One of the things that many people fail to realize that after lasik surgery is that they are not going to walk out of the surgeon's office and magically have crystal clear vision. In addition to some potential problems, there are known effects that patients are going to suffer and full visual recovery can take up to six months. It is also during this six month period that the doctor may see a need for additional procedures to better enhance the patient's vision.
Some of the most common reports from patients after lasik surgery include mild pain or discomfort, watery eyes and they may feel an itchy sensation in the eyes. However, even if it feels like there is a foreign object in their eye, they must refrain from rubbing their eyes for fear the action can move the flap in the cornea that was removed for the surgery. These feelings can last about three days after lasik surgery but usually diminish quickly.
For about the first week after lasik surgery most patients report being sensitive to light and experience blurred vision. Due to the operation they may also experience dry eyes for up to four weeks along with experiencing glare that can make driving at night difficult. Most also report having their vision fluctuate for up to six weeks, until the cornea is back to its relatively normal shape and size.
While every patient is going to react differently, insuring they continue on a regimen of antibiotics as prescribed by the surgeon can help prevent infection from setting in after lasik surgery. Contact sports should be avoided after surgery for a minimum of four weeks and it is necessary to protect the eyes from being bumped or jarred, which could knock the corneal flap loose.
Glare, trouble seeing to drive at night and glare are going to be a part of the period during which the patient's vision stabilizes. The lasik eye surgeon will continue to follow up with the patient during this period and if any need for additional vision enhancement is needed, it cannot be done until the doctor has realized the same eye measurements for two consecutive measurements taken at least three months apart.
Distance vision, for nearsighted patients may improve over time, but there is also the possibility that halos and glare will continue and is unlikely to improve over time. At any time after lasik surgery if any of the symptoms seem to get worse or the patient feels any pain or additional discomfort, they should contact the doctor immediately. Any of the individual symptoms could be a signal that something is wrong and will need to be checked to insure proper recovery.
Patients usually make their first follow up visit to the doctor two or three days after lasik surgery, and at intermittent intervals for the first six months. The doctor will remove the eye patch, examine the eye and prescribe the right antibiotic eye drops as deemed necessary. In order to properly heal, the patient needs to follow all instructions by the doctor until they feel the healing process is complete. If you’re interested in getting more information on lasik, contact your Colorado lasik surgeon for more information or visit the nearest surgeon to you.
