LASIK eye surgery offers a fast, effective solution for improving your vision—but the success of your results depends heavily on how well you care for your eyes after the procedure. Recovery is typically quick and straightforward, but it’s important to follow your surgeon’s guidance closely to promote healing and reduce the risk of complications. Below, we’ve outlined the essential do’s and don’ts after LASIK to help you navigate your recovery with confidence.
Do: Prioritize Rest and Recovery
The day of your LASIK procedure, plan to go home and rest. Even though the surgery itself is quick and painless for most, your eyes will need time to begin healing. Resting gives your body the chance to recover and minimizes eye strain in the first critical hours post-surgery.
Do: Use Eye Drops as Directed
You’ll be given prescription eye drops and recommended artificial tears to use at home. These drops help prevent infection, reduce inflammation, and keep your eyes well-lubricated. Frequent lubrication and proper hydration also help relieve any dryness or gritty sensations you might experience in the days following LASIK.
Avoid redness-relief drops, which often contain ingredients that can actually make dryness worse over time. Stick with the lubricating drops provided or approved by your doctor, and use them frequently—especially during the first few weeks after surgery.
Do: Protect Your Eyes
Wearing sunglasses when outdoors helps shield your eyes from bright light and harmful UV rays. At night, you’ll need to wear a protective eye shield while sleeping to avoid rubbing your eyes accidentally. These simple steps go a long way in keeping your healing corneas safe.
Do: Attend All Follow-Up Appointments
Your post-operative checkups are a vital part of the recovery process. These visits allow your surgeon to monitor your healing, answer any questions, and make sure your vision is progressing as expected.
Don’t: Rub or Touch Your Eyes
Even if your eyes feel itchy, avoid rubbing or touching them. This can displace the corneal flap created during surgery and may increase your risk of infection. If you experience irritation, reach for your artificial tears or a cool compress instead.
Don’t: Swim or Use Hot Tubs for One Month
Water in pools, lakes, and hot tubs can introduce bacteria to your healing eyes, increasing the risk of infection. It’s best to avoid any type of swimming or submersion until your doctor gives you the all-clear, which is usually around the one-month mark.
Don’t: Wear Eye Makeup Right Away
You’ll need to avoid using eye makeup—like mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow—for at least one week after LASIK. Even gentle application and removal require rubbing or tugging near the eyes, which can disrupt the healing process. In addition to the risk of irritation or infection from makeup particles, the physical motion of applying or removing these products can put unnecessary pressure on your healing eyes. It’s best to wait until your surgeon gives you the go-ahead before returning to your regular makeup routine.
Don’t: Resume Strenuous Activity Too Soon
after LASIK. These activities can increase pressure in the eyes, introduce sweat or debris, and raise your risk of accidental bumps or jolts—all of which can irritate your eyes or, more seriously, dislodge the corneal flap created during surgery. Even low-contact activities like yoga or weightlifting can strain your body in ways that interfere with healing. To protect your results, stick to light movement and avoid intense workouts until your surgeon clears you to return.
Don’t: Drive Until Cleared by Your Doctor
Your vision may be blurry or hazy for a short time after LASIK, so wait until your doctor confirms that it’s safe for you to drive. Most patients are cleared within a day or two, but it depends on how quickly your eyes stabilize.
Don’t: Expose Your Eyes to Irritants
Avoid environments with dust, smoke, or strong wind. These elements can dry out your eyes or introduce particles that delay healing. If you can’t avoid them entirely, consider wearing protective glasses or goggles.
Supporting a Smooth LASIK Recovery
Your LASIK recovery will be smoother and more comfortable when you follow your post-op instructions carefully. Most people return to work and regular routines the day after surgery, but staying mindful of these do’s and don’ts will help safeguard your results and keep your vision clear for years to come.
If you have questions about LASIK recovery or want to know whether LASIK is right for you, contact Skyline LASIK today to schedule a consultation with our experienced team.
