Honestly, LASIK doesn’t take long to heal impaired vision. However, you need to be sure how long you need to wait or what to blame if the healing process takes longer than necessary.
If you are have just undergone LASIK eye surgery, you need to know what to expect after you leave the surgery center. Having a complete understanding of how long it takes to have the perfect vision you have ever wanted will help you play safe in the recovery period. Some patients, who know this fact, end up applying too many medications to hasten the recovery process, which results in more harm.
So, what does the healing process look like? That’s what you are about to unfold in this article. In this write-up, you will learn the different stages of the LASIK recovery process and what you are expected to do in each step to aid quick recovery.
The LASIK recovery process involves three stages. Though many patients have their timetable for recovery, it is more reasonable to expect more changes to occur in the first 10-14 days. Complete healing takes more time to appear. You may have to wait for months before you get the perfect sight you have been expecting.
Meanwhile, you need to adhere strictly to your surgeon’s instructions and explanations after the LASIK procedure. That is the best way to ensure a safer, quicker healing process without complications.
Now, let me walk you through the three stages of the LASIK recovery process.
The first stage of the LASIK recovery process
The first stage of the LASIK recovery process happens in the first 24 hours. Within the first hour after the procedure, the anesthesia would wear off, which might make you experience discomfort in your eyes and your entire body for more couple of hours. During this time, your eyes may become red or water which can affect your vision.
While you experience this discomfort, it is possible that you feel itches in your eyes. Mind you; you need to be very careful not to rub your eyes while it itches to avoid damaging the flap that the surgeon cut to access the inner layers of your eyes. Usually, your surgeon would provide you with protective eye shields to prevent your eyes from being damaged at this period.
The initial recovery process is related to your eye resealing the tiny flap. Although the flap starts to heal immediately after the procedure, it will reseal fully after a week.
Within the first 24 hours, you will experience notable improvement in your vision. However, that is not the end of the recovery process. Your vision will still have to get better after some time. The higher the starting medication, the longer it takes to clear your sight. Although, it shouldn’t take you more than 10-14 days at most for better improvement.
How quickly your eyes will heal largely depends on the overall shape of your cornea, and that is what LASIK targets. LASIK reshapes you’re your cornea to give you a perfect vision, but you can still expect some imperfections from the vision correction procedure that will take a few days to heal and restore.
The main symptom that you will have to battle within the first stage of LASIK recovery is dry eye. A dry eye can cause your vision to be blurry. Depending on the intensity of the care you give to it, LASIK eye dryness can take up to 6 months to heal.
The second stage of the LASIK recovery process
The second stage of the LASIK recovery process happens within the first two weeks. This stage is considered the most critical stage in the LASIK recovery process. in the first 14 days after LASIK, you need to do your best to ensure you lubricate your eyes properly and protect them from some physical trauma as dust and chemicals.
At this stage, you will need to apply eye drops as prescribed by your doctor and ensure your ear’s eye shields. You need to adhere to this instruction strictly to aid in quick recovery, even if they make you feel uncomfortable.
You will have to go without your makeover within these two weeks if you are a woman. For men and women, you will need to avoid activities like a campfire, gardening, barbecues, and any other activity that may involve smoke. You may also need to stop smoking or vaporizing for the next 14 days.
Now is not a good time to soak your face in your hot tub, and you will have to avoid swimming and other activities that involve water. While all these are ideal for lasting for 14 days, your surgeon may ask you to avoid those for longer than two weeks, depending on your healing process.
During this second stage of the LASIK recovery process, you will need to give your eyes enough rest. Hence, you may have to take breaks from work. While resting, avoid looking at the screen of your television, computer, and mobile devices. After the first five days, you can start engaging in a simple exercise that will not bring much sweat from your body. It is advisable to keep a handy towel close to you to prevent sweat from dripping into your eyes.
The last stage of the LASIK recovery process
The final stage of the LASIK recovery process happens within the first year after the procedure. During this stage, all symptoms of eye imperfection might have subsided. But it is still possible that you experience some weakness in your vision, including night glare, halos, or having difficulty driving at night for a month or longer. If you have larger pupils, you might have to experience all those symptoms for a longer period.
The recovery process in this stage largely depends on the structures in your eyes and how it adapts to your cornea’s new shape. In the last stage of your recovery process, your surgeon can give you a more accurate date of your complete recovery. The prescription will be based on pupil size, corneal depth, and more.
Finally
Having a vast understanding of the LASIK recovery process will help you stay true to your medications in each stage and give you peace of mind amidst symptoms of vision imperfection. Though it is hard for surgeons to predict the precise date of your complete recovery, you will know what to do and what to avoid in each stage. On average, most patients recover fully from the LASIK procedure within the first 3-6 months.