Posted by: Manhattan LASIK Center
LASIK is a popular laser vision-correcting procedure that can correct common refractive problems, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. One of its advantages is a short recovery period when compared to other procedures.
While most LASIK patients experience a quick recovery from the procedure, recovery times often vary based on factors such as overall health, lifestyle, and adherence to post-procedure instructions. Keep reading to learn more about a typical LASIK recovery timeline, the factors that can affect recovery, and some of the most frequently asked questions about recovering from LASIK!
What to Expect After LASIK
While individual experiences vary, here’s a timeline of what a typical LASIK recovery looks like:
First Few Hours after LASIK
It’s normal for your eyes to experience symptoms like burning, itching, and grittiness immediately after the procedure. These symptoms usually lessen or subside within a few hours.
Right after LASIK, your vision may be blurry or hazy, and your eyes might be watery. To encourage healing and avoid eye strain, you should rest your eyes for the remainder of the day.
The Day After LASIK
Many LASIK patients report a noticeable difference in vision clarity within 24 hours of the procedure. They are often ready to return to work and their everyday activities the day after LASIK.
It’s important to closely follow your LASIK surgeon’s recovery instructions to avoid complications. You should avoid touching your eye area and use prescribed antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection and support healing.
First Week After LASIK
In the first week after LASIK, your vision should steadily improve. At some point during this week, it’s likely that you will be able to reduce your dependence on glasses to see clearly.
One of the most common side effects of LASIK is dryness. After the procedure, your eyes may feel abnormally dry for a few weeks, but over-the-counter lubricating eye drops can provide relief.
First Month After LASIK
While you may be enjoying new visual freedom, your eyes are still healing the first month after LASIK. Until your eye surgeon clears, you should avoid any activities that might risk eye trauma, like contact sports, or that might expose your eyes to water treated with chemicals, like swimming in a pool.
While it can take up to six months for vision to stabilize, most LASIK patients see with 20/20 vision or better by the end of the month after their procedure. Many patients also notice a significant improvement in the acuity, or sharpness, of their vision.
Long-term Recovery from LASIK
Most of the recovery from LASIK occurs within the first few weeks, but it can take up to six months for the eyes to completely heal. During this time, you may experience subtle changes to your vision until it fully stabilizes.
Attending all follow-up appointments with your eye surgeon is essential to ensuring long-term eye health. The final appointment is typically at six months.
“Results couldn’t be better… I walked in having worn glasses for 17 years and walked out with 20:15 vision! Follow the instructions, take the eye drops, rest your eyes. I literally rode my motorcycle 1,636 miles a week after having LASIK done by them… the first time I’ve been able to ride without having to wear glasses under my helmet! Highly recommend them!” – Brian A.
What Factors Can Affect Recovery?
While most people recover from LASIK on the timeline outlined above, certain factors can affect individual recovery times. These factors include:
Age: Younger people may heal faster and often have shorter recovery times after LASIK
Eye Prescription: Recovery might take longer for people with higher eye prescriptions for myopia and astigmatism.
Underlying Health Conditions: Certain underlying health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders, can affect healing.
Post-Procedure Care: Closely following post-procedure care instructions promotes healing and prevents complications like eye infections and corneal injury.
Lifestyle: Smoking, poor diet, and not getting enough sleep can all slow the healing process and prolong LASIK recovery.
How Soon Will I See an Improvement in My Vision After LASIK?
Some people see an improvement in vision almost immediately, and most patients notice significantly improved clarity within 24 hours of the procedure. It’s important to give your eyes time to adjust and heal after LASIK.
“This is the best investment I’ve made thus far. From the consultation to the actual surgery, it was so efficient and smooth. The teddy bear and blanket to make you feel comfortable was the best addition. I felt so protected and cared for. Overall, great experience.” – Francis S
When Can I Return to Normal Activities After LASIK?
While most people can return to many of their normal activities within a few days of having LASIK, it’s best to follow your eye doctor’s advice. While some people can drive the day after LASIK, it may be a couple of days before your eye surgeon clears you to drive. Most people can return to work within one to three days after LASIK, although people with jobs that could cause eye strain, like very physical jobs or jobs that require extensive screen time, may need to wait longer.
Light exercise can usually be resumed within a few days. Still, strenuous exercise and contact sports should be avoided for at least a few weeks to prevent injuring the cornea or dislodging the corneal flap. With the SMILE procedure, patients can typically resume their daily activities, including working out, as early as the day after the procedure. This is due to SMILE’s flap-free approach, which eliminates the risk of corneal flap dislodgment.
Recovery is crucial to a successful LASIK procedure. Understanding the recovery timeline and closely following post-procedure care instructions helps ensure you can fully enjoy your new visual freedom!
Do you want to learn more about LASIK or determine if you might be a good candidate? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Manhattan LASIK in Westchester, NY, today!
