BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuRefractive corneal surgery - dischargeNearsightedness surgery - discharge; Refractive surgery - discharge; LASIK - discharge; PRK - discharge; SMILE - dischargeYou had refractive corneal surgery to help improve your vision. This article tells you what you need to know to care for yourself following the procedure.When You're in the Laser CenterYou had refractive corneal surgery to help improve your vision. This surgery uses a laser to reshape your cornea. It corrects mild-to-moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. You will be less dependent on glasses or contact lenses after the surgery. Sometimes, you will no longer need glasses.NearsightednessNearsightedness is when light entering the eye is focused incorrectly. This makes distant objects appear blurred. Nearsightedness is a type of refr...Read Article Now Book Mark Article FarsightednessFarsightedness is having a harder time seeing objects that are close than things that are far away. The term is often used to describe the need for r...Read Article Now Book Mark Article AstigmatismAstigmatism is a type of refractive error of the eye. Refractive errors cause blurred vision. They are the most common reason why a person goes to ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Your surgery most likely took less than 30 minutes. You may have had the surgery in both eyes.If you had SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction) surgery there is less concern about touching or bumping the eye than with LASIK surgery.LASIKLASIK is eye surgery that permanently changes the shape of the cornea (the clear covering on the front of the eye). It is done to improve vision and...Read Article Now Book Mark Article What to Expect at HomeYou may have a shield over your eye when you go home after surgery. This will keep you from rubbing or putting pressure on your eye. It will also protect your eye from being hit or poked.After surgery, you may have:Mild pain, a burning or scratchy feeling, tearing, light sensitivity, and hazy or blurred vision for the first day or so. After PRK, these symptoms will last a few days longer. Red or bloodshot whites of your eyes. This may last for up to 3 weeks after surgery. Dry eyes for up to 3 months.For 1 to 6 months after surgery, you may:Notice glare, starbursts, or halos in your eyes, particularly when you are driving at night. This should be better in 3 months. Have fluctuating vision for the first 6 months.Self-care and Follow-upYou will probably see your health care provider 1 or 2 days after surgery. Your provider will tell you what steps to take as you recover, such as:Take a few days off from work after surgery until most of your symptoms get better. Avoid all noncontact activities (such as bicycling and working out at the gym) for at least 3 days after surgery. Avoid contact sports (such as boxing and football) for the first 4 weeks after surgery. Do not swim or use a hot tub or whirlpool for about 2 weeks. (Ask your provider.) Your provider will give you eye drops to help prevent infection and reduce inflammation and soreness.You will need to take care of your eyes:Do not rub or squeeze your eyes. Rubbing and squeezing could dislodge the flap, particularly during the day of your surgery. If this happens, you will need another surgery to repair it. Starting the day after surgery, it should be OK to use artificial tears. Check with your provider. Do not wear contact lenses on the eye that had surgery, even if you have blurry vision. If you had a PRK procedure your provider probably put contact lenses in at the end of your surgery to help healing. In most cases, these stay in place for about 4 days. Do not use any makeup, creams, or lotions around your eye for the first 2 weeks. Always protect your eyes from being hit or bumped. Always wear sunglasses when you are in the sun. When to Call the DoctorCall your provider if you have:A steady decrease in vision A steady increase in pain Any new problem or symptom with your eyes, such as floaters, flashing lights, double vision, or light sensitivityOpen ReferencesReferencesAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology website. Preferred Practice Patterns Refractive Management/Intervention Panel. Refractive errors & refractive surgery - 2017. www.aao.org/preferred-practice-pattern/refractive-errors-refractive-surgery-ppp-2017. Updated November 2017. Accessed September 23, 2020.Sierra PB, Hardten DR. LASIK. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 3.4.Salmon JF. Corneal and refractive surgery. In: Salmon JF, ed. Kanski's Clinical Ophthalmology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 8.Taneri S, Mimura T, Azar DT. Current concepts, classification, and history of refractive surgery. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 3.1.US Food and Drug Administration website. What should I expect before, during, and after surgery? www.fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/what-should-i-expect-during-and-after-surgery. Updated July 11, 2017. Accessed September 23, 2020.