LASIK Surgery Aftercare
Following LASIK eye surgery, one of the first things you’ll notice (besides clearer vision) is just how quickly your eyes start to heal. Most LASIK patients begin to experience improved vision almost immediately after their procedure—a newfound clarity that will continue to sharpen over the next few days. While everyone’s healing process varies slightly, a majority of LASIK patients achieve stable vision within just a few days to a couple of weeks.
At 20/20 Institute, 99.67% of our LASIK patients have achieved 20/20 vision or better in the days and weeks following surgery. While achieving clearer vision may take slightly longer for some patients, we prioritize your recovery just as much as the procedure itself. We will continue to monitor your progress, address your questions, and do everything possible to ensure your absolute visual satisfaction.
One year of follow-up visits is included in the cost of LASIK at 20/20 Institute. During these visits, we will discuss proper LASIK surgery aftercare to make sure you have the tools you need to make the swiftest recovery. Our vision experts have found that timely and consistent LASIK aftercare practices are essential for helping our patients get back to their normal routines as quickly as possible.
Questions About LASIK Aftercare? Contact Us Today!
If you have questions about LASIK, aftercare, or anything else related to laser vision correction, we’re here to help. Call us at 303-202-0669 to set up a FREE LASIK consultation. Our local and independent LASIK experts have served Denver and nearby communities for more than 20 years. With offices in Colorado Springs, the DTC, LoDo, and Westminster, we welcome patients from all areas of the state.
LASIK Surgery Aftercare: What to Do
To get the best results from your procedure, it’s important to follow a few key LASIK aftercare steps. Taking care of your eyes immediately after surgery can make all the difference in your LASIK recovery and overall satisfaction with your results.
Optimal LASIK surgery aftercare includes:
- Taking All Prescribed Medications. Antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and lubricating eyedrops are required to prevent infection and ease temporary discomfort. It is very important to follow the directions carefully, applying the drops as directed to support healing.
- Attending All Scheduled Follow-Up Appointments. LASIK aftercare follow-up appointments allow your eye surgeon to track your recovery process, assess your vision stability, and answer your questions. Attending each of these visits helps to ensure you are healing properly and that any concerns you have can be addressed without delay.
- Resting Your Eyes. Immediately after your LASIK procedure, you will want to rest and relax (just maybe not with a screen…see below). While your eyes will likely heal very quickly after LASIK, this little break will help to pave the way for the smoothest and most comfortable recovery period.
While far from a comprehensive list, these basic LASIK surgery aftercare steps can help give your eyes the support they need to recover comfortably. However, issues specific to an individual patient may not apply to every situation. The best way to learn what your LASIK aftercare may entail is through a consultation with an experienced laser vision correction specialist. Contact us today to schedule your FREE consultation and learn more.
LASIK Aftercare: What NOT to Do
LASIK surgery aftercare includes several essential “dos,” but there are also some things you will want to avoid. Activities to steer clear of while recovering from LASIK include:
- No Eye Rubbing. It is never a good thing to rub your eyes. Eye rubbing can cause damage to the cornea even before having LASIK. It is important to not rub your eyes after LASIK. If you need to rub your eyes now, ask the doctor what may be causing that symptom.
- Day of Surgery: Reduces Computer Use. You will want to take the day of your LASIK surgery (and perhaps after) off. This will give your eyes time to rest and relax. Reduce screen use (computers, tablets, cell phones, etc.) for around 24 hours to help prevent eye strain, discomfort and dryness.
- Getting Water, Soap, or Shampoo in Your Eyes. While you can shower as normal after LASIK, you should try to avoid getting water, soap, or shampoo in your eyes for at least one week. However, because swimming pools, hot tubs, and natural bodies of water may also contain harmful bacteria, it is important to wait one to two weeks before you resume swimming, soaking, floating, and similar activities. Be sure to get the doctor’s approval if you need to get back in the water sooner.
- Limit Heavy Lifting and Strenuous Exercise. Strenuous physical activity—especially activities that can cause eye trauma (like contact sports) or allow sweat to drip into your eyes—can affect healing. However, while you may need to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for one to two weeks, low-risk activities and most workouts are fine.
- Eye Makeup, Lotions, and Creams. Avoid makeup products like mascara and eyeliner, as well as eye creams, lotions, balms, slaves, and similar products for 48- 72 hours after LASIK eye surgery. These things can irritate and may increase the risk of infection.
Again, while not a complete list of what to avoid during your LASIK aftercare period, these limits apply to a large number of LASIK patients. During your FREE consultation with one of our Denver LASIK doctors, we can discuss your specific needs to help you determine what you may need to avoid after your procedure.
Don’t Neglect Your Follow-Up Visits
One of the most important parts of LASIK surgery aftercare is your follow-up visits. These allow us to gauge how you’re progressing, address any concerns that may be arising, and provide tips on how to continue healing comfortably. That’s why, at 20/20 Institute, a full year of follow-up visits is included in your comprehensive LASIK care package at no additional cost. We will also provide you with 24/7 access to your LASIK doctor, enabling you to contact the source directly with any questions or concerns.
Why Choose 20/20 Institute for Your LASIK Surgery?
There are a number of reasons to choose our independent, local, and doctor-owned LASIK practice. Some reasons mentioned in our numerous 5-star reviews include:
- Exceptional Patient Care. We offer concierge-level service with no-wait office visits, complimentary amenities, and friendly and supportive staff.
- Advanced LASIK Technology. Each of our LASIK procedures is performed with Wavefront Optimized® technology, allowing for safe, predictable, and customizable results.
- Colorado’s Best Price LASIK Guarantee. If you receive a lower-priced quote from a LASIK provider, we invite you to bring that quote to your complimentary evaluation. Our counselors will honor that lower fee and match the services being offered by the other provider.
- Unsurpassed LASIK Results. The most recent study performed on our results found that 99.67% of our patients have achieved 20/20 vision or better following full recovery from LASIK.
When you choose 20/20 Institute, you benefit from a team of experienced doctors and LASIK care specialists who will guide you every step of the way. Transparent in our every interaction, we are here to support you throughout your vision correction journey and help you see the world with greater clarity.
Contact Us to Learn More About LASIK Surgery Aftercare
Curious about LASIK and what aftercare might look like with 20/20 Institute? We’d love to answer any questions you may have. Contact us online or give us a call to schedule your complimentary LASIK consultation today. We have offices in Westminster, Lower Downtown Denver, Englewood, and Colorado Springs. We welcome patients from all areas of Colorado.