Immediately after laser vision correction surgery, your eyes will feel gritty and watery for about three or four hours. During this time, while you are conscious of your eyes, it’s easy to remember that you have just come out of surgery and you should be taking extra care of them.
You will have been told to go home and rest your eyes during this period, and you will probably have been given anesthetic eye drops to administer should you feel any discomfort.
The eyes recover quickly, however, and it becomes easy to forget that they are still in the healing stage. Once a few hours have passed your vision will be starting to improve, and you will be able to return to work within the week, if not the next day.
Even though it may feel like your eyes are fully recovered, they are still healing, so it’s important you don’t make the following mistakes during this period.
During the first 48 hours after eye surgery, you should avoid touching your face, and also avoid getting water on them so as to prevent infection. You are at greater risk of rubbing the eyes during sleep. be sure to wear protective eyewear when sleeping or napping.
The bright light of outdoors can be painful for a few days after eye surgery so always have a quality pair of sunglasses on hand for a few weeks.
The first week is critical to the healing process so all forms of sport should be avoided (especially swimming). Once the first week has safely passed, you are now good to go and can safely return to all of your normal activities.
It is advisable that over the next four weeks you use goggles for swimming and avoid steam rooms and saunas. More than a few surgeries will recommend that you avoid swimming altogether for the first four weeks.
Learn more about laser vision surgery from our professional ophthalmologists including correction for glaucoma, cataracts, astigmatism, dry eyes, and more. To contact an eye doctor near you to discuss corrective eye surgery visit our website at http://www.michiganlasik.com/ or call us to make an appointment at 877.579.0202.