Talking About Health And Medical

Scheduling laser eye surgery can be exciting and a little unnerving. While looking forward to crystal clear vision is undoubtedly the best part, it's also natural to have reservations about the post-surgery recovery process. Fortunately, recovering from LASIK surgery is relatively painless and easy, and you can start enjoying clearer vision sooner than you might expect. 

Of course, having a timeline available is always helpful. This guide will provide a simple, by-the-numbers approach to your post-surgery recovery. By the time you finish reading, you'll clearly understand what this process looks like and what you should expect.

The First Day

You're most likely to experience discomfort immediately following your surgery. You may feel minor pain or irritation, but you shouldn't expect severe symptoms after your surgery. In many cases, these symptoms will clear up fairly rapidly and will likely be gone by the time you head into bed for the night. If you experience greater discomfort, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Note that the timeline for vision improvement after laser eye surgery can be unpredictable. You may experience notable improvements in your vision right after your surgery, or it may take some time. Both outcomes are completely normal, and you shouldn't worry if your vision still seems blurry in the initial days following your situation.

The First Week

Your doctor will usually recommend rest and special precautions during the first couple of days after your surgery. Your eyes will likely be sensitive to light, so sunglasses will be a must when outside. An eyepatch or another eye-covering is usually a good idea, at least for the first day or two. However, you should experience less overall irritation and discomfort as your first week progresses.

Note that this period is still early enough in your recovery that you may experience blurry vision or may not feel as if your vision is markedly improving. This progression is completely normal, and your vision will likely improve noticeably in the coming weeks and months. While you'll need to avoid strenuous activity and exercise during this period, you can otherwise resume your normal routine.

The First Month

You'll need to continue with follow-up appointments throughout your first month. After your first week, you should notice a substantial reduction in irritation and discomfort, although your doctor will likely still recommend that you avoid difficult exercise or strenuous activities. Your vision should improve as your eyes heal, although it's still completely normal to experience blurriness during this period.

While you'll generally be able to resume all normal activity after your first month, it's important to understand that your eyes are still healing during this time. You will need to continue checking in with your doctor, and your vision may not fully clear for several months. As long as you follow your doctor's recommendations along the way, you'll be done with your recovery process before you know it.

Contact a local eye doctor to learn more about LASIK surgery.