How long are your eyes open for LASIK? (2023)

How long do you keep your eye open during LASIK?

The laser uses a sophisticated tracking system that measures the position of your eye a thousand times per second. It follows your eye at the same speed and is therefore always perfectly centered. So, no need to worry about keeping your eye open or moving your eye during the procedure.

No, the laser has an advanced tracking device which follows your small eye movements during the surgery.

Among the most frequently asked questions: What happens if I sneeze or blink during my LASIK surgery? The short answer: Blinