Sometimes, uncertainty about what to expect after laser eye surgery can put people off getting treatment. Some people fear that they will be in pain or discomfort for an extended length of time, whilst others worry that they will need to take a lot of time off work. The good news is, recovery from laser eye surgery is straightforward and quick for the overwhelming majority of patients. Of course, everyone is different, and recovery times vary for different types of laser eye treatment. To get a better understanding of what to expect, take a look at our guide below.

Immediately after the procedure #

• your eye may burn, itch, or feel like there is something in it.
• You may experience some discomfort, or in some cases, mild pain and your doctor may suggest you take a mild pain reliever.
• Both your eyes may tear or water.
• Your vision will probably be hazy or blurry.
• You will instinctively want to rub your eye, but don’t! Rubbing your eye could dislodge the flap, requiring further treatment.
• In addition, you may experience sensitivity to light, glare, starbursts or haloes around lights, or the whites of your eye may look red or bloodshot. These symptoms should improve considerably within the first few days after surgery.
• You should plan on taking a few days off from work until these symptoms subside. You should contact your doctor immediately and not wait for your scheduled visit, if you experience severe pain, or if your vision or other symptoms get worse instead of better.

Plan Your Aftercare #

You should see your doctor within the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery and at regular intervals after that for at least the first six months. At the first postoperative visit, your doctor will remove the eye shield, test your vision, and examine your eye. Your doctor may give you one or more types of eye drops to take at home to help prevent infection and/or inflammation. You may also be advised to use artificial tears to help lubricate the eye. Do not resume wearing a contact lens in the operated eye, even if your vision is blurry.

Precautions after Laser Treatment #

To help prevent infection, you may need to wait for up to two weeks after surgery or until your doctor advises you otherwise before using lotions, creams, or make-up around the eye. Your doctor may advise you to continue scrubbing your eyelashes for a period of time after surgery. You should also avoid swimming and use of hot tubs or whirlpools for 1-2 months.

Strenuous contact sports such as boxing, football, karate, etc. should not be attempted for at least four weeks after surgery. It is important to protect your eyes from anything that might get in them and from being hit or bumped.

During the first few months after surgery, your vision may fluctuate.

It may take up to three to six months for your vision to stabilize after surgery.
Glare, haloes, difficulty driving at night, and other visual symptoms may also persist during this stabilization period. If further correction or enhancement is necessary, you should wait until your eye measurements are consistent with two consecutive visits at least 3 months apart before re-operation.
It is important to realize that although distance vision may improve after re-operation, it is unlikely that other visual symptoms such as glare or haloes will improve.
It is also important to note that no laser company has presented enough evidence for the FDA to make conclusions about the safety or effectiveness of enhancement surgery.
Contact your eye doctor immediately, if you develop any new, unusual or worsening symptoms at any point after surgery. Such symptoms could signal a problem that, if not treated early enough, may lead to a loss of vision.

What are the possible side effects of laser eye surgery? #

As with any type of surgery, there are always potential side effects. Following surgery, you may experience one or more of these side effects, or you may not experience any at all. Everyone is different. So, let’s take a look at some of the possible side effects of laser eye surgery in further detail:

• Halo effect – Some people experience a mild halo effect or a glare around bright lights, especially at night once they have had laser eye treatment. In most cases, this will reduce significantly within the first month after treatment. After roughly three months, you should not have any issue with this whatsoever but any lasting effects can usually be managed with the help of your ophthalmic surgeon.
• Hazy vision – It is not uncommon to experience slightly reduced sharpness of vision or hazy vision, often likened to “soft focus”, for the first few weeks following treatment, especially in low-light environments.
• Dry eyes – Some people experience some dryness of their eyes after laser eye treatment. You will be provided with eye drops in order to manage any discomfort. Your eyes will return to their pre-surgery state once they begin to heal.
• Temporary discomfort – You should expect temporary discomfort for the first few days after treatment, especially if you have had LASEK surgery. This might include symptoms such as light sensitivity and mild irritation, and patients often find wearing normal sunglasses when outside is helpful.

How long could it take to get back to normal after laser eye treatment? #

The recovery period depends on the type of laser eye treatment you have. FemtoLASIK is the most popular form of laser eye surgery, and most people see results within a mere 24 hours. This is a quick procedure, and the results are rapid. There will be no stitches required, and life tends to go back to normal very quickly.

Not everyone is suitable for FemtoLASIK surgery, however, and therefore LASEK surgery may be the treatment for you. The recovery process is slower with LASEK treatment. Your eyes may feel uncomfortable after the treatment for a few days. You will also find that bandage contact lenses need to be worn for up to a week. However, there is less chance of experiencing dry eyes when going down this route.

Possible complications from laser eye surgery #

The good news is that complications after laser eye treatment are very rare. In fact, fewer than four percent of patients experience any complications, and if you choose a quality clinic, you can be sure they will do everything they can to reduce the risk of any issues happening.

Laser eye surgery aftercare from Acuity Eye Centre Lahore #

When you choose EyeAcuity for laser eye treatment, you can be sure of exceptional aftercare. We ensure that you see the same ophthalmic surgeon from your consultation, through to your surgery, and your follow-up appointments. Once you have had laser eye treatment, you will have a follow-up appointment the next day to ensure that everything is how it should be. Our laser eye surgery aftercare then involves routine checks throughout the following year, and, of course, you can always contact us whenever you have any queries or want to make an appointment.