Post-Operative Preparation

Posted on August 30, 2010
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whatwedo 7 Post Operative PreparationThe First Day
Following the surgery you should go home and rest.

You may experience some discomfort. If you have had LASIK it may last for a few hours and with PRK it may last for a few days. We will provide you with pain medication to be used as needed as well as ophthalmic drops to promote healing.

You can expect your vision to be a fairly blurry. In the case of PRK the vision may worsen over the first three days. With LASIK there is usually a dramatic improvement in vision in the first 24 hours.

It may be a good idea to not plan on driving until you feel vision has improved. This may be a week with PRK and a few days with LASIK. Sensitivity to light is normal and will improve.

You should:

  • Wear good sunglasses.
  • Avoid rubbing your eyes.
  • Avoid swimming, water parks etc. for a couple of months
  • Showers are fine, just avoid splashing your eyes with water for a few weeks.
  • Avoid dusty or smoky environments.

The First Week
When you leave the New Vision Laser Center you will be given complete instructions including an appointment for the next day. A typical post-operative follow-up schedule includes examinations the day after, one and six months after. You can discuss with your New Vision Doctor the alternatives if you cannot keep up the follow-up schedule.

With LASIK your vision improves more quickly and you may feel comfortable enough to drive in a few hours. You will be using 3 different drops for 5 days, and artificial tears for about 2 months after the procedure.

The First Year
After PRK it can take as much as three months for your vision to stabilize. However, after LASIK, vision stabilizes within a day, with a slight improvement over a week.

Recovery is generally faster with LASIK than PRK.

With LASIK, although the flap is relatively secure in one week, we advise you not to rub your eyes hard for two months.

Enhancements
In a small percentage of patients, there may be a need for an enhancement procedure, to further reduce any refractive error that may have been left behind after the procedure. Generally, any enhancement necessary will be carried out after 2-3 months, after vision has stabilized. New Vision Laser Centers generally carry out all enhancements necessary free of cost.