During the time, following lasik eye surgery how the patient takes care of their eye will help determine the success of the operation. Prescreening can help eliminate patients that may not be able to heal properly, but the physician care and the patient's willingness to take the time to appropriately care for the eyes will make a huge difference in how fast they heal. In most instances, within two to four months, a patient will be completely healed, but they can inadvertently damage their eye if they are not cautious.
The first three days after laser surgery (both in the US or with Canada lasik eye surgery) will usually be accompanied by some minor pain or discomfort and the doctor will usually provide pain medication to help them through the first couple of days. Obviously, if the pain becomes intense or unbearable, they should contact the surgeon for immediate follow up. Typically, after three days the patient will need to visit the surgeon for removal of the initial protective bandage and an assessment on how the healing process is beginning.
During the surgery a flap is cut into the outer cover of the cornea, which is then replaced after the surgery, held in place only by its own moisture. Once the bandage is removed it is extremely important that the cornea be kept moist and with some patients experiencing dry eyes after surgery, the use of antibiotic eye drops will serve two purposes. They will help the eye retain its moisture will helping to fight off any potential for infection.
After the first few days the pain should subside and vision may begin to clear up, allowing the patient to see some shapes. They may however, also be affected by halos or shadows in the affected eye. Halos are light that appears as an illumination around an object and shadows are due to the lack of the cornea and lens to be working together to allow light into the eye and focus on the object. Starbursts and glare can also be expected during the first two or three weeks after laser surgery.
In most cases a patient should be able to return to work in about a week, usually not more than two, provided their jobs do not offer the chance of intense physical labor or other activities that may knock the replaced corneal flap out of position. The patient will also not be allowed to rub their eye, even though it will probably be immensely itchy following the surgery. Dry eyes are another anticipated problem after laser surgery, but it should also disappear after the first three or maybe four weeks.
In addition to written instructions issued by the facility in which the after laser surgery works, they will also offer instructions specific to the individual patient. Each person's healing capacity is going to be different and the attending physician will determine if there are any special needs for which the patient needs to comply. Most problems following lasik eye surgery are the result of patients that fail to use appropriate precautions after laser surgery.
