Your Post LASIK Surgery To-Do List

LASIK can be a life-changing event. It modifies your morning and evening rituals, shapes the way you look at the world and reminds you of how it feels to look at beautiful things without obstruction. While you should enjoy your improved vision, it is also important to take care of a few practical matters after your laser vision correction procedure.

Write Down Questions

Everyone has a different experience with LASIK, especially when it comes to vision improvements and side effects. Some people experience extremely clear vision just a day or two after the procedure, while others experience gradual improvements over several months. This is why your doctor encourages you to schedule follow-up appointments in the days, weeks and months after the procedure.

You might notice certain changes to your vision when you get home after the treatment. Some patients report seeing halos around lights or describe poor night vision right after surgery. If this happens, make a note of it, so you will remember to bring it up at your next follow-up appointment. Open communication with your doctor is essential to the success of LASIK treatment. If you are alarmed by any side effects or vision changes, call your doctor immediately.

Protect Your Eyes

Many patients begin to rely too heavily on their improved vision after LASIK treatment. They forget their eyes are still sensitive, vulnerable organs that require protection, especially when they might be exposed to dangerous conditions or substances. After LASIK, protect your investment in your health by taking care of your eyes.

Wear goggles when you swim in chlorinated water, wear sunglasses when you venture outside into bright sunlight and use safety glasses when working with caustic chemicals or heavy machinery. Right after the procedure, your doctor will provide you with a list of rules to follow during your recovery. You might be instructed to take baths rather than showers, avoid wearing eye makeup or stay out of the pool.

Inform Your Employer

If your occupation requires your vision to be corrected for safety purposes, inform your employer as soon as you undergo LASIK treatment. The company will need to amend any requirements about the use of corrective lenses based on your current visual acuity. Ideally, employees should discuss this with their employers prior to the procedure and keep them updated.

You might have to provide your employer with a written statement from your physician attesting to your improved vision. It is important to take care of this as quickly as possible, so you are not penalized at work.

Inform the DMV

Additionally, you will need to change your vision status with the Department of Motor Vehicles  (DMV). If your driver’s license is issued with restrictions for corrective lenses, you might get in trouble if you are ever pulled over for a traffic violation. According to WKYC, a state trooper pulled over Cleveland resident Meredith Crock for speeding. When he inquired about her contact lenses, she informed him she no longer needed them because of LASIK. He wrote her two tickets: one for speeding and the other for failing to update the DMV.

Invest in High-Quality Sunglasses

Like many people with poor vision, you might have relied on prescription sunglasses for years. Now that you have had LASIK, you can shop for a pair of regular sunglasses with no corrective lenses. You can have fun picking out the style you want, but you should also focus on protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays.

You might be tempted to purchase 10 pairs of cheap sunglasses for variety’s sake, but it would be a better idea to invest in one or two pairs of high-quality sunglasses. Select polycarbonate or polyurethane lenses for maximum impact resistance and consider brown or green tinting for better glare protection. Look for lenses that block 100 percent of UV light, so you do not risk sunburn or other vision-related damage. Check out these other tips for choosing sunglasses that protect your vision and suit your lifestyle.

Life after LASIK can be difficult to get used to at first, but eventually your improved visual acuity will become normal rather than novel. As long as you take care of your eyes and follow all legal and occupational requirements, it will not be long before you adjust to seeing the world without a blurry haze.