most common sensations are light sensitivity, burning, or ripping. Some patients say they barely notice these symptoms while others find them to be quite bothersome. Symptoms can vary a great deal between what LASIK procedures and technique was used. This minor pain and overall discomfort should dissipate in about two to four hours after the surgery.
Redness
Redness is a normal side effect of laser vision surgery and recovery. Some patients experience dark red spots in the whites of their eyes for a couple of days after their surgery. These spots are very similar to bruising and can take weeks to completely disappear.
Dry Eyes
One of the most common symptoms after LASIK is dry eyes. More than fifty percent of patients express their need for eye drops after surgery. Surgeons will recommend you purchase eye drops before the surgery in addition to the prescription eye drops that are prescribed to prevent infection and inflammation.
After the procedure you will be required to meet with your surgeon the next day for a post-operative appointment. During this appointment you will have your vision checked and the ophthalmologist will check to make sure that your corneas are healing. This is the time to address any symptoms you are experiencing with your doctor. You will have several appointments throughout the healing process to verify that they process is occurring properly. The intervals for these appointments will be one month, three months, and six months. At the sixth month visit your eyes should be completely healed and your vision stabilized.
After surgery, to avoid complications, there are a number of activities that should be avoided including from wearing make-up to avoiding strenuous activities. It is also important to avoid getting soap and water in your eye and you should avoid swimming or any activity in which you submerse your head in water. Computer use should also be avoided or used cautiously.
Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to suit your lifestyle and visual needs. As a leader in laser vision correction and cataract surgery, our goal is to help you achieve the best vision possible without glasses or contact lenses. More information can be found online at https://michiganlasik.com.