You had refractive corneal surgery to help improve your vision. This surgery corrects mild-to-moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by using a laser to re-shape your cornea. You will be less dependant on glasses or contacts. Sometimes, you will no longer need glasses.
Your surgery probably took less than 30 minutes. You may have had the surgery in both eyes.
You will 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.
Symptoms or problems you may have at first are:
For 1 - 6 months after surgery, you may:
You will probably see your doctor 1 or 2 days after surgery. Your doctor will tell you what activities you can do. Common guidelines are:
Your doctor will give you eye drops to help prevent infection and reduce inflammation and soreness.
You will need to take care of your eyes:
Call your doctor if you have:
Nearsightedness surgery - discharge; Laser vision correction - discharge; Refractive surgery - discharge; LASIK - discharge; PRK - discharge
Steinert RF, Mccolgin AZ. LASIK. In: Tasman W, Jaeger EA, eds. Duane’s Ophthalmology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009:chap 49.
Mimura T, Azar DT. Refractive surgery. Yanoff M, Duker JS, Augsburger JJ, et al. Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2008:chap 3.1.
Wilkinson PS, Davis EA, Hardten DR. Lasik. Yanoff M, Duker JS, Augsburger JJ, et al. Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2008:chap 3.5.
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; and Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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