Recovering from LASIK Eye Surgery

A few days after your procedure, you are likely to experience some degree of discomfort. During this time, your vision may be blurry and/or may fluctuate between seeing clear and blurry. In some cases, a patient’s vision improves immediately after the procedure, but later becomes blurry. These conditions affect patients differently. The final outcomes of PRK and LASIK are very similar; the difference is the healing time.

  • Wear the sunglasses provided. Most sunglasses do not provide adequate protection. Follow the eye drop regimen recommended by your surgeon.
  • Please read the activity schedule below.
  • Attend your required post-operative examinations.

Please remember that your follow-up care is as important as the actual procedure. You should see your doctor to check your progress at regular intervals after your procedure.

  • 1 day (must be done at King LASIK)
  • 2 weeks

Activity Schedule for LASIK patients:

Click here to read the PRK Activity Schedule

Immediately after the procedure:

  • The day of the procedure should be a day of rest.
  • Always avoid rubbing eyes – instead, use lubricating drops for irritation.
  • Avoid staring without lubricating the eyes.
  • Avoid watching TV or reading.
  • Avoid showering (you may take a bath but avoid getting soap or water in the eyes, showering or bathing before surgery is fine).
  • Avoid alcohol consumption.
  • Do not drive (even if only one eye has been treated).
  • For the first 24 hours after surgery, it is important that you wear your sunglasses at all times, both indoors and outdoors. To prevent eye-rubbing the first night, we recommend wearing sunglasses to bed.

24 hours: 
The day after surgery you can do the following:

  • Shower (continue to avoid getting any soap or water in the eyes).
  • Light activities, such as going to the office or school, reading, or writing.
  • Drive short distances if we confirm that you have adequate vision.
  • Work on a computer or watch TV, but keep your eyes well-lubricated.
  • Fly in an airplane, but keep eyes generously lubricated (every 30 minutes).
  • Facial makeup application (no eye makeup).
  • Lift objects of moderate weight (under 50 lbs).

Day 3: 
Three days after surgery you can do the following:

  • Apply eye makeup (remove makeup gently and avoid touching the eyes).
  • Light exercise, such as using a treadmill, Stairmaster or stationary bike.
  • Play carefully with children.
  • Lift weights heavier than 50 lbs.
  • Go horseback riding.
  • Sauna or steam room.
  • Outdoor activities, such as jogging, rollerblading, relaxed bicycling, golfing and boating.

One week: 
Additional activities that can begin after one week with eye protection:

  • Sun-tanning and salon tanning.
  • Tennis, squash, racquetball and badminton.
  • Swimming, waterslides, scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing.
  • Water skiing, wind surfing, surfing and kayaking.
  • Hockey, basketball, football, soccer and baseball.
  • Motorcycling and snowmobiling.
  • Skiing and snowboarding.

Activities that can begin after one week with caution:

  • Dying hair & eyebrows.
  • Waxing eyebrows.
  • Facial muscle relaxants around the eyes or forehead.

3 months: 
Three months after surgery you can do the following without eye protection, but proceed with caution:

  • Water skiing, wind surfing, kayaking and surfing.
  • Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).

6 months: 
Six months after surgery you can do the following without eye protection, but proceed with caution:

  • Boxing and mixed martial arts (at a non-professional level).

Always use eye protection when dangers of flying particulates may exist, i.e., dusty work environments or yard work.

Activity Schedule for PRK patients:

Immediately after the procedure:

  • The day of the procedure should be a day of rest.
  • Always avoid rubbing eyes – instead, use lubricating drops for irritation
  • Avoid staring without lubricating the eyes.
  • Avoid watching TV or reading.
  • Avoid showering (you may take a bath but avoid getting soap or water in the eyes, showering or bathing before surgery is fine).
  • Avoid alcohol consumption.
  • Do not drive (even if only one eye has been treated).
  • For the first 24 hours after surgery, it is important that you wear your sunglasses at all times, both indoors and outdoors. To prevent eye-rubbing the first night, we recommend wearing sunglasses to bed.
  • UV PROTECTION: For six (6) months following surgery, it is important that you wear sunglasses every time you go outside during the day, even if it is overcast or cloudy, to provide protection against ultra-violet rays.

24 hours: 
The day after surgery you can do the following:

  • Shower (continue to avoid getting any soap or water in the eyes).
  • Facial makeup application (no eye makeup).
  • Lift objects of moderate weight (under 50 lbs).

Do not do the following activities:

  • Stare without lubricating your eyes.
  • Watch TV for the first 48 hours.

Day 3: 
Three days after surgery you can do the following:

  • Watch TV, but keep your eyes well-lubricated.
  • Fly in an airplane, but keep eyes generously lubricated (every 30 minutes).

Day 5: 
Five days after surgery you can do the following:

  • Light activities, such as going to the office or school, reading, and working on the computer.
  • Drive short distances if we con¬firm that you have adequate vision.
  • Light exercise, such as using a treadmill, Stairmaster or stationary bike.
  • Play carefully with children.
  • Lift weights heavier than 50 lbs.
  • Apply eye makeup, but only if contact lens has been removed (remove makeup gently and avoid touching the eyes).

One week: 
One week after surgery you can do the following without eye protection:

  • Dye hair & eyebrows.
  • Go horseback riding.
  • Sauna or steam room.
  • Outdoor activities, such as jogging, rollerblading, relaxed bicycling, playing golf and boating.

Additional activities that can begin with eye protection:

  • Tennis, squash, racquetball and badminton.
  • Swimming, waterslides, scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, water skiing, wind surfing, kayaking and surfing.
  • Hockey, basketball, football, soccer and baseball.
  • Motorcycling and snowmobiling.
  • Skiing and snowboarding.

Additional activities that can begin with caution:

  • Waxing eyebrows.
  • Facial muscle relaxants around the eye or forehead.

1 month: 
One month after surgery you can do the following with eye protection:

  • Sun-tanning and salon tanning.
  • Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).
  • Dirt biking and mountain biking.
  • Parachuting and bungee jumping.

Additional activities that can begin without eye protection, but proceed with caution:

  • False eyelashes and eyelash growth products.
  • Swimming, waterslides, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, water skiing, wind surfing, kayaking and surfing.
  • Basketball, football, soccer, baseball, boxing and martial arts.
  • Skiing and snowboarding.

 

 

MORE ABOUT THE LASIK PROCESS

Are you ready to start living free of glasses and contacts?

Call us or book a free, no-obligation consultation online today:

Book your free consultation