Speedy Recovery from Eye Surgery

So you’ve made the decision to say goodbye to glasses and contacts for good and to invest in restoring your vision with PRK eye surgery. Not only will you be happy not having to worry about the hassles associated with correcting your vision anymore, it’ll also help your wallet in the long run. While results may be almost immediate, there is still a recovery and healing process involved just like with any other type of surgery. The PRK recovery timeline is very similar to that of LASIK. Here are some PRK recovery tips to help that process go as smoothly as possible and allow you to get back to your normal life with perfect vision faster!

• Post surgery, the doctor will insert a contact lens into each eye. It is important the contact fits properly to help promote the tissue to heal and reduce any pain during recovery.
• A patch should be worn if you’re going outside into cold or dry weather due to the fact that blinking will occur less because of the anesthetic drops and the lens can become dislodge.
• The doctor will suggest using the pain-relieving drops as little as possible, excessive use can delay healing.
• During the first few days, try to avoid bright lights due to the eye’s increase sensitivity to light. Halos or glare may appear around bright lights during the first few days as well.
• The eyes may be itchy and uncomfortable initially as the eyes heal.
• Avoid rubbing and getting water in the eyes to prevent damage or infection to the healing tissues. An eye shield should be worn at night to prevent any accidental scratching or rubbing during sleep.
• Wear sunglasses outdoors.
• Avoid dry, dusty, or smoky environments due to the fact that they can cause dry eyes. Carry eye drops or Liquid Tears at all times to address dry eyes as soon as they occur.
• Attend all suggested follow-up visits with your doctor so that your progress can be monitored and any questions or concerns can be addressed.

While these are just a few tips that help speed up the recovery process, each patient is different and heals at a different pace. Contact your doctor with any questions or concerns your might have regarding the surgery itself or recovery and expectations.