5 Essential Questions About LASIK Eye Surgery

Lasik eye surgery

LASIK eye surgery is now one of the most common eye treatments around the world. Thousands of patients have LASIK yearly to have better eyesight.

What is LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK eye surgery or Laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses is refractive eye care surgery. It uses a laser beam to reshape the eye’s cornea to correct some vision problems and eye diseases. It is common to treat eye problems such as nearsightedness, blurry vision, and farsightedness with Lasik eye surgery.

To have the surgery, you need to be over the age of 18 with a healthy body and a relatively thick cornea. Furthermore, female patients need to make sure they are not pregnant before surgery.

1- Is Lasik eye surgery painful?

Generally, Lasik eye surgery does not cause any pain. The surgery is performed under anesthesia. Afterward, you should not expect to feel pain either. However, it is likely to experience a bit of discomfort. You might experience some burning, and you may feel the urge to itch and rub your eyes, but that should be it.

To reduce this discomfort, it is possible to take some pain relievers and artificial tears. Artificial tears will help you with eye dryness and decrease the itching and burning sensations.

Remember, the feeling of severe pain in your eyes after Lasik eye surgery is not routine. You must contact your doctor right away if you feel intense pain.

2- What are the symptoms after Lasik eye surgery?

Correcting your vision with Lasik may result in a few complications and side effects. Lasik’s side effects are rare but can be more annoying than they appear. Luckily, they tend to go away on their own after a week or so.

Symptoms after Lasik eye surgery may include:

• Dry eyes: Lasik can affect the production of tears. Producing fewer tears will lead to eye dryness.
• Blurry eyesight: Your vision will be foggy and unclear after the surgery. Your vision will get better within 24 hours after the surgery.
• Changes in vision during the day: It takes some time for the eye to adjust to the surgery changes. It is common to suffer from vision changes throughout the day until that happens.
• Pain in the eye: It is ordinary to feel a bit of tenderness or discomfort after Lasik. Some patients could feel pain in the eye. To reduce this discomfort, you can take an OTC pain reliever. You can usually expect to get better in a few days.
• Light sensitivity: The eye can get dry due to the surgery. Eye dryness can increase light sensitivity. You do not usually have to worry about light sensitivity. It resolves on its own after several days.
• Vision regression: Less than 1% of the patients may suffer from vision regression after Lasik eye surgery. Luckily, it is possible to correct it with a simple follow-up procedure.
• Blindness: There is a tiny chance that Lasik can cause non-correctable vision loss.

3- What can you NOT DO after Lasik eye surgery?

After Lasik eye surgery, you need to take good care of your eye. Good care of the eye means avoiding things that can prevent proper healing. The items you must avoid include:

1-   Sauna after LASIK: Following LASIK eye surgery, it is generally recommended to avoid using a sauna during the initial stages of recovery. The heat and humidity within a sauna environment can potentially pose risks to the healing process of the eyes. The corneal tissue is sensitive after LASIK, and exposing your eyes to extreme heat may increase the likelihood of discomfort, dryness, and potential complications. Saunas can also lead to excessive sweating, which might increase the risk of infection or irritation in the vulnerable post-surgery state. While it’s natural to want to enjoy the relaxation of a sauna, it’s essential to prioritize your eye health and adhere to the guidelines provided by your eye surgeon. It’s advisable to give your eyes ample time to heal and consult your surgeon before considering any activities, like sauna use, that could potentially compromise the recovery process.

2-     Shower: Taking a bath and washing your face should wait 24 hours after the surgery. After that, you need not get soap inside your eyes.

3-     Swimming after Lasik: You need to avoid swimming entirely for a week or two after Lasik eye surgery. After the second week, you should wear swimming goggles to protect your eyes, especially if you are going to swim in the ocean.

4-     Walking in dusty weather: Dust and other tiny particles entering your eyes will give you an uncomfortable feeling of itchiness. Thus, you should stay away from dust and pollen for a few weeks from the surgery.

5-     Rubbing your eyes: it is important to avoid putting a lot of pressure on the eye for a few weeks after Lasik eye surgery. Rubbing your eyes aggressively may displace the flap in the eye, which can negatively affect the results of the surgery.

6-     Wearing eye makeup: it is recommended to avoid applying eye makeup for 3 to 4 weeks after Lasik eye surgery. Eye makeup could increase the risks of infection and lengthen the recovery time.

4- What foods should you avoid after Lasik eye surgery?

A healthy balanced diet plays a big part in recovery from Lasik eye surgery. To have fast healing, you need to choose your foods wisely and avoid some unhealthy foods.

The foods you should avoid after Lasik eye surgery should include:

1. Foods full of trans fat: Consuming large amounts of trans fat after Lasik surgery can lead to some complications. Therefore, you need to avoid these foods as much as possible. This includes foods like fries, margarine, pizza, and bakery products.
2. Salt and Spices Sweets and pastry: They are high in sugar. High blood sugar can affect Lasik recovery. Sugar and carbs interfere with the healing of wounds.
3. Fast food: Junk food can have a negative effect on the results of the surgery. It may even cause some complications.

5- How long after Lasik eye surgery can you drive?

To be able to drive, you need to have good vision, and you must see your surroundings. Since your vision will be blurry after the surgery, you need to avoid driving for a while afterward.

The length of time you must wait to be able to be behind the wheel again depends totally on the patient. Some patients may drive after 24 hours; others may wait longer. The important thing is to wait till your vision is clear before driving again.

Last word

Lasik is not a treatment for all eye problems. However, if you are a good candidate for Lasik, you should go for it. It has a high success rate. Plus, it helps improve your vision safely. This article by Gomediran tried to answer 5 essential questions about Lasik eye surgery. We hope these answers be well informed for you and let you know more about this surgery.