Disclaimer

This website is only for basic information. It is not to be considered medical advice or a substitute for obtaining your own medical consultation, during which you will be informed also about possible risks, side effects and restrictions of refractive & cataract surgery. Not all treatment options are approved or offered in every country and approved labeling and instructions may vary from one country to another.

Post-surgery

Recovery after LASIK

How long will it be before my eyesight improves?

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Once you have undergone laser vision correction, you will no doubt want to get back to your regular day-to-day life as quickly as possible. However, it is important to rest and allow your eyes to heal. There are many ways how you can support the recovery process after LASIK, but it is essential to carefully follow your eye doctor’s instructions post-surgery. They will also be able to advise you when you can resume certain activities, such as driving, swimming or contact sports.

Following LASIK treatment

Immediately after the procedure, your surgeon will prescribe eye drops to encourage corneal healing during the post-op period. They will also prescribe additional eye drops to use for the next few weeks.

You should not drive following your treatment so you will need to make alternative arrangements to get home from the clinic or hospital. Once you are home, try to get some rest or if you can, take a nap.

In the hours right after surgery, you could experience temporary visual fluctuations, light sensitivity or see light halos. These symptoms may disappear over time. And however tempting it may be, you should avoid rubbing your eyes.
The first few days after LASIK

You should still not touch or rub your eyes (even if they feel a little itchy) as this may cause damage to your eyes. Some doctors may recommend wearing eye shields which will not only prevent you from accidentally rubbing your eyes. And although washing your face or taking a shower is fine, you should avoid getting water directly in your eyes after LASIK.

Keep using the eye drops as prescribed. Follow the instructions carefully and complete the full course of treatment. These eye drops will also help alleviate further side-effects like dry eye, so make sure to administer them as directed.

It is important to attend all post-surgery checkups scheduled with your eye doctor to ensure the healing process is on course.
The weeks after LASIK

As the healing from the surgery progresses, you may want to start resuming your daily activities. Please consult your eye doctor to confirm when it will be safe to do so. If you go outside, it is a good idea to wear a good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV exposure. What’s more, try to avoid smoky or dusty environments as airborne particles may irritate your eye or even interfere with the healing process. As a precautionary measure, you should also avoid wearing creams and makeup.

It is important to keep in contact with your doctor during your recovery. They will be able to advise you about when to return to work, resume sports or high-intensity activities and start wearing makeup again.

LASIK recovery times

How long does it take to recover from the LASIK procedure?

Recovery times from LASIK vary from patient to patient. You can usually resume light daily activities after a few days.

As the LASIK procedure involves creating a flap in your cornea, healing and recovery times after LASIK are often longer than typical for minimally invasive refractive procedures such as Lenticule Extraction with ZEISS SMILE. The flap heals naturally but needs time to adhere back onto the eye. In the meantime, there is a chance the flap becomes dislodged which will lengthen recovery time.

Fast recovery with ZEISS SMILE

Discover more about minimally invasive procedures

Talk to your eye doctor to see if laser vision correction with ZEISS SMILE may be an option for you. Lenticule Extraction using ZEISS SMILE is a minimally invasive procedure, which means your surgeon makes a small incision in your corneal surface instead of creating a flap. This method offers faster corneal healing after ZEISS SMILE than after LASIK as well as a reduced risk of complications related to a corneal flap. Use our clinic finder to find a local provider using ZEISS SMILE and to learn more about the treatment and recovery process.

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While recovery times differ from patient to patient, there are some post-op precautions you can take to improve your outcome, such as not rubbing your eye or avoiding dusty environments. Most importantly, you should always follow your doctor’s instructions. These may include using eye drops, other medication or even wearing an eye shield in specific cases. And always use any medication or eye drops as directed as they will help with the quick and safe recovery of your eye.
According to the FDA, which regulates laser vision correction in the US, full stabilization of vision can take as long as 3 – 6 months after LASIK surgery. However, there is a minimally invasive procedure available, ZEISS SMILE, which involves making a small incision that’s ~ 4 mm. As there is no need to create a flap or remove the outer layer of the cornea, recovery times with ZEISS SMILE are in line with minimally invasive refractive procedures and can be shorter compared to LASIK.
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