There is a fast recovery time, the vision improvement is virtually immediate and the risk of complications is super low. But, to be sure that the best results are achieved and to further minimize potential problems, there are a few things patients need to do after Lasik eye surgery.

One of the first things that people want to know when they are considering corrective eye surgery is how long it will take, after the surgery, before they are able to return to their normal daily activities. The good news is that recovery from this type of laser eye surgery is quite rapid and within a couple days after the procedure, most people can get back to life as normal, except without the hassle of needing their eyeglasses or their contact lenses.

Immediately after Lasik eye surgery, it is strongly advised to carefully avoid any kind of activity that might result in something touching, rubbing or poking the eyes. For the first few hours after the laser eye surgery in the clinic, the patient is advised to rest and keep their eyes closed as much as possible.

Once these few hours have passed after surgery, the patient is then able to get back to their routine activities, either at home or at work. Still, rubbing the eyes should be avoided for a few days and if dryness or itchiness occurs, then the patient should used lubricating eye-drops to help alleviate the irritation and to sooth the eyes. Most Lasik eye center facilities will provide the patient with drops for their eyes for this very purpose.

After corrective eye surgery, it is also recommended that patients wear a soft protective eye-mask at night so that the affected eyes are buffered and protected from any inadvertent bumps, scraping or rubbing. This also helps to make sure that no foreign objects enter the eyes during this brief period of recovery from the Lasik vision surgery.

While there is historically very little occurrence of infections with laser eye surgery in general, some surgeons will prescribe antibiotics as a precaution. If antibiotics, or any other medications, have been prescribed, it is important to take these medications exactly as prescribed by the Lasik eye doctor. Also, most doctors will recommend that you drink plenty of water in order to be sure the eyes are properly hydrated during the healing process.

After Lasik eye surgery, it is also a good idea to avoid showering in order to keep soap and water out of the eyes. The patient can quickly return to normal reading, watching TV and working at the computer screen as long as they remember to keep their eyes well lubricated with artificial tears. With these few precautions, soon the patient will simply be enjoying better vision.

There are certain restrictions as to what you can do after LASIK surgery. Here we explain what you should do and more importanty what you should not do during the recovery time:

• For the first three days, non-contact sports or non-routine physical activities are completely disallowed, as your eye is completely vulnerable at this time.
• For at least 7 days after surgery, avoid gardening, yard work, grass cutting, and dirty/dusty environments. The same goes for creams, lotions, or eye makeup (mascara, shadows, or eye pencil) for the first 7 days.
• You begin by wearing an eye shield at night during the four weeks following the surgery. This is to prevent you from rubbing your eyes in sleep, causing pain, irritation, and harming the healing/recovery process.
• For the same first four weeks, you need to desist from strenuous exercises and contact sports. This is to prevent risking damage to your eyes during the healing period. Ensure that sweat does not enter your eye. You can use a sweat band during light exercises or any other activities.
• Following surgery, for the next six weeks, you are not allowed to swim, be in a hot tub, or in a whirlpool. Water can enter and further damage and irritate your eye.
• Post LASIK surgery, your vision will take anything from two to three months to stabilize. During that period, you may suffer from halos, glare, and difficulty in driving at night. This is where patience is required, as you need to wait for two consecutive visits, at least a month apart, for your vision to become normal.

It is necessary that you go back to your doctor for post operative evaluations and examinations.