Laser eye surgery is a big step towards better vision. It can help you see well without glasses or contact lenses. But after surgery, it’s very important to take care of your eyes. In this article, we will explain what to avoid after laser eye surgery. By following these simple tips, you will help your eyes heal properly and feel better sooner.
Why Laser Eye Surgery Recovery Is Important
After laser eye surgery, your eyes need time to heal. This recovery period may take a while, though. If you follow the doctor’s instructions and avoid certain activities, your eyes will heal faster and better.
Taking care of your eyes will also help avoid unnecessary consequences. That is because laser eye surgery, like any other surgical or invasive procedure, carries risks.
Things To Avoid After Laser Surgery
There are some activities you should avoid to help your eyes heal well. Let’s look at the main things to avoid after laser vision correction.
Don’t Rub Your Eyes
Don’t Play Contact Sports Or Do Hard Exercise
It’s important to avoid contact sports like football or basketball after laser eye surgery. These sports could hurt your eyes and slow down healing.
Stay Away From Pools, Hot Tubs, Or Saunas
After surgery, avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, and saunas. These places have bacteria that could get in your eyes and cause an infection.
Don’t Wear Eye Makeup Right Away
You should not wear eye makeup for the first week after surgery. Makeup can get into your eyes and cause an infection.
Avoid Bright Lights
After surgery, your eyes might be sensitive to bright lights. You may see glare or halos around lights, especially at night.
Stay Away From Dusty Places
Dusty places can make your eyes feel itchy or uncomfortable after surgery. Try to stay inside in clean areas, especially in the first few days after your surgery.
Don’t Wash Your Eyes With Tap Water
Don’t wash your eyes with tap water after surgery for at least a week. Tap water can contain bacteria that can hurt your eyes.
Don’t Lift Heavy Things
Lifting heavy things could pressure your eyes and slow down healing. It’s important to avoid heavy lifting for the first few weeks.
Don’t Wear Contact Lenses
If you wore contact lenses before surgery, you should not wear them after the surgery. Your eyes need time to heal; wearing contact lenses could worsen things.
Don’t Skip Your Follow-Up Appointments
Your doctor will want to check in on your eyes after surgery to ensure they heal well. Don’t miss your follow-up appointments. These checkups are very important to ensure everything is going as planned.
Don’t Smoke Or Be Around Smoke
Smoking can make it harder for your eyes to heal. It’s also bad to be around people who are smoking. The smoke can hurt your eyes and cause problems.
Don’t Drive Until Your Doctor Says It’s Okay
After surgery, your vision might be blurry at first. Don’t drive until your doctor says it’s okay. You must ensure your vision is stable and clear before getting behind the wheel.
How To Help Your Eyes Heal Faster
Taking care of your eyes after surgery is very important. Here are some things you can do to help your eyes heal faster:
Rest
Give your eyes time to relax. Try not to read, use your phone, or look at bright screens for a while. This will help your eyes heal better.
Use Your Eye Drops
Your doctor will give you certain eye drops to help keep your eyes moist and minimise infection risk. Use them as your doctor tells you.
Wear Eye Protection
Wear sunglasses or eye shields to protect your eyes from the sun, dust, and other things that could bother them.
Avoid Chemicals
Don’t use hairspray or perfume near your eyes. These can irritate them while they are healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take to heal after laser eye surgery?
Everyone heals at their own pace. Most people feel better in a few days. It may take a few weeks for your eyes to heal fully. Your doctor will tell you what to expect.
What kind of eye drops should I use after surgery?
Your doctor will give you specific eye drops to keep your eyes wet, help stop infections, and help your eyes heal. It’s important to use the eye drops just like your doctor tells you and follow all their advice.
What should I do if I experience blurry vision or other vision problems?
It’s normal to see blurry right after surgery while your eyes heal. If the blurriness doesn’t go away or gets worse, call your doctor right away. They will check your eyes and help you with any problems.
Conclusion
Avoid certain activities, take your medications as prescribed, and wear eye protection. By caring for your eyes, you’ll get the best results and enjoy clear vision in no time!
If you have questions or want to learn more about laser eye surgery in Melbourne, Dr Ed is here to help! Call Dr Edward Roufail today at (03) 9071 0180. He’ll help you every step of the way.
Note: Surgical or invasive procedures carry inherent risks. As part of our standard practice, we thoroughly discuss these risks during the consent process before any surgical procedure. Your understanding and comfort are our utmost priority.
Sources:
Bedinghaus T OD 2022. LASIK Eye Surgery: Recovery. Verywell Health. Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/lasik-recovery-time-short-term-and-long-term-considerations-3421966 [Accessed November 26, 2024]
Boyd K 2023. Laser Surgery Recovery Tubert D, editor. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/laser-surgery-recovery [Accessed November 26, 2024]
Landwehr J 2024. Can You Rub Your Eyes Too Much—And Is It Dangerous for Your Eye Health? Health. Available at: https://www.health.com/rubbing-eyes-too-much-dangerous-8430871 [Accessed November 26, 2024]
