Laser Eye Treatment - What to Expect After Surgery


by Leanne Williams - Date: 2006-12-19 - Word Count: 573 Share This!

Laser eye surgery is generally a painless and straightforward procedure that takes little more than 15 minutes from the start of preparing the eye area to the completion of surgery. Patients can therefore expect to undergo treatment and return home in a matter of hours and should be sufficiently recovered to return to work within 7 days. The time taken to make a full recovery and the side effects vary from patient to patient, but there are general patterns that can be observed and guidelines that should be adhered to.

The guidelines your doctor will issue you with may vary depending on which type of laser eye surgery you have undergone. As a rule though, non-contact sports should be avoided for between 3 days and a week. This is especially important in procedures such as Lasik, where a flap is cut in the cornea, as the cornea may become detached during vigorous activity. Because of the risk of damage to the cornea, contact sports such as karate and kick boxing will need to be avoided for at least 4 weeks following surgery. Swimming and hot tubs should remain out of bounds for up to 2 months.

If you frequently wear lotion or make up you will need to wait at least two weeks before using products around the eye area again. This is to prevent infection occurring.

Lasik surgery is very popular because it has a very quick recovery time. There is very little discomfort after surgery and the patient should have clear vision within 24 to 48 hours and vision should become stable within 4 weeks.

Lasek treatment involves softening the epithelium with an alcoholic solution so that the surface of the cornea can be folded to one side to allow the laser to reshape the tissue underneath. The cornea will gently be pushed back into place after the procedure is complete, and a contact lens will hold it in place for several days following surgery.

Patients who have undergone Lasek laser eye surgery may experience discomfort for several days and require painkillers. Light sensitivity is also normal during the first 24 hours, which may cause further discomfort. Vision can remain blurred for around a week. It is normal for a patient's sight to fluctuate for several months following surgery, and it may be around 6 months before the vision finally stabilizes.

Following laser eye surgery, a protective shield must be worn at night and you will be given anti-inflammatory eye drops. Drops are also required for 6 months to keep the eyes lubricated, as dry eyes are a common side effect of treatment. In the weeks following surgery, your eyes will be much more susceptible to the harmful effects of UV rays so sunglasses must be worn out doors for the first three months.

After undergoing corrective laser eye treatment many patients notice their vision is poor in low light conditions such as thick fog or darkness. At night they may also notice a halo effect around lights. Unlike other side effects from laser eye surgery, poor night vision is usually permanent and you may require glasses to drive safely at night, even if your vision is excellent during the daytime.

Always ensure that your surgeon fully explains what after effects you can expect from laser eye treatment and gives you comprehensive guidelines of how to protect your eyes and maximise the healing process. Never be afraid to ask questions. Your doctor should be happy to answer your queries.


Related Tags: laser eye surgery, lasik, prk, laser eye treatment

Leanne has had several articles published on the subject of cosmetic surgery, including what to expect at a rhinoplasty consultation.

http://www.rhinoplasty.about-beauty.net Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles

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