Patients who choose LASIK often marvel at the brevity of the procedure. The surgical laser is in contact with the cornea for 40 seconds or less, and the entire procedure is over in about a half hour. The recovery period is also brief, and typically free of complications. Below, the experienced vision care professionals of Austin Eye review the stages of post-LASIK healing.
Phases of Recovery
Your eyes begin healing immediately after your LASIK procedure, and you should begin seeing clearly within eight hours. Over the next few months, your vision will adjust to the new cornea shape until you achieve maximum clarity.
During the recovery period, some patients report slight fluctuations in vision, sensitivity to light, halos around lights, occasional blurring and difficulty with night driving. In addition, it is not uncommon to experience dry eyes for weeks or months. You may briefly experience a slight itching or burning sensation.
Give your eyes room to heal efficiently by avoiding makeup, swimming, vigorous physical activity, contact sports and, especially, rubbing the eyes. Your Austin Eye ophthalmologist will also advise you when it is safe for you to resume night driving.
Make sure to keep your follow-up appointments, as doing so allows your ophthalmologist to measure the changes in your vision and check for any complications. If you do feel pain as your eyes heal, this is actually an indicator that you need to return to the office so that your surgeon can check for infection or other side effects that require prompt attention.
The healing process is unique to each patient. Some attain their new, sharper vision quickly, while others experience some fluctuation in vision over a longer period. Only when your eyes have completely healed can your Austin Eye vision care professional fully evaluate your eye health and quantify the amount of improvement you have gained from the procedure.
If you would like to learn more about LASIK, we invite you to schedule a personal consultation with one of the board-certified ophthalmologists at Austin Eye. Contact us at (512) 250-2020.
