With work, family and social life to balance, you might think you don’t have the time to have laser eye surgery.
Wrong!
Unlike many other surgical procedures, you’re able to walk away from laser eye surgery the same day. The results are visible in just a few hours and there’s a very quick recovery time. Here’s exactly what happens after laser eye surgery and how long it takes before you can get back to your daily routine.
Timeline of Laser Eye Surgery
From your initial consultation to any aftercare you might need, we’ll run through what you can expect before, during and after your laser eye surgery.
Before Laser Eye Surgery
You’ll need to have an initial evaluation from an eye care professional, usually an optometrist, who can determine the condition of your eyes. There are different options available depending on the corrective treatment that needs to be carried out.
If you regularly wear contact lenses, you don’t need to stop wearing them before your evaluation, just leave them out on the day itself.
When it comes to your actual treatment, you will need to leave your contacts out for longer, usually one week for standard soft lenses.
Contact lenses can change the shape of your cornea when worn for long periods of time. Switch to your glasses to allow your eyes to return to their natural shape. This allows the doctor to make the correct diagnosis and measure your refraction (prescription) accurately.
Make sure your doctor and any other specialists involved have all the necessary information they need. Detail the previous and current condition of your eyes, as well as any other important medical history.
Laser eye surgery isn’t for everyone, so an expert will carry out a comprehensive eye exam to decide if you’re eligible. They’ll outline the benefits and risks that are associated with laser eye surgery, as well as whether or not there are any alternatives open to you.
This appointment is a good opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the procedure itself and how long it’ll be before you’re back to normal.
Want To Find Out If You’re Suitable?
If you’re wondering whether laser eye treatment is the right choice for you, there are some key things to consider…
Meeting Your Surgeon
Once you decide to go ahead with treatment, you will proceed to have a pre-operative and consent appointment with your surgeon.
Your doctor will confirm your suitability, explain specific aspects related to your treatment and expected outcome and cover all essential topics as part of consenting to surgery. You can have all your specific questions answered by your surgeon at this meeting so that you’re relaxed and confident to proceed with vision correction.
You and your surgeon will sign the consent discussion sheet to show that you have had the opportunity to learn and ask all relevant questions before going ahead with treatment. You will also sign the formal consent to surgery form at this time. You will need to ensure you have read the consent form prior to this appointment!
During the Surgery
The day before the surgery, you’ll need to avoid any creams, lotions or makeup around your eyes as they can increase the risk of infection.
Laser eye surgery takes around 10 minutes for both eyes, depending on the type of treatment you’re having, and the surgeon will have explained to you exactly what will happen beforehand. You’ll experience different levels of blurred vision during the surgery, particularly if a suction ring is placed around your eye.
Anaesthetic eye drops will stop you from feeling any pain. A small device (speculum) is placed on your eye to keep it open at all times, you’ll still feel as if you’re blinking but it won’t interfere with the surgeon’s work, and the eye will actually remain open. Just blink as normal!
Depending on the surgery you have, the procedure itself will be quick and straightforward. LASIK, for example, involves a laser creating a small, thin corneal flap before reshaping the corneal tissue. You’ll feel pressure for a short period of time, around 25 seconds, but no pain. Each eye takes only 4 or 5 minutes to complete.
At the end of the procedure, a protective shield will be placed over your eyes as there are no stitches as part of the surgery. It’ll prevent you from accidentally rubbing your eye, especially when you go to sleep.
After Laser Eye Surgery
Immediately after your laser eye surgery, you may experience some slight scratchiness, grittiness or burning. It can sometimes feel as though something is in your eye, but it’s important you don’t touch it.
For many people, leaving their eye alone during the initial laser eye surgery recovery period is actually the hardest part. Just head home or the hotel where you are staying and rest with your eyes closed for 2-4 hours. After around 4 hours your eyes will feel normal again and usually with clear vision.
At Focus Clinic, we ask that patients stay to rest and relax for around 20 minutes after surgery. This allows you to wait for whoever is collecting you and allows us to make sure everything is perfect before letting you go.
There might be some pain but lubricating eye drops will help. Your eyes may tear or water and your vision will be blurry, so it’s important you’ve already planned to have someone drive you home.
Some other side effects to look out for include:
- Sensitivity to light.
- Glare, starbursts or halos.
- Red or bloodshot eyes.
- Gritty eyes.
It can vary from patient to patient, but you can usually expect your eyes to feel normal again in around four hours. By this time, your vision should be excellent. You’ll need to have a follow-up examination the day after your surgery. We can check on progress and sign off on you being allowed to drive again.
The Dos And Don’ts After Laser Eye Surgery
Although laser eye surgery is a relatively simple and standard procedure, it is still a significant life event.
