Things to Avoid After Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery provides many people with the option to get rid of their contact lenses and glasses and improve their quality of life with better vision. When considering laser eye surgery, it is important to understand what to expect with recovery. 

Following surgery, there will be certain restrictions on the patient’s activities for a period of time after the procedure. Understanding the recovery process will help a patient to avoid making mistakes which can be detrimental to the recovery process or otherwise put the patient and their vision at risk. Below are some tips of what to avoid after laser eye surgery:

• Avoid driving until you are instructed to by your doctor.
• Avoid showering for the first 24 hours after surgery and be careful not to allow the shower to spray directly into your face for the first week.
• Avoid pools, hot tubs, saunas, and lakes for at least 3 weeks.
• Avoid watching TV, reading, or using the computer for the first 24 hours as these activities may strain your eyes.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes.
• Avoid eye makeup.
• Avoid alcohol consumption for 48 hours after surgery.
• Avoid physical activities which might cause eye injury.
• Avoid exercise for at least one week after the surgery. 
• Avoid dirty and dusty environments.
• Avoid direct sunlight and wear sunglasses with proper UV protection whenever you are outdoors.

Your surgeon or ophthalmologist will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your results and potential problems such as epithelial growth. Contact your physician immediately if you experience any complications.

It’s important that patients follow all their doctor’s advice and instructions on protecting the eyes after the procedure – even though the eyes tend to feel fine the first couple days after surgery. 

To learn more or to find out if laser eye surgery is a good option for you, contact Tidewater Eye at 757-483-0400 or website.