How To Relieve Pain After Laser Eye Surgery: Tips To Know

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Laser eye surgery, like LASIK treatment or PRK, can be an exciting change for many people. It helps you see better and live without glasses or contact lenses. Sometimes, you might feel some discomfort as your eyes heal. Knowing how to relieve pain after laser eye surgery is very important for a calm and easy recovery. This guide will give you tips, remedies, and expert advice to make your healing as smooth as possible.

How To Relieve Pain After Laser Eye Surgery

After laser eye surgery, it’s important to take steps to feel better and help your eyes heal. The first few hours after the surgery are especially important. Here are some things you can do right away to feel more comfortable:

Use Prescribed Medicated Eye Drops: After surgery, your doctor will give you specific eye drops to help your eyes heal. These drops might include medicine that stops swelling or prevents infection. Using these drops exactly as your doctor tells you to is very important. This will help reduce pain and keep your eyes safe from germs.
Apply Artificial Tears: Sometimes, your eyes might feel dry or itchy after surgery. To help with this, you can use special eye drops called artificial tears. These drops are like fake tears that can make your eyes feel wet and comfortable again. They can also help stop your eyes from feeling sore or tired, especially in the first few days after the surgery.
Keep Your Eyes Closed: Resting with your eyes closed is a good way to let your eyes heal. It helps prevent eye irritation and gives them a chance to recover. During the first few hours, staying away from bright lights and screens, such as phones, computers, or TVs, is a good idea. This can help reduce eye strain and make you feel more relaxed.
Wear Protective Eye Shields: Your doctor might give you shields to wear over your eyes after surgery. These shields protect your eyes while they heal. They stop you from accidentally rubbing your eyes, which can be harmful. You should wear the shields as your doctor tells you, especially when you are sleeping, so your eyes can heal.
Take Pain Medication If Advised: If your eyes hurt, your doctor might tell you to take pain medicine. You can buy this at the store, like a pain reliever. Yet, if you have severe pain that doesn’t go away, you should talk to your doctor right away. They can help you feel better and make sure everything is healing.

Causes Of Discomfort During Laser Eye Surgery Recovery

When you have laser eye treatment, it’s normal to feel some discomfort as your eyes heal. Knowing what might be causing the discomfort can help you care for yourself. Here are some common things that might make your eyes feel uncomfortable:

Dryness

After the surgery, the nerves in your cornea (the clear part of your eye) need time to heal. While they are healing, your eyes might feel dry, scratchy, or tired. This is normal and usually goes away as your eyes heal. You can use special eye drops to help keep your eyes moist and comfortable during this time.

Light Sensitivity

Bright lights might hurt or make your eyes feel uncomfortable after your surgery. This is called light sensitivity. For a little while after the surgery, your eyes might be more sensitive than usual. Avoid bright lights and wear sunglasses if you go outside. This will help protect your eyes and make you feel more comfortable.

Corneal Flap Dislocation

In LASIK surgery, a small flap is made in your cornea. If this flap is not protected after the surgery, it can move out of place. This is called flap dislocation. It’s important to keep your eyes safe and follow your doctor’s instructions so the flap stays in the right place. Wearing protective eye shields, especially while sleeping, can help prevent this.

Inflammation

It’s normal to have a little swelling or puffiness around your eyes during healing. This is called inflammation, and it usually happens as part of the body’s natural healing. It might make your eyes feel sore or puffy, but it usually disappears after a few days. You should talk to your doctor if the swelling worsens or doesn’t improve.

Tips For Managing Pain During The Recovery Phase

After laser eye surgery, your eyes need time to heal. Sometimes, you might feel some discomfort, but there are easy ways to make things feel better. Following a few simple steps can help your eyes recover more easily. Here are some helpful tips to manage moderate pain and make your recovery smoother:

Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions: The most important thing you can do to help your eyes heal is to listen to your doctor. Your doctor will give you special instructions to follow. These instructions help you recover the right way and stop problems from happening. Always ask your doctor if you need clarification on anything.
Use Cold Compresses: If your eyes feel swollen, puffy, or itchy after surgery, cold compresses can help a lot. A cold compress is a clean cloth that’s cooled in the fridge. Gently place the cold cloth on your closed eyes to help reduce the swelling and soothe any itchiness. This will help you feel more comfortable.
Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes: It’s very important to keep your hands off your eyes, even if they feel itchy or dry. Rubbing your eyes can hurt healing, especially when your cornea has been worked on. If your eyes feel dry, use eye drops, such as artificial tears, to moisten them instead of rubbing them.
Rest Your Eyes Frequently: Your eyes need lots of rest to heal well. Taking breaks from reading, looking at a screen, or doing anything that makes your eyes work hard is a good idea. By resting your eyes often, you give them a chance to heal. Try to relax and let your eyes rest as much as possible.
Wear Sunglasses Outdoors: After laser eye surgery, your eyes might be more sensitive to bright light, and the sun can worsen things. Sunglasses are a great way to protect your eyes. They prevent bright sunlight from hurting your eyes and block harmful UV rays. Wearing sunglasses will also help your eyes feel more comfortable outside.
Regular Follow-Up Visits: It’s very important to keep all your follow-up visits with your eye doctor. These visits help the doctor check how your eyes are healing. The doctor will make sure everything is going well and that your eyes are recovering the way they should. Be sure to go to these appointments and ask questions if you are unsure about anything.