You may have been wearing glasses or using contact lenses for many years or suffering from a vision-limiting condition, and laser eye surgery has been the answer to your problems.
However, one area that people need to think about is the aftercare.
After the build-up and apprehension of getting the procedure done, it’s time to make sure you take care of yourself during the initial recovery period.
Things You Should Do After Laser Eye Surgery
There are some vital steps you need to take post-surgery. Skipping any of them might lead to a longer recovery time or complications. Let’s take a look at what you should do.
Follow Your Surgeon’s Instructions
Your surgeon is a laser eye surgery expert, so follow any guidance and advice given.
They’ll be able to answer any questions you have regarding laser eye surgery aftercare and will be able to give you information leaflets to have a look through at a later time.
Following the instructions given will give you a quick and smooth recovery period.
Use The Prescribed Eye Drops
Immediately after your laser eye surgery treatment, you will likely experience some discomfort and might find yourself sensitive to any lights.
You’ll be given eye drops to protect your eyes, and it’s vital that you take them exactly as prescribed. If you are unsure, your surgeon can advise you on how to take them.
Take Some Time To Rest And Recover
Taking care of yourself during the recovery period is essential, and that means taking time to rest.
You should take a short nap post-procedure and take it easy for the first few days.
Attend All Of Your Follow Up Appointments
It’s vital that you attend all of your follow-up appointments with your laser eye surgery clinic.
They will check in with you to ensure that the surgery has worked as planned and will be able to give ongoing advice and guidance on how to keep your eyes healthy.
Protect Your Eyes
It’s recommended that you initially wear sunglasses or protective eyewear when going outside to shield your eyes from the light and the risk of injury during the healing process.
It’s also essential to protect your eyes when sleeping, and you’ll be given an eyeshield to wear so you can rest whilst allowing your eyes to heal safely.
Want To Find Out If You’re Suitable?
If you’re wondering whether laser eye treatment is the right choice for you, there are some key things to consider…
Things You Should Avoid After Laser Eye Surgery
It’s easy to forget the information given to you, especially if there are words and terms used that you need to become more familiar with.
However, you must follow these steps and avoid doing the following during your laser eye surgery recovery.
Driving Home
Your eyes need time to heal, and you may not gain full vision for 24-48 hours after the procedure. Therefore, it is not safe to drive home immediately post-surgery.
You should have a friend or a family member to take you home safely.
Bright Light & Using Electronics
Your eyes will be susceptible to light post-procedure, so avoiding direct lights should be a priority.
Using non-prescriptive sunglasses or protective eyewear is a popular choice to keep your eyes safe and allow them to heal.
You should avoid using a screen, including mobile phones, during the remainder of the day after your surgery.
Touching Or Rubbing Your Eyes
Touching your eyes and face is a habit that many people subconsciously do. However, keeping your eyes dirt free is a priority immediately after having laser eye surgery.
Your eyes will be sensitive and uncomfortable; however, rubbing or touching your eyes will not take away the discomfort.
Ask your surgeon for different ways to deal with the discomfort and avoid contamination.
Don’t Wear Eye Makeup
You should avoid wearing eye makeup for at least a week post-surgery.
You need to keep your eyes clean and free from any bacteria to reduce the risk of infection, and although wearing eye makeup may help you look and feel better, it’s too much of a chance.
Showering Or Swimming
You should keep your eyes water free for around two weeks after your surgery to give your eyes the best chance of recovery.
You should avoid showers during the first 48 hours. You could take a bath instead, but just keep your eyes covered and away from water as much as possible. Once you restart showering, don’t direct the water jets directly at your face.
Skip swimming for two weeks. Importantly, don’t use the small type of swimming goggles for one month. They can exert a lot of suction on the eyes. However, using a face mask for swimming is fine two weeks after treatment.
Playing Sports Or Exercising
The advice differs slightly depending on the type of sport and exercise you want to participate in.
You should avoid high-contact sports for at least a month after your procedure. However, most people can return to regular sporting activities and exercise routines a week after surgery.
Specific martial arts involve finger grabs towards the face. In this case, lay off for three months.
Your surgeon can provide more specific details depending on your situation.
Choose the Right Surgeon and Clinic
Finding the right surgeon for you is an important process. You should look for a professional that’s highly-qualified and experienced.
Focus Clinic is proud to be the only clinic in the UK with a 100 percent success rate. We have a 9.9 out of 10 rating thanks to reviews from our happy clients.
Unlike many other clinics, we offer a comprehensive aftercare package. In the unlikely event that your eyes need further attention, we’re happy to carry out any necessary work completely free.