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Vision problems(Symptoms)LASIK eye surgery(Surgery) Review Date: 8/18/2020 Reviewed By: Franklin W. Lusby, MD, ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Refractive corneal surgery - dischargeNearsightedness surgery - discharge; Refractive surgery - discharge; LASIK - discharge; PRK - discharge; SMILE - dischargeYou had refractive corneal surgery to help improve your vision. This article tells you what you need to know to care for yourself following the procedure.When You're in the Laser CenterYou had refractive corneal surgery to help improve your vision. This surgery uses a laser to reshape your cornea. It corrects mild-to-moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. You will be less dependent on glasses or contact lenses after the surgery. Sometimes, you will no longer need glasses.NearsightednessNearsightedness is when light entering the eye is focused incorrectly. This makes distant objects appear blurred. Nearsightedness is a type of refr...Read Article Now Book Mark Article FarsightednessFarsightedness is having a harder time seeing objects that are close than things that are far away. The term is often used to describe the need for r...Read Article Now Book Mark Article AstigmatismAstigmatism is a type of refractive error of the eye. Refractive errors cause blurred vision. They are the most common reason why a person goes to ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Your surgery most likely took less than 30 minutes. You may have had the surgery in both eyes.If you had SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction) surgery there is less concern about touching or bumping the eye than with LASIK surgery.LASIKLASIK is eye surgery that permanently changes the shape of the cornea (the clear covering on the front of the eye). It is done to improve vision and...Read Article Now Book Mark Article What to Expect at HomeYou may have a shield over your eye when you go home after surgery. This will keep you from rubbing or putting pressure on your eye. It will also protect your eye from being hit or poked.After surgery, you may have:Mild pain, a burning or scratchy feeling, tearing, light sensitivity, and hazy or blurred vision for the first day or so. After PRK, these symptoms will last a few days longer. Red or bloodshot whites of your eyes. This may last for up to 3 weeks after surgery. Dry eyes for up to 3 months.For 1 to 6 months after surgery, you may:Notice glare, starbursts, or halos in your eyes, particularly when you are driving at night. This should be better in 3 months. Have fluctuating vision for the first 6 months.Self-care and Follow-upYou will probably see your health care provider 1 or 2 days after surgery. Your provider will tell you what steps to take as you recover, such as:Take a few days off from work after surgery until most of your symptoms get better. Avoid all noncontact activities (such as bicycling and working out at the gym) for at least 3 days after surgery. Avoid contact sports (such as boxing and football) for the first 4 weeks after surgery. Do not swim or use a hot tub or whirlpool for about 2 weeks. (Ask your provider.) Your provider will give you eye drops to help prevent infection and reduce inflammation and soreness.You will need to take care of your eyes:Do not rub or squeeze your eyes. Rubbing and squeezing could dislodge the flap, particularly during the day of your surgery. If this happens, you will need another surgery to repair it. Starting the day after surgery, it should be OK to use artificial tears. Check with your provider. Do not wear contact lenses on the eye that had surgery, even if you have blurry vision. If you had a PRK procedure your provider probably put contact lenses in at the end of your surgery to help healing. In most cases, these stay in place for about 4 days. Do not use any makeup, creams, or lotions around your eye for the first 2 weeks. Always protect your eyes from being hit or bumped. Always wear sunglasses when you are in the sun. When to Call the DoctorCall your provider if you have:A steady decrease in vision A steady increase in pain Any new problem or symptom with your eyes, such as floaters, flashing lights, double vision, or light sensitivityOpen ReferencesReferencesAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology website. Preferred Practice Patterns Refractive Management/Intervention Panel. Refractive errors & refractive surgery - 2017. www.aao.org/preferred-practice-pattern/refractive-errors-refractive-surgery-ppp-2017. Updated November 2017. Accessed September 23, 2020.Sierra PB, Hardten DR. LASIK. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 3.4.Salmon JF. Corneal and refractive surgery. In: Salmon JF, ed. Kanski's Clinical Ophthalmology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 8.Taneri S, Mimura T, Azar DT. Current concepts, classification, and history of refractive surgery. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 3.1.US Food and Drug Administration website. What should I expect before, during, and after surgery? www.fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/what-should-i-expect-during-and-after-surgery. Updated July 11, 2017. Accessed September 23, 2020.
