How to Help Care for Someone After LASIK Surgery?

LASIK surgery can be life-changing, providing people with clearer vision and greater freedom from glasses or contacts. But just like any medical procedure, there’s a short period of recovery. During this time, your support and assistance can make a big difference in ensuring a smooth, comfortable experience for someone who’s had LASIK. Here’s how you can lend a hand, provide helpful reminders, and create a safe, relaxing environment for them as they recover.

Preparing for Post-LASIK Care

Caring for someone after LASIK begins with some thoughtful preparation. Before their procedure, help them gather a few essential items to make recovery easier and less stressful.

1. Comfort Essentials: Soft pillows, blankets, and any items that provide comfort should be close at hand for rest right after the procedure. Keeping their space cozy and darkened helps with light sensitivity, which is common immediately following LASIK.
   
2. Protective Eyewear: The doctor may provide protective goggles or special eyewear. These help shield the eyes from accidental contact or bright light, so it’s a good idea to encourage wearing them for the recommended duration.
   
3. Eye Drops and Medications: Your loved one will likely be prescribed eye drops to prevent dryness and promote healing. Having these within easy reach ensures they can use them as needed, even when lying down. Encourage them to stick to the prescribed schedule.
   
4. Clear Communication: Since they may have blurred or hazy vision immediately after LASIK, offer to assist with any post-op instructions the doctor has given. Review these steps beforehand if possible, so you’re ready to guide them when needed.

Providing Support Right After Surgery

In the initial hours after LASIK, they may feel drowsy or slightly disoriented due to the sedative or numbing drops used during surgery. Here’s how you can help them settle in comfortably:

• Drive Them Home Safely: Most LASIK procedures are completed in under an hour, and patients are often ready to go home soon after. But they will need someone to drive, as their vision will be temporarily impaired. Make sure the journey home is smooth and free from any unnecessary stops.
  
• Create a Restful Space: Once home, encourage them to rest in a dark, quiet room. Natural light or bright screens may be irritating, so help them adjust the room lighting to a soft, dim level.
  
• Keep Activities Minimal: Avoid anything that requires concentration or focus, like reading or watching television. Encourage relaxation instead, as too much strain can increase discomfort.

Managing Eye Drops and Medication Schedules

The prescribed eye drops are an essential part of LASIK recovery, helping to keep the eyes moist and guard against infection. Keeping a routine for these drops can make it easier for your loved one to adhere to their recovery plan:

• Assist With Eye Drops: If they’re feeling nervous or unsteady, offer to help with the drops. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before each application and gently guide them through each drop to avoid any accidental touches to the eye.
  
• Set Reminders: Reminders for eye drops can be helpful, especially if the drops are prescribed on a specific schedule. A phone alarm or a visible note in their room can help ensure they don’t miss a dose.
  
• Hydration: Drinking plenty of water can aid in overall comfort by supporting eye hydration. Gently encourage them to drink water throughout the day, as temporary dryness is common after LASIK.

Creating a Safe Environment

Creating a safe environment can help prevent any accidental bumps or mishaps that could interfere with healing. Some thoughtful changes around the house can make a big difference:

1. Clear Pathways: Remove any items they might trip over and create a clear walking path, especially if they experience haziness or blurry vision in the first few days.
   
2. Soft Lighting: Bright lights can be uncomfortable for post-LASIK eyes, so using soft, indirect lighting is ideal. Avoid overhead lights and use table lamps or dimmed lights instead.
   
3. Limit Screen Exposure: Screens, including phones, tablets, or computers, can increase strain and dryness. Encourage them to take breaks from screens and consider covering electronic devices when not in use to reduce temptation.

Helping with Basic Needs and Daily Tasks

For the first few days, they may find it difficult to complete basic tasks without some help. Offering assistance with routine activities can ease stress and allow them to focus on recovery:

• Meal Prep: Preparing simple meals or snacks can make it easier for them to stay nourished without exerting much effort. Avoid spicy or heavily seasoned foods that may cause irritation if any particles accidentally come into contact with their hands or eyes.
  
