How Long Does It Take To Recover From LASIK?
Here at the LaserCare Eye Surgery, we understand that every patient who comes to us for LASIK eye surgery in Dallas will heal and recover from their procedure on their own time. The one thing we see is that most LASIK patients experience significant improvements in their vision just days or weeks after the surgery and that our highly skilled surgeons offer the very best rates of effective LASIK in the Dallas area.
In the first few hours after the surgery, patients are advised to take a nap to keep their eyes closed for a few hours at least. Our medical team will provide you with an antibiotic and a steroid eye drop to prevent infection from occurring. Please note that you will need to arrange transportation for the day of your LASIK surgery, as you will not be allowed to drive. Your doctor will send you home with strict instructions to rest for the first few hours following surgery to let your body fully recover.
You will usually be seen in a follow-up appointment the day after the surgery where our surgeon will assess the eye, and give you comprehensive, straightforward and easy to understand instructions on how best to heal, so you leave our office feeling confident about your recovery.
What Should You Expect During The Healing Process?
There are common minor issues that patients can experience within the weeks following the LASIK surgery. It is also normal to feel some minor eye pain, along with some irritation and weeping.
Some patients are advised to wear protective glasses, a patch or a shield over the eye for the first few days, and especially while you are sleeping to help stop you from rubbing your eye and eyelid as it recovers. Your eyes could also be sensitive to light and your vision may be blurry for the first few days.
Many patients also tell us that their eyes can feel a little dry in the first few weeks after surgery. This is also normal and will settle in time. Initially, however, it may cause your vision to fluctuate slightly, but this is not a reason to be alarmed.
Depending on the type of LASIK performed, you may experience a sub-conjunctival hemorrhage. This is usually caused by the suction device that is placed on your eye during the first part of the procedure. The hemorrhage may last for a couple of weeks but will fade every day. We use one of the gentlest lasers in the DFW metroplex with suction less than what our competitors’ lasers use.
The complete healing time after LASIK is normally about six months. You will be asked to attend several follow-up visits during this time, all of which are critical to your full recovery and the long term health of your eyesight.
For most of our patients, while they can experience some fluctuations in vision in the short term, they usually find they start to fully appreciate there newly found 20/20 vision around 4-6 weeks after surgery.
If you want shorter recovery time, ask us about SMILE Eye Surgery, we are the only clinic in Dallas offering this technology.
What If My Vision Starts To Change After The Recovery Period
Although it is rare, some of our patients will return to us several months after the initial surgery, in search of a LASIK enhancement procedure. We will always assess the situation before deciding whether an enhancement procedure is needed or if it is worth going through the procedure again.
The way in which we age can also have a direct bearing on the success of LASIK surgery. Presbyopia is a condition that usually occurs after the age of 40, and one that causes the patient to lose the ability to focus on near objects. Developing presbyopia is not a condition that is considered an under-correction or over-correction but it is a natural and normal process our eyes go through as we age. This will occur regardless of having LASIK.
What You Should Know
After having LASIK surgery, it is very important to protect your eyes from injuries. Even after your eyes have fully recovered, you need to take certain precautions to keep your vision safe. Your eyes will be more prone to injuries after undergoing LASIK. It is highly recommended that you wear safety goggles to protect your eyes when you are engaging in risky activities such as working with power tools or playing sports.
Call us today for LASIK in Dallas Fort Worth at 214.328.0444 and see why many of our patients think we are the best LASIK and cataract surgeons in Dallas by reading their patient reviews.
