Have you been considering LASIK to improve your vision? Millions of people have undergone LASIK to enhance their eyesight and reduce their need for visual aids like glasses and contacts.
The procedure is quick, minimally invasive, and often has a fast recovery time. However, you may still have questions about the healing process.
Keep reading to learn more about what LASIK recovery is like, and whether the procedure could be right for you.
What is LASIK?
LASIK is a procedure that can improve your vision if you have farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism. It involves using specialized lasers to reshape your cornea and correct refractive errors.
The cornea is the dome-shaped, clear tissue at the front of your eye that bounces light onto the retina, which sends images to the brain. If the cornea is misshapen or your eye is too long or short, light may not hit the retina at the optimal spot for clear vision.
By reshaping your cornea, LASIK fixes this problem and provides you with clear vision. After LASIK, most patients no longer need glasses or contacts and enjoy visual freedom for decades.
What Happens Before LASIK?
Before undergoing LASIK, you’ll attend a consultation with your eye doctor at Hayden Vision, where they will discuss the details of the treatment and what you can expect. They will also conduct a comprehensive eye exam and ask you questions about your medical history to determine whether you are a good candidate for LASIK.
Signs you may be a good candidate for LASIK include:
- You are 18 or older
- Your vision has been stable for at least one year or more
- You are not pregnant or nursing
- You do not have eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, or severe dry eye
- You do not have autoimmune conditions like lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, or rheumatoid arthritis
- Your corneas are thick enough for the procedure
- You have nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism within the range that LASIK can correct
- You have realistic expectations about the visual outcomes of the procedure
- You want to reduce your dependence on glasses and contacts
If you are not a good candidate for LASIK, your eye doctor may recommend an alternative vision correction procedure like the EVO ICL or PRK.
What Happens During LASIK?
Your LASIK surgeon will begin by administering eye drops that numb your eyes. You may also receive a mild sedative to help you feel calmer.
While you will be awake during LASIK, you won’t feel any pain. Once your eyes have been numbed, your eye doctor will use a suction ring to keep your eye in place and prevent blinking.
Next, they will make a thin flap in your cornea. This allows your LASIK surgeon to access the cornea and change its shape.
After creating the corneal flap, you’ll stare at a light while your eye doctor uses lasers to reshape the cornea. During LASIK, your eye’s position is measured 500 times per second, so if you move, the laser will stop working.
Your LASIK surgeon will then put the corneal flap back in place and prepare you for recovery. Because LASIK is an outpatient procedure, you can go home right after, but will need someone to drive you.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From LASIK?
Most LASIK patients begin to notice visual improvements after just one day, but it can take up to several months for your eyesight to stabilize completely. Right after the procedure, your LASIK surgeon will provide you with an eye shield to wear while you sleep, as well as prescription eye drops that reduce inflammation and prevent infection.
You may notice some mild side effects the first few days after the procedure. These include:
- Mild pain and discomfort
- Dry eyes
- Watery eyes
- Puffy eyes
- Light sensitivity
It’s important not to rub your eyes as you recover. While slight discomfort is expected, if you notice lingering symptoms or severe pain, contact your eye doctor at Hayden Vision.
As your eyes heal, you’ll want to limit certain physical activities. Your eye doctor will go over specific instructions with you, but generally, you should:
- Not exercise for at least three days
- Avoid wearing makeup on or around your eyes for two weeks
- Wait a month or more to play contact sports
- Avoid swimming or using hot tubs for several weeks to months
At your first follow-up appointment with your LASIK surgeon, they will provide specific guidelines on when you can return to things like driving, working, and playing sports. Then, you can start enjoying your new, crystal-clear vision during all of your favorite activities!
Imagine how much more fun it will be to go on hikes, spend time with loved ones, and experience the beauty of the world in vivid high-definition. Even for the more mundane tasks like waking up and going to bed, you won’t have to worry about scrambling for your glasses in the morning or dread performing your contact lens cleaning routine at night.
Do you want to learn more about the LASIK recovery process and find out whether the procedure could be right for you? Schedule an appointment at Hayden Vision in Evansville, IN, today!