LASIK eye surgery recovery & healing time expectations

Immediately after your LASIK surgery your eyes start healing and the initial healing usually occurs rapidly. However, it's normal to experience some blurred vision and fluctuations in your vision for several weeks or even months after LASIK.

Your LASIK surgeon typically will see you the day after your surgery to check your visual acuity and make sure your eyes are healthy and healing properly. Most patients are legal for driving (without glasses or contact lenses) and are able to return to work the day after their LASIK procedure.

Regular follow-up visits usually are scheduled for a period of six months or longer to continue to monitor your vision and eye health. In most cases, vision should be stable and clear at the six-month post-op visit.

Also, if you experience dry eyes, halos, glare or other visual disturbances after LASIK, most of these symptoms should be either gone or significantly reduced at your six-month visit.

If your vision is bothersome more than 90 days after LASIK, your surgeon may recommend a LASIK enhancement procedure to sharpen your eyesight.

Most surgeons wait a minimum of three to six months before performing an enhancement. The reason for waiting is to make sure any residual refractive error is completely stable. This is in your best interest, to increase the likelihood the LASIK enhancement will be the last treatment you need to achieve the level of visual clarity you are hoping for.

After LASIK surgery, you should take precautions to protect your eyes from injuries. This is true even after your surgeon advises you that your eyes have fully recovered.

Eyes that have undergone LASIK surgery are more susceptible to traumatic injuries than eyes that have not undergone LASIK. For this reason, you should invest in quality safety glasses and sports glasses with polycarbonate lenses to protect your eyes from harm when you are working with power tools, playing sports, or engaged in any other activities that pose a risk of eye injuries.

Page published on Wednesday, 18 March 2020