Rates of Recovery
The following information is provided as a guideline for post-operative recovery.
People recover faster if they: Are less than 35 year old; Have a pre-surgery prescription less than 4.00D of myopia or 2.00D of hyperopia and less than 1.00D of astigmatism; Wore contact lenses less than 5 years and don’t have dry eyes as a result; Have normal corneal topography and/or did not have previous corneal surgery; PRK – keep eyes closed as much as possible 72 hours post-operatively; PRK - use refrigerated artificial tears every 15 -20 minutes while awake during the first 72 hours; THEN, use artificial tears 6 times a day and Blink Gel at bedtime for 3 months; PRK – discontinue Prolensa after 3rd day post-operatively; LASIK - keep eyes closed for at least 6 hours following surgery; LASIK- use refrigerated artificial tears every hour while awake for the first 7 days; THEN, 6 times a day and Blink Gel at bedtime for 3 months; Refrigerated eye drops reduce swelling and increase comfort; AND, Don’t smoke
It’s impossible to exactly quantify your results and how fast you will recover after PRK or LASIK surgery. Your rate of recovery will depend upon your individual characteristics (as well as the degree you vary from the above traits e.g. a heavy smoker will recover slower than a light smoker.
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What to Expect After Surgery
LASIK The following expectations are based on visual acuity prior to surgery (vision without correction) and the patient’s compliance with post-operative care as described on previous page.
Typical Post-operative characterizations are: Up to 50% visual improvement immediately after LASIK with minimal discomfort the first 4-6 hours after surgery. Thus, it’s best to take a nap during this period. Vision becomes significantly clearer 24 hours after LASIK (80%). There is no discomfort but eyes may feel a bit dry and look bruised from the LASIK suction. Day driving is ok but night driving is not recommended for 1 week after LASIK. By the end of the week, your vision reaches 90% and by the end of the month, typically 100% If not improved by 3 months, an enhancement is typically offered.
Patients that do not follow the guidelines described on the “Rates of Recovery” page, tend to recover more slowly and may encounter the following: Up to 50% visual improvement immediately after LASIK and minimal discomfort for the first 4-6 hours after surgery. Thus, it’s best to take a nap during this period. Vision becomes significantly clearer 24 hours after LASIK (70%). There is no discomfort but eyes may feel a bit dry and look bruised from the LASIK suction. Day driving is ok but night driving is not recommended for 1 week after LASIK. For up to a month, your vision stays between 70 - 80%. If not 100% by 3 months, the doctor may consider a free enhancement. In some instances, we must fit you in contact lenses so that you can function during the visual recovery process or until an enhancement is performed after 3 months. Contacts are fitted at no additional charge; however, patients must pay for new eyeglass lenses if they want those.
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