girl smiling after LASIK surgery

It’s pretty difficult to call recovering from any surgical procedure relaxing. But LASIK isn’t nearly as intense to recover from as some other surgeries!

You can even follow this guide to make your recovery easier, faster, safer, and more enjoyable. Keep reading for 5 tips for a more relaxed LASIK recovery!

1. Rest- Especially Right After Surgery

Sleep is a huge part of how the body recovers. It is absolutely necessary that you get plenty of rest while you recover from LASIK.

The last thing you want to do after the procedure is to go out and party. But even if you are feeling pretty good, the best thing you can do to aid your recovery is to sleep and rest after LASIK.

You will be given some time to rest in the clinic after the procedure is over. When it’s time to go home, you won’t be able to drive home, so make sure someone can drive you back.

Due to the numbing eye drops given before LASIK, your vision will probably still be pretty blurry. This can be a little disorienting to get used to.

When you get home, feel free to sleep as much as you need but be sure to wear the eye shields provided to you. Rubbing or bumping your eyes is a bad idea! Avoid this during the initial phase of recovery so you don’t cause complications.

2. Avoid That Hot Tub

If you have a hot tub, you may think that this will be the perfect way to spend some time relaxing. But you should refrain from using your hot tub as well as taking part in any other water activities.

This includes swimming or using a bathtub. Getting water in your eyes is a great way to introduce harmful microbes that can cause an infection. You can still shower, but you will need to avoid getting water or soap in your eyes as much as possible.

3. Take a Break From Exercise

Some people like to blow off steam with exercise, but this isn’t a good idea if you’re recovering from LASIK. Even a small amount of stress or an increase in pressure on your eyes can cause damage.

This includes lifting heavy objects or even bending over at the waist. You will be able to resume working out in a matter of weeks, but until then, just stay relaxed. Stick to activities like listening to podcasts, audiobooks, or hanging out with your dog.

4. Use Artificial Tears Often

LASIK can cause temporary dry eye symptoms, which can tempt you to rub your eyes. Never do this, as this is an easy way to damage your vision.

Instead, try to rely on artificial tears to provide necessary relief. Use them proactively, hydrating your eyes before they begin to get itchy. Make sure to use the eye drops provided by your eye doctor as directed for optimal healing and recovery as well.

5. Check-In With Your Eye Doctor

You will need to attend a follow-up appointment soon after your procedure. This is to ensure that your eye doctor can see if everything is progressing as expected.

As you recover, you should check in a few more times. Any problems, though unlikely to develop, can be dealt with before they get out of hand.

Want LASIK but don’t know how to start the process? The first step is to schedule a LASIK consultation at Kovach Eye Institute in Chicago, IL!