How long does it take and what does the recovery from laser vision correction include?
None of the methods of laser vision correction is not associated with painful sensations AFTER surgery.
Depending on the method, the patient may experience more or less, but short-lived discomfort. In the case of so-called deep methods, it can occur up to 3-4 hours after the procedure, and there may also be tearing due to the fact that the epithelium has been incised.
In the PRK/LASEK/TransPRK method, discomfort can last up to 3-4 days. If one of the LBV (Laser Blended Vision) methods was used, it all depends on how quickly the brain adapts to the new way of seeing (how fast neuroadaptation takes place).
Most patients become accustomed to their new vision within a few weeks, and 100 percent adaptation takes 4 to 6 months.
A return to daily activities is possible as early as 24 hours after surgery, but during recovery we may not be able to focus on work. It is then sufficient to take a few days off.
Recovery from laser vision correction requires:
- refrain from driving on the day of surgery and for the next few days (FemtoLASIK is an exception – you can drive immediately after the procedure): the eye is hypersensitive to light, it may tear, it may burn, we may have problems with accommodation and fluctuations in focus
- limit computer work and any activity euphemistically referred to as “looking at the screen” for a few days: this can lead to excessive drying of the mucosa
- Forgoing or limiting the use of lotions and face creams, as well as colored cosmetics in the eye area for about 2 weeks to prevent the entry of chemicals
- avoiding being in the open sun and tanning beds for about 2 months – the sun and tanning beds excessively dry out the cornea;
- wearing sunglasses
- paying special attention to the eyes when bathing or showering, so that neither water nor cosmetics get into them
- being careful of any sudden movements of the hand around the eye – do not rub it, do not press the eyelids together
- avoiding heavy physical exertion
- restrictions on smoking and staying in smoky areas
It should be reckoned with:
- Mild discomfort, burning and photophobia – up to 3 days after treatment
- Hypersensitivity to light, hazy and blurred vision – up to a week after the procedure
- Glares, difficulty driving at night – up to 4 weeks after treatment:
- Dry eye, occasional fluctuations in visual acuity – up to 6 months after surgery
Although you will receive very specific guidelines from your doctor on post-operative management, remember that any symptom that causes you concern should prompt you to make additional contact with your medical professional.
When it comes to such a delicate matter as our eyes, we should be especially careful, and it is better to visit the doctor once too much than once too little.
Of course, recovery from laser vision correction is a very individual matter and goes at its own pace in each case. However, in order for it to proceed without complications, it is necessary to avoid contact with people suffering from infections such as catarrh, flu or infectious diseases.
