LASIK eye surgery is a popular vision correction procedure that can help you achieve clearer and higher-quality vision. The immediate recovery period from LASIK surgery generally lasts six to 12 hours, but it varies from patient to patient and depends on several factors. Most patients see clearly within 24 hours after the procedure, but others take two to five days to recover. It's important to understand the recovery process and what you can expect during the recovery period. Ideally, you should keep your eyes closed for 2 to 4 hours as part of the immediate LASIK recovery process.
You may experience mild tenderness for a few hours, but discomfort should be minimal. After 2 to 4 hours, remove the plastic protectors and, as directed by the surgeon, start using the prescribed eye drops to heal and keep your eyes comfortable and lubricated. It can take up to six months for vision to stabilize after LASIK surgery. Most of the time, side effects are temporary, but in rare cases they can be permanent. There is also a risk of rarer complications, such as worse vision than before LASIK and an eye infection.
It's important to tell your doctor right away if you experience severe pain or worsening symptoms. Although you should see well the day after the procedure, it's possible and normal for your vision to be a little blurry or hazy for a week or two. The higher your original prescription, the longer it will take for your vision to clear during your recovery time from LASIK surgery. While you can wear eyeglasses, your healthcare provider will recommend that you wait two to three months before wearing contact lenses to have enough time for your eyes to heal. Over the next six months, you may experience some fluctuations and alterations in your vision, most commonly dry eyes and symptoms of night vision, such as seeing flashes or halos around lights. Use your plastic protectors when you sleep and, if your eyes are sensitive to light, wear sunglasses.
On the day of LASIK surgery, patients should not wear eye makeup and continue without eye makeup for one week thereafter. Avoid rubbing, clenching, or touching your eyes after LASIK surgery, as the surface of the eyes is still sensitive. Your eyes will continue to change as you age, to the point that, several years after surgery, you may need to wear glasses or contact lenses again. During recovery from LASIK eye surgery, you will continue to take prescription eye drops for several days to prevent inflammation and infection, and you will add preservative-free lubricating drops to your regimen. Wearing eye makeup or applying lotions around the eyes increases the chance that these materials will come into contact with the eye. Most people don't feel much pain after LASIK surgery, but it's completely normal to feel a burning or itchy sensation in the eyes for the first few hours after surgery. When preparing for laser eye surgery such as LASIK, it's normal to have questions, especially about LASIK recovery and LASIK recovery time.
Nearly everyone experiences some level of burning, tearing, and sensitivity to light during the first 4 hours of recovery from LASIK eye surgery. When you learn what you may experience during the recovery period from LASIK eye surgery, bring your new knowledge to your laser vision correction surgeon's office so that you can better discuss everything related to laser correction during your initial consultation.
