8 Ways to Manage Pain after LASIK
After laser vision correction, you may experience mild pain and discomfort. The pain will fade away as your eyes heal and adjust.
Here are seven tips to help you manage pain after LASIK surgery:
1. Rest Your Eyes
After the procedure, avoid all activities that might cause eye strain. For example, don’t watch TV, read, or use your smartphone or computer.
Rest your eyes instead. Most doctors will advise you to sleep after the surgery. Sleep helps ease the pain and eye discomfort, and your eyes heal faster if you limit function.
2. Take Pain Medication as Needed
If you experience pain after surgery, take pain medication only as prescribed by your surgeon. You can also buy over-the-counter pain relievers they recommend. Some medications can also help reduce inflammation and swelling.
3. Use Eye Drops
Your surgeon may prescribe antibiotics and lubricating eye drops after your surgery. Antibiotics help prevent infections that cause pain and prolong the healing period. Lubricating eye drops or artificial tears will help prevent dry eyes and ease pain and itchiness.
4. Wear a Hat and Sunglasses Outdoors
Your eyes will be sensitive, especially to light, for several days post-surgery. Wear a hat with a brim or sunglasses when you’re outdoors to prevent direct sunlight from harming your eyes.
Dark sunglasses can shield your eyes from harmful UV rays and protect them from dry air, dust, or debris. Try to stay indoors if possible, especially on very bright days.
5. Avoid Potential Dry Eye Situations
Dry eye is likely to be a recurring pain source for weeks or months after the LASIK procedure. Avoid dusty, dry, or smoky places, which may trigger dry eye attacks.
Keeping your environment clean and dust-free can minimize irritation and help your eyes heal faster. Having lubricating eye drops with you at all times will help you manage sudden dry eye attacks.
6. Wear Your LASIK Eye Shields
After LASIK surgery, your surgeon will provide you with protective goggles to wear. These goggles protect your eyes from rubbing or unintentional contact, especially while you sleep.
LASIK eye shields are typically worn the entire day after surgery and afterward at night only. However, instructions might differ depending on your situation.
7. Cold Compresses and Hydration
If you’re feeling a bit of soreness or inflammation, gently applying a cold compress to your closed eyes can work wonders. The cold sensation can help reduce swelling while your eyes heal. Additionally, staying hydrated is essential for overall health, but it’s especially important for your eyes during recovery.
8. Attend Follow-Up Visits
Visiting your surgeon for a checkup will ensure successful healing. They will be able to detect any issues before they worsen during these visits. They will also provide post-surgery advice and address any concerns.
What Influences Pain Levels?
Pain is a subjective experience, and some people may feel more uncomfortable than others. There are various factors that can influence your perception of pain after LASIK, including:
- Your pain tolerance
- Your own perception or anxiety
- Your surgeon’s expertise
- The technology your surgeon uses
- How well you follow post-operative instructions
When Should You See a Doctor?
Some slight discomfort is normal and part of the healing process. For example, you may feel an itchy or gritty sensation in your eyes, like a foreign object is stuck in them.
Light sensitivity might also affect your ability to see clearly. Fortunately, the discomfort should go away with time.
However, there are some very rare cases where people report severe post-LASIK pain, which may be the result of flap dislocation, infection, or other LASIK complications. Contact your surgeon immediately if you experience extreme pain accompanied by tearing or vision changes.
Is LASIK Right for You?
LASIK may work for you if you have astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness. However, some factors may disqualify you from being a candidate for LASIK.
For example, someone with a thin cornea may not benefit from the surgery. This is because the LASIK flap requires a thick cornea. Other criteria include:
- Being 18 years or older (21 years or older is preferred).
- Having good general health.
- Having no eye diseases such as cataracts or keratoconus.
- Not having irregularly shaped corneas (keratoconus or other corneal disease).
- A stable vision prescription for at least one year.
- Not currently taking any medication that could interfere with healing.
Additionally, insurance doesn’t cover LASIK, meaning it can be quite expensive for some people. The procedure generally costs about $2,000 to $3,000 per eye. Before making a decision, talk to your doctor about pricing to ensure you can afford it.
Alternatives To LASIK
If you don’t qualify for LASIK surgery, there are alternatives that may work for you:
- IntraLase LASIK (iLASIK)
- Epithelial laser in-situ keratomileusis (Epi-LASIK)
- Implantable collamer lens (ICL) or Visian ICL
- Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
- Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)
- Intraocular lens implants (IOLs)
- Refractive lens exchange surgery (RLE)
What to Expect During LASIK?
If you’re undergoing traditional LASIK surgery, you will sit on a reclining chair. After a final examination, your surgeon will use a blade known as a microkeratome to cut a piece of your cornea. They will leave a hinge location to hold the tissue in place.
Your surgeon will then fold the flap backward to expose the inner corneal tissue. They’ll then create a flap to reshape your cornea underneath.
Once that’s done, your surgeon will reposition the flap and smooth it out to remove bubbles and folds. The LASIK procedure lasts about 30 minutes or less for both eyes.
What Happens After LASIK?
After the procedure, your doctor will prescribe pain medications and lubricating eye drops to ease any flap-related discomfort. Your doctor will also provide post-operative instructions to help you manage the healing process.
Most people develop clear vision a day or two after LASIK. However, it may take 2 to 3 months for the flap to heal and the vision to stabilize fully. After about a week of healing, you can resume normal activities such as driving and reading but do so in moderation.
Potential Side Effects of LASIK Eye Surgery
Although LASIK involves minimal downtime, you may experience some side effects after the procedure. Some people report:
- Dry eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Gritty or itchy feeling in the eyes
- Mild discomfort
- Red eyes
- Glares and halos around lights
- Blurry vision
- Excess tearing
- Temporary vision loss
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