A post operative guide to Laser Eye Surgery

The moment you sit forward in the chair and glance around the room,  discovering you can see fine details up close, or that the hands of the clock in the distance are now sharp and crisp, is incomparable to any other.

It’s this moment that—after several weeks or months of waiting and preparing—patients look forward to most. But all doesn’t end here.

Although you can nip down to the high street, find a Laser Eye Surgery provider, and have the actual procedure done in a matter of seconds, it’s still a surgery, and thus it comes with a bunch of guidelines to follow in the weeks and months following treatment.

Your exact guidelines will depend on several factors like condition, treatment type, and occupation, but let’s take a look at a general case which the majority of patients will find themselves to some degree or another following. Use this guide to get a clearer idea of how Laser Eye Surgery may affect your normal day-to-day routine in the days, weeks, and months following the procedure.

Day one post surgery

Initially after treatment and in the 24 hours which follow, blurry vision is common and to be expected. But rest assured, any blurriness will pass in time, and the day following your procedure will be your first follow up appointment. Should you need immediate care before then you’ll be able to reach your Laser Eye Surgeon on the personal mobile phone number provided. That being said, emergencies are extremely rare.

The first few weeks

While the cornea is in the healing process there are a few things you need to be aware of and factor into your daily routine.

Important and fiddly tasks which require sharp focus, such as looking after small children, are better approached with the help of a family member or friend in order to avoid any mishaps or accidents.

Much like in the preparatory stages preceding surgery, eye make-up should be avoided for a short period of time. We recommend not wearing it for at least the first week post-surgery as it can introduce infection in the healing area.

Your second follow up appointment will fall around three or four weeks post surgery.

The first month

Up until a month following surgery, it’s recommend to steer clear of any activities which could involve excessive chemicals, dirt, or dust getting in your eyes. Whilst you can usually swim a week after surgery, we would recommend that you refrain from water sports, like Surfing or Kite-Surfing until the one month mark. Please always seek advice from your surgeon before undertaking activities.

If your work requires you to be in an environment which is dusty, such as a building site, you’ll need to wear a pair of safety goggles at all times.

The first 6 months

As the first month comes to an end and your cornea heals, you won’t have as many limitations to worry about. However, it is advised to abstain from sun bed use for the first 6 months, and also to wear UV protected sunglasses on sunny days for the first 12 months.

Around 3 months in you will have another follow up appointment at the clinic. Depending on your individual progress, you may be asked to come back again after 6 months post surgery and at the one year mark.

With over 100,000 people in the UK alone having Laser Eye Surgery each year, many clinics have a well revised and thorough aftercare process. The process described above is particular to our clinic on Harley street, and it’s important to note that not all clinics will provide this level of care. We believe every patient deserves a personal plan and support from an expert surgeon throughout their recovery, that way they can be completely at ease and free to enjoy their new life of greater vision.

If you would like to book a consultation at London Vision Clinic, or find out more about our aftercare regime, leave us a comment or give us a call us on 020 7224 1005.