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After Your Laser Surgery
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For the first day and night, your eye will be protected with a clear plastic shield. The shield
will stay on until your postoperative appointment the next day.
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Upon arriving home, sleep and relaxation for the eye are best for recovery.
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You will need to follow post-operative instructions for the eye drop medications beginning
the day of your laser procedure.
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While most patients experience little or no discomfort after LASIK surgery, some do
experience low to moderate pain.
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You will return to the doctor's office the next day for your one-day post-operative exam. At
this exam your shield will be removed and your vision measured. The vision will be improved
but may remain partially blurry. You will begin to see noticeable results right after surgery. At
your one-day exam you should have 70%-90% of the achievable vision.
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A schedule of post-operative and follow up appointments will be made for you. It is very
important to carefully follow all medication and post-operative instructions and to attend all
scheduled appointments.
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Please remember to be particularly careful to avoid having any foreign matter in the eye for
at least two weeks. This includes avoiding soap and water in the eye (you may need
assistance to wash your hair), do not wear eye makeup or other cosmetics around the eye,
and do not swim or get water in the eye for at least two weeks.
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Eye protection should always be worn while participating in all heavy exercise, sports
activities (including racquet and contact sports and golf), yard work and other outdoor
activities with the potential for eye injury.
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You will then be able to begin a lifestyle with the freedom of new vision.
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Side-Effects & Complications
As with any type of surgery, complications are possible. Every effort is made to minimize
risks, but serious or long-term complications can never be fully eliminated. Common side
effects after refractive surgery include:
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Glare from bright light sources, such as oncoming headlights while driving at
night may occur but generally improves and often resolves over the first six months after the
procedure. In a few cases, patients use eye drops to keep the pupil small, thereby reducing
glare.
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Light sensitivity may rapidly improve over days to weeks; however, a few individuals
have ongoing light sensitivity for six months or longer.
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Shadowing, doubling of vision, or "ghost images" usually resolves on its own, but
sometimes needs 2 or more further treatments.
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Variable vision may occur depending upon the procedure for weeks to months after the
procedure. Some individuals experience a small fluctuation in the precise focus over the
course of the day. This daily fluctuation generally subsides during the month after the
surgery.
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Overcorrection and undercorrection occurs in some patients who feel that the
uncorrected vision is not as good as desired. This may require the use of glasses, contact
lenses, or further laser procedures.
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No list of complications can be complete. Any medical or surgical procedure has
innumerable potential risks, both foreseen and unforeseen. If you have additional concerns,
please ask your surgeon.
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