Lasik Recovery Time

LASIK is the acronym for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, which is a very common surgery performed to correct a person's vision, thereby eliminating the use of glasses. The reason why this form of surgery is popular because the LASIK eye surgery recovery time is less and relative pain-free as well. In fact, patients are able to regain their vision the very next day itself.

This form of surgery is not entirely a new phenomenon. It has been prevalent for about 30 years now. Earlier, the dissection of the cornea was done by hand and it required extremely skilled surgeons to perform the surgery. Since it was a difficult procedure and not many surgeons were equipped to do it, the surgery did not become very popular. One good thing learned from early procedures was that the eye could bear such a surgery. Hence modern methods using laser were developed and the LASIK surgery was re-invented as a highly successful and stress-free surgery procedure to get rid of glasses.

LASIK Surgery Process

The surgery involves creating a thin and circular shaped flap in the cornea with help of an instrument called microkeratome or by using laser. The hinged flap is folded back out of the way and some amount of corneal tissue is removed from underneath the flap. To reshape the cornea, an ultraviolet light beam is directed on the eye. Once the cornea is reshaped correctly, it starts functioning better by focusing light into the eye and on the retina, ensuring better and clearer vision compared to before. To cover the part from where the corneal tissue was removed, the flap is put back in those positions.

The surgery is beneficial for both, farsighted as well as nearsighted people. Farsighted people can get a steeper cornea, while nearsighted people can flatten out their steep cornea. With the help of lasers, an abnormally shaped cornea can be bought back to the original shape, treating people suffering from astigmatism.

LASIK Recovery Process

Immediately After the Operation
Patients are advised to rest for a short period after the surgery and then instructed to go home and continue to rest for several more hours. For the first day, doctors provide patients with an eye-shield to protect the eyes. For about 6 hours after the operation, patients may experience some irritation in their eyes, and to cure this pain revilers are prescribed. Watery eyes, blurry vision and itching in the eyes are common occurrences and patients should never rub their eyes, under any circumstances, as it may affect the corneal flap.

Resuming Work and Rest
Most patients feel they can resume work next day onwards, but ideally it should be avoided. It is better to rest for the first week at least and doctors also advise against any strenuous activities during this period. Playing heavy contact sports must also be avoided for a month so that the eyes are protected from getting hurt.

Eye Check-up
The first eye check-up is usually within the first couple of days after surgery. This check-up is necessary to remove the eye patch and examination of the eyes for proper vision. Doctors usually prescribe certain eye drops to prevent any swelling or infection in the eyes. Wearing contacts should be avoided even if vision is hazy.

Long Term Caring
The normal recovery time is for six months, for the total healing process. It does not mean that the patient cannot work for this long, but he requires periodic eye examination to monitor the progress in the healing process. Regular check-ups as scheduled by the doctor should be followed by the patient. The doctor should know about the progress so that any problems encountered by the patient can be effectively treated.

A LASIK surgery is probably the best way to help people get rid of any vision disability they may be suffering from. The recovery process is quick and simple making it an even more popular choice of patients. However, it should be noted that the surgery does not rule out the possibility of a person needing old age reading glasses. As is the case with health related issues, consult a doctor for a detailed and comprehensive recovery process.