After Lasik Eye Surgery - What to Expect

People who have been suffering from vision impairment often breathe a sigh of relief after Lasik eye surgery. Lasik, short for Laser-assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, is a form of refractive surgery. Refractive eye surgery procedures, be it for hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), or astigmatism, all aim to reduce a patient's need for eyeglasses and contact lenses to improve vision.

Lasik surgery is the most popular eye surgery in the US. It is the solution that most patients ask for due to the following reasons.

• it is known to be NOT as painful as other methods


• many patients claim to experience excellent vision almost immediately after Lasik eye surgery


• the procedure proves to be cheaper in the long run (i.e., no more need for glasses and contact lenses which you have to purchase every now and then)

All the above advantages make Lasik eye surgeries the hands-down popular choice.

Lasik Eye Surgery - What Takes Place

Another factor that makes Lasik eye surgery so popular is the fact that is it relatively a very simply procedure that causes almost no downtime for the patient. You can simply arrive at the hospital and have the eye surgery done and leave without any assistance.

Normally, the operation takes place while a patient is conscious but a mild sedative can be administered if necessary. Pain is hardly ever felt because drops of anesthesia are provided directly on the eye before the procedure takes place. The entire operation takes place in less than 60 seconds. Yes, it's that fast.

As in most medical procedures, a lot is dependent on your personal situation and health. For example, your doctor may advise you to have the Lasik surgery done on two separate occasions (i.e., one eye at a time). If you prefer the procedure to be done on both eyes on the same day, and your doctor agrees, then do have the foresight to arrange to have someone to be with you to bring you home after the procedure.

What Happens After Lasik Eye Surgery

Once the operation is finished, what can you expect? Again, the results depend a lot on your physical condition. Many patients report having 20/20 vision after Lasik eye surgery. Others, however, still end up needing to use eyeglasses or contact lens, on much lower prescriptions of course.

Some patients report immediate results of improved vision, while others experience better vision after a few weeks or even months! Either way, there are some items you need to prepare for after Lasik eye surgery.

• consider that you may need a couple of days off from work after the eye surgery


• you may need to wear an eye shield after the procedure to prevent any injuries


• you need to be alert for any feeling of pain, burning or extreme itchiness after the surgery

The first few days after the operation are crucial so take the time to recover well, be on your toes for anything out of the ordinary and ensure that your doctor is but a phone call away.