Long-Term Healing Process

Healing your eyes after laser surgery is an important process. It’s not just about feeling better in the first few days—it’s about taking care of your eyes over time. By following your doctor’s advice and doing simple things to help, your eyes will heal well in the long run.

PRK Recovery Vs. LASIK Recovery

When you have PRK surgery, it can take a little longer for your eyes to heal. This is because there is no specific corneal flap made in your eye during PRK. With LASIK, recovery is quicker, but you still need to care for your eyes and follow instructions to heal.

Use Of Bandage Contact Lenses

Sometimes, doctors put a specific contact lens on your eye after surgery to help it heal. This lens works like a little bandage for your eye. It’s very important that only your doctor removes the lens during your follow-up visits. Do not try to remove it yourself.

Healing Period Expectations

After surgery, you might notice your vision getting better in a few days or up to two weeks. But your eyes are still healing, and it can take months for them to heal completely. How long it takes depends on the type of surgery you had. Be patient and keep caring for your eyes as your doctor tells you.

Activities To Avoid During The Recovery Period

Your eyes are healing after laser vision correction and need great care. It’s important to avoid certain activities that could harm your recovery. These steps will help protect your eyes and ensure their healing well.

Contact Sports: You should skip playing contact sports for at least a month. This will protect your eyes from injury while they heal.
Wearing Eye Makeup: Do not wear eye makeup for at least a week. This reduces the chance of irritation or infection.
Avoid Showering Face: Keep water away from your eyes when showering to avoid disturbing recovery.
Minimise Screen Time: Reduce your time spent in front of screens. Too much screen time can strain your eyes and slow down the healing process.

When To Contact Your Surgeon Immediately

Some discomfort is normal, but there are times when you should contact your doctor right away. Call your surgeon if you experience:

Very strong post-LASIK pain that doesn’t get better with medicine
Sudden loss of vision or blurry sight that doesn’t improve
Redness, swelling, or unusual discharge, which could mean an infection
Trouble using prescribed eye drops or artificial tears

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive after laser eye surgery?

Due to blurry vision or light sensitivity, you can’t drive immediately after surgery. You should wait at least 24–48 hours before driving. Once your vision improves and you feel comfortable, you can start driving.

How soon can I return to work after laser eye surgery?

You can go back to work in 2–3 days, especially if your job is at a desk and doesn’t need hard work. If your job is physical or you work with dust or chemicals, you might need more time to rest.

Can laser eye surgery fix all vision problems?

Laser surgery helps with problems like being unable to see far away or close up or having blurry vision. Yet, it might not work for everyone. Your doctor will check your eyes to see if it will help you.

What should I expect during my initial consultation?

At your first visit, the doctor will check your eyes to make sure they are healthy and see how well you can see. The doctor will then talk to you about the surgery, what could happen, and how it can help you.

Are there any age restrictions for laser eye surgery?

You need to be at least 18 years old for laser eye surgery because your eyes stop changing when you are older. People over 40 can have surgery, but they might need extra help for problems that happen as we age.

Can laser eye surgery correct both eyes at once?

Yes, people can get surgery on both eyes in the same visit. This happens all the time. Some people may choose to have one eye done at a time if that feels better for them. The doctor will tell you what is best for you.

Will I experience vision changes over time?

Laser eye surgery works for a long time, but your vision might change as you get older. You might have trouble seeing close up or other changes in your vision. Most patients may still see well for many years after the surgery.

Conclusion

Your first step towards a sharp vision is knowing how to relieve pain after laser eye surgery. To help ease pain after surgery, it’s important to listen to your doctor, take their medicine, and care for your eyes. You can enjoy better vision by resting and not doing things that could hurt your eyes.

Laser eye surgery is a big step towards better vision and a better life. With the right care, you will enjoy the benefits of this life-changing procedure.

If you currently want to get laser eye surgery, book a consultation with Dr Anton today! He is here in Melbourne to answer all your questions and help you find the best solution for your eyes.

Contact Dr Anton Van Heerden today at 03 9000 0389 to schedule your appointment!

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Sources:

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Meštrović T 2023. LASIK Complications. News-Medical. Available at: https://www.news-medical.net/health/LASIK-Complications.aspx [Accessed December 16, 2024]

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Silver N 2021. What Causes Dry Eyes After LASIK Surgery, and How to Treat Them. Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/dry-eye/dry-eyes-after-lasik [Accessed December 16, 2024]

Watson S 2022. PRK Vs. LASIK. WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/prk-vs-lasik [Accessed December 16, 2024]