LASIK FAQ
DOES LASIK HURT?
The treatment itself is painless, because we use several numbing drops in your eyes to make you more comfortable. No needles or intravenous drugs are used. You may feel some pressure on and around your eyes during the treatment. Some patients experience a feeling of “something in the eye” for a day or so after treatment
WHEN CAN I DRIVE AFTER TREATMENT?
You should NOT drive the day of treatment. After that, you may drive when you feel confident that your vision and eye comfort allow you to drive safely.
CAN I SEE THE TREATMENT AS IT IS BEING PERFORMED?
You will be awake, but feel very relaxed. You will not be able to see any of the details of the treatment. You will see a number of lights, but the images will be blurred.
WHEN CAN I GO BACK TO WORK?
Most patients return to work the day after their treatment. An additional day or two is rarely required before returning back to work. If at all possible, we recommend you relax for a couple of days.
HOW SOON AFTER SURGERY WILL I SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN MY VISION?
Each patient is different. The eye drops cause some blurriness, but most patients notice a dramatic improvement even as they leave the office.
WILL I NEED GLASSES OR CONTACTS AFTER TREATMENT?
The goal of refractive surgery is to reduce your dependence on glasses and/or contacts, but some LASIK patients still may benefit from reading or distance glasses. Most patients under 40 years of age read well without reading glasses. Patients over 40 may need magnification for reading.
HOW SOON CAN I EXCERCISE OR SWIM?
Non-contact sports can be resumed as soon as you feel capable. Eye protection is always recommended. For racket sports or rough sports where there is a risk of being hit in the eye, protective/safety glasses should always be used. You should refrain from swimming in swimming pools for one week and rivers, lakes and oceans for two weeks after your treatment.
HOW SOON CAN I BATHE OR SHOWER AFTER TREATMENT?
You can bathe/shower the same day, as always, you should avoid getting soap or water in your eyes.
HOW SOON CAN I WEAR EYE MAKEUP?
You can resume wearing eye makeup two weeks after your treatment. We strongly recommend that you purchase new eye makeup, specifically mascara to avoid potential infection. Use eye makeup that can be easily removed without having to rub your eyes.
WHAT TYPES OF REFRACTIONS CAN BE CORRECTED?
Nearly all degrees of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatisms can be treated. If your prescription is not treatable by LASIK, Eye Specialists of Delaware may have other refractive surgery options.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ANSWERED, OR TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT.