How long should I take rest after LASIK surgery?
Author : Christopher Judge | Published On : 10 Jan 2024
Lasik(Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) eye surgery is a popular and effective procedure that reshapes the cornea to correct errors such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism. It is a laser eye procedure performed to treat various vision-related problems. Lasik surgery is known for its quick and painless nature, as it takes only a few minutes to get done. The procedure typically lasts about 20 minutes. An important part of Lasik's recovery is taking adequate rest; the resting period makes the final output of the surgery by following the proper guidelines from the surgeon to make the recovery period smooth and faster, as the healing phase is crucial as it impacts the overall success of Lasik.
Why should you need rest?
1. Facilitating Healing
Rest for the eye is a must as Lasik reshapes the cornea.
Resting is important to avoid any risk of complications, to ensure a smooth recovery, and to avoid any infection that may be affected. Thus, it is a crucial period that needs to be taken per the health professional's guidelines. If not followed, it can cause infection to the eye, causing difficulty and taking more time to heal.
2. Minimizing Discomfort:
After the surgery, it is important to give the eyes rest to reduce discomfort and irritation. Unnecessary touching and scratching can lead to infection and eye pain, delaying the healing period. Extending the resting period can prevent Extreme pain and irritation so that a more comfortable and smooth Healing can occur.
3. Preventing Dry Eyes:
LASIK surgery can lead to dry eyes by temporarily affecting the tear production. Drying of tears irritates the eyes and may even sometimes cause rashes around them. Resting the eyes will stabilize the tear film, reducing the likelihood of persistent dry eye symptoms. During the healing period, keeping the skin clean and sleep by closing the eyelids to prevent such issues is better.
4. Avoiding Complications:
Overstressing the eyes by staring into screens or eye-stressing activities can lead to more complications. Since our day-to-day activities involve a lot of time staring at screens on devices like mobiles and TVs during the initial recovery period, it is important to rest for the eye, which supports optimal visual outcomes and prevents complications.
Guidelines for Rest After LASIK Surgery
1. Immediate Post-Operative Period:
Surgeons recommend taking complete rest for the eye during the first 24 to 48 hours after the surgery. Patients are advised to keep their eyes shut completely to promote Healing during this time. During this time, surgeons check whether the patient has some discomfort and pain or any other complications after the surgery. Thus, a complete rest should be taken after surgery to avoid unnecessary complications.
2. Limited Screen Time:
During the first few days, it is important to reduce screen time to avoid stress on the eye. Staring at screens creates discomfort to the eye, and straining them should be avoided for a faster and healthier recovery. In the initial recovery phase, keeping a minimum amount of screen time for reading, watching TV, or using electronic devices is better to avoid causing any complications to the eye.
3. Avoiding Strenuous Activities:
Intense activities such as heavy lifting or exercise can increase intraocular pressure. Intraocular pressure is the fluid pressure of the eye; increasing the fluid pressure can lead to damage to optic nerve cells and cause vision damage. Therefore, these strenuous activities should be avoided for at least a week. After the initial recovery period, Light activities like walking are generally accepted.
4. Follow-Up Appointments:
Ensure that the healing process progresses by attending the scheduled appointments with the surgeon. Hearing all the scheduled checkups is important to know the progression of recovery. By progression, surgeons will provide guidelines that must be followed for smoother and faster recovery.
In conclusion, Lasik surgery is a quick procedure. However, the key to the success of the complete recovery is the resting period, which is a crucial factor in deciding the recovery time. It is essential to rest properly by following the guidelines provided by the surgeon to achieve optimal results from Lasik surgery. Following the surgeon's instructions, like avoiding screen time and strenuous activities during the initial period, will contribute to Healing. Considering the surgeon's guidelines and prioritizing rest can improve vision and provide better results after the surgery. Surgery is not the only key to a successful outcome of the Lasik; the resting period is equally essential for a healthy, smooth recovery because, during this period, the eye heals and recovers from the post-surgery, thus deciding the final output of the surgery.
