
10 things to expect during LASIK surgery recovery
Hi, it’s Dr. Chotiner from Memorial Eye Institute. When I tell people I’m a LASIK surgeon, some of them ask me: “What are 10 things to expect during LASIK surgery recovery?”
So, we’ve made an honest and easy-to-follow list of the 10 things you can expect during your LASIK eye surgery recovery below:
- Blurred Vision
Your vision is likely to be blurry for a few hours following your procedure. This will gradually improve and subside after about a week or two. - Mild Discomfort
LASIK works by using a laser to remove some corneal tissue, which will reshape the cornea and make you see better. Because of this, there can be a little bit of discomfort after the surgery and you might feel like you have an eyelash stuck in your eye. - Follow-up Appointments
After your LASIK surgery, you will schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure healing is happening as it should and to answer any queries you may have. - Red Eyes
You may experience slightly red eyes, but this is very common. This should only last a few days. - Prescription Eye Drops
Dry eye can be a temporary side effect of LASIK. Because the eye needs to be moist to heal, we give you prescription eye drops to help combat it, and it should only last a few days. - Avoid Eye Irritants
Post-surgery, the doctor will encourage you to stay away from things that could irritate the eye, like dust, smoke, and too much exposure to light. - Avoid Make-Up
The day before LASIK, you should avoid wearing any eye makeup. You should also avoid wearing eye makeup for as long as possible while your eyes heal. In general, you’ll want to avoid wearing makeup that can flake for a week. You need to avoid wearing mascara for two weeks, even if you opt for the waterproof type. - Night Eye Shields
At night, you’ll need to wear eye shields to protect your eyes. You’ll put them on at night, post eye drops, and they will remain on every night for 4-5 nights. - No Swimming
After your LASIK surgery, you should be very careful to not get water in your eyes. Eye care specialists recommend waiting about two weeks or more until you go swimming again. - Unstable Vision
The last thing you may experience after LASIK surgery is unstable vision. Your eyesight may fluctuate for about a week, which just means that your eyes are trying to stabilize.
To learn more about LASIK, and surgery recovery, please book online for a free virtual vision assessment on our website today.
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Recognized leaders in Harrisburg LASIK eye surgery
CHOOSE THE MOST EXPERIENCED LASIK SPECIALISTS IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

Dr. Bennett Chotiner
M.D., F.A.C.S.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR, GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, CATARACT & REFRACTIVE SURGERY, LASIK SURGERY
Dr. Bennett Chotiner is the founder and medical director of Memorial Eye Institute. A noted innovator, in 1977 he established his clinical practice, the Pennsylvania Eye Associates. In 1984, he established the Pennsylvania Eye Surgery Center, Pennsylvania’s first …

Dr. Erik A Chotiner
M.D., F.A.C.S.
GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, CATARACT & REFRACTIVE SURGERY, LASIK SURGERY
Erik Chotiner, M.D. diagnoses and treats a wide range of medical eye conditions. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Franklin and Marshall College. Dr. Chotiner attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia where he received multiple awards including the Physiology Prize for …