Common Questions about Your LASIK Surgery Day

At the LASIK practice of Dr. Christopher Walton, you will enjoy a smooth surgical process. This includes making sure you know what to expect during recovery. Since the recovery from LASIK is quite rapid, most people want to know what to expect in the time immediately following surgery:

Driving home. You will not be able to drive yourself home after LASIK surgery. Your vision will be a little unpredictable. You’ll likely see an immediate result, but it’s also expected you’ll have blurry vision as your eyes heal. Eye drops administered during the procedure may also make your eyes sensitive to light. If Dr. Walton recommends a sedating medication as part of the procedure, that will also affect your ability to drive. So, in advance of your surgical appointment, be sure to arrange a ride home from a friend or family member.

Getting back to your normal activities. Today’s advanced LASIK procedures mean downtime is minimal. You should be able to get back to all your normal activities a few hours after the procedure, and certainly by the next day.

Computer work. If your job involves computer screens, it’s safe to go back to work as early as the day after surgery; however, you may want to use artificial tears for any dry eye you experience for the first few weeks.

When each eye is treated. In virtually all cases, LASIK is performed on each eye on the same day, in the same surgery. It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete each eye. There’s usually no reason to schedule each eye separately, and completing the entire thing in one procedure is better for the patient, as you won’t have to undergo the appointment twice.

Showering. You can shower or take a bath the day after surgery. But you must not let water, soap, facial cleanser or anything else get in your eyes! So it’s best to keep your head turned up and away from the stream of water. You’ll want to wait about a week before getting your face and eyes wet. If soap, water or other things get in before that, it could lead to an infection or to irritation that causes you to rub your eyes.

Eye cosmetics. Purchase all new eye cosmetics. This will help you prevent eye infection from any germs contained in your old cosmetics. Wait about a week before wearing mascara, eye liner or eye shadow.

Finding the Best Time for You

If you are ready to take the next step, Dr. Walton and our team are ready to guide you through the process. We’ll help you find an appointment time that works for your schedule and commitments. Although the recovery is quick, it’s important to make sure you have the time you need to bounce back. If that means taking some time off from work, having a spouse or loved one perform childcare duties, or taking a break from exercise and social outings, we encourage you to take that time for yourself.

To arrange a consultation with Dr. Christopher Walton in Mobile, Alabama, please call our staff at 251-341-3385. You can also complete the contact form on this page. Your LASIK consultation is FREE!