Your eyes start healing shortly after your LASIK (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis) surgery, and the initial healing usually occurs rapidly. But it's normal to experience some blurred vision and fluctuations in your vision for several weeks or even months after LASIK.
Your eye doctor or LASIK surgeon typically will see you the day after your surgery to check your visual acuity and make sure your eyes are healthy and healing properly. Many people are able to return to work and drive after this follow-up visit, as long as their vision meets legal driving requirements, and the surgeon clears them for driving.
Regular follow-up visits usually are scheduled for a period of six months or longer to continue to monitor your vision and eye health. In most cases, vision should be stable and clear at the six-month post-op visit. Also, if you experience dry eyes, halos, glare or other visual disturbances after LASIK, these symptoms are usually gone or significantly reduced by your six-month visit.
If your vision is bothersome more than 90 days after LASIK, your surgeon may recommend a LASIK enhancement procedure to sharpen your eyesight.
Most surgeons wait a minimum of three to six months before performing an enhancement. The typical reason for waiting is to make sure any residual refractive error is completely stable. This can increase the likelihood the LASIK enhancement will be the last treatment you need to achieve an optimal level of visual clarity.
After LASIK surgery, you should take precautions to protect your eyes from injuries. This is true even after your surgeon advises you that your eyes have fully recovered.
Eyes that have undergone LASIK surgery are more susceptible to traumatic injuries than eyes that have not undergone LASIK. For this reason, consider investing in quality safety glasses and sports glasses with polycarbonate or specialized polyurethane-based lenses to protect your eyes from harm when you are working with power tools, playing sports, or are engaged in any other activities that increase your risk of eye injuries.