• Household Chores: Tasks like cleaning, laundry, and even dishwashing can be tiring or stressful on their eyes. Lend a hand with these activities to give them more time to rest.
  
• Encourage Frequent Hand Washing: Remind them of the importance of clean hands to avoid accidentally transferring any germs to their eyes, especially when applying eye drops.

Reinforcing Healthy Habits for Faster Recovery

The days following LASIK are an opportunity to reinforce positive habits that support healing and comfort:

• Limit Rubbing or Touching: It’s natural for someone to want to rub their eyes if they feel dryness or slight irritation. However, rubbing can disrupt healing. Gently remind them to avoid touching their eyes, especially during the first week.
  
• Encourage Sunglass Use Outdoors: Bright sunlight can be harsh after LASIK. Wearing sunglasses outdoors not only reduces sensitivity to light but also protects the eyes from potential exposure to dust, wind, and other environmental factors.
  
• Keep Screens Off at Night: The blue light from screens can make it harder for the eyes to relax, especially before bed. If they find it challenging to fall asleep, suggest activities like listening to calming music or an audiobook.

Understanding What’s Normal (and What’s Not)

While LASIK is a safe and well-tolerated procedure, some post-surgery experiences are normal, while others may require a follow-up with the eye doctor:

• Normal Reactions: Mild blurriness, halos, light sensitivity, and dryness are all common reactions in the first days. These symptoms often decrease over time, especially with proper use of prescribed drops.
• Possible Red Flags: If they experience any intense pain, severe redness, or a sudden loss of vision, it’s important to contact their eye doctor promptly. These are rare but can be signs of a complication.

Following Up with Appointments

Follow-up visits are key to tracking progress after LASIK and catching any issues early. You can help by keeping a reminder of these appointments and offering to accompany them if needed:

• Schedule Assistance: Verify their follow-up appointment schedule and help set reminders. These visits are important for confirming that their vision is healing as expected.
• Preparation for Check-Ins: Help them jot down any specific questions or concerns they may have for the doctor. Having a list can make sure nothing is overlooked during these follow-ups.
• Celebrating Progress: Acknowledge each milestone, as vision improvement can often be seen in stages. Small signs of progress can keep spirits high as they work toward their final result.

Practical Tips for Lasting Comfort

Once the first few days have passed, the focus shifts to maintaining comfort and making minor adjustments to protect the eyes during healing. You can provide ongoing support by gently reminding them of these tips:

1. Stay Mindful of Light Exposure: Even after the initial sensitivity fades, exposure to harsh lighting can feel uncomfortable. Encourage the use of polarized sunglasses if they find bright environments challenging.
2. Regular Breaks: When they start to feel ready for screen time again, remind them of the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This helps reduce eye strain.
3. Hydration Inside and Out: Beyond drinking water, the air can also be kept moist with a humidifier, especially during the dry months. This can provide added relief from any lingering dryness.

Knowing When They’re Ready for Routine Activities

Recovery after LASIK is usually short, but a bit of patience and caution can be helpful when resuming routine activities. Remind them that:

• Exercise and Physical Activity: Light activities can often resume quickly, but heavy workouts or activities that could cause sweat to drip into the eyes should be avoided for a few weeks.
• Returning to Work: For jobs that don’t require heavy screen time, a return can often happen within a few days, though more screen-intensive work may need a bit longer. A gradual increase in screen time can help ease back into routine.
• Resuming Makeup and Skincare: Any products near the eyes, especially makeup, should generally be avoided for the first week. If they use creams or lotions, a gentle application away from the eye area is advisable.

Being supportive during LASIK recovery is about helping someone navigate the initial days, adjust habits, and stay mindful of protective measures. A little help along the way goes a long way in making recovery smooth and comfortable.

Ready to take the next step toward clearer vision? Schedule a consultation with SuraVision today to discuss your options and learn more about the LASIK process. Call us at 713-730-2020 or book your appointment online!