LASIK Eye Surgery Post-Op Protocol

One of the most important parts of LASIK eye surgery is what you do after surgery takes place. Following both pre-op and post-op instructions as directed by your surgeon contributes to an optimal result. During an initial consultation for LASIK eye surgery at Providence Eye & Laser Specialists, we make sure you understand what’s involved in the hours, days and weeks following your procedure.

LASIK eye surgery is a straightforward procedure, but it is not simple, and following your doctor’s post-op instructions is critical to obtain an optimal result. We pulled together what to expect regarding drops/medications during your LASIK recovery and what to avoid in the weeks of your LASIK recovery.

The LASIK Eye Surgery Post-Op Appointment

Although your vision may be excellent within 24 hours of surgery, your LASIK recovery is still underway. Your corneas are still actively healing, and they need to be cared for with all post-op instructions provided by your surgeon. Attending all post-op appointments as instructed by your surgeon is key. At Providence Eye & Laser Specialists, all these LASIK eye surgery post-op appointments are all included in the price.

The following is a typical post-op appointment schedule:

• 1 day
• 1 month
• 6 months
• 1 year

However, if between appointments you have any concerns about your vision or how your eyes feel, call your doctor’s office immediately. Dr. Mozayeni and Dr. Nunnery will see you as often as necessary. At Providence Eye, we have a doctor on call 24 x 7.

4 Reasons to Keep Your LASIK Post-Op Appointments

1. Watching for Infection – Keeping up with your drops post-operatively, practicing good hygiene, and for the first couple of days staying out of germy places, like public gyms, will help avoid infection. Infection is the most common concern after laser eye surgery, and at Providence Eye, we want to catch any infection as early as possible.
2. Changes in Your Cornea – Although LASIK may have seemed like a breeze to you, your corneas have gone through a major change. At Providence Eye, we do corneal mapping at your post-operative appointments to make sure they look exactly as they should.
3. It’s All Included – At Providence Eye, we have a simple and flat pricing structure for laser eye surgery which includes all of your post-operative exams for twelve months. That’s because we want to ensure you have the best medical care and overall patient experience.
4. After you have reached your one-year LASIK anniversary, Providence Eye instructs you to maintain regular annual eye exams. Annual eye exams are not just to check your vision, they are to check the health of your eyes to make sure there are no underlying issues, even if you aren’t experiencing any symptoms. Additionally, annual eye exams will keep your enhancement policy valid for your laser eye surgery.

LASIK Eye Surgery Post-Op Care: Eye Drops & Prescriptions

Your LASIK surgeon will provide you with a very specific post-op regimen of your drops. It is important that you follow your surgeon’s directions regarding brand name vs generic, number of drops, number of times/day and for how many days or weeks.

For optimal results, patients should use the following drops, according to your surgeon's instructions:

• An anti-inflammatory
• An antibiotic
• Artificial tears/lubricating drops (always preservative-free)

LASIK Eye Surgery Post-Op: Things to Avoid

There are several things you should avoid during the post-op period.

For 14 days after surgery, all patients should:

• Not rub eyes
• Not go swimming (pool, lake, ocean, pond) or go into hot tubs
• Avoid areas that are prone to dust, smoke, mold (basements), dirt (yard work)
• If using a computer, take frequent break and lubricate your eyes more frequently using artificial tears

Also, during your LASIK recovery, all patients should avoid the following for 7 days:

• Soap & water in your eyes, but you may bathe normally
• Eye make-up
• Ceiling fans while sleeping
• If you participate in contact sports, caring for small children, handling animals/pets, please use extreme caution so you are not poked in the eye. Protective eye wear is recommended for sporting.

You should postpone any plans for artificial tanner or cosmetic facial laser treatment for one year after laser vision correction surgery.

Your LASIK recovery should go well if you follow instructions and attend your post-op appointments. If you have any concerns do not hesitate to contact your surgeon, that is why they are there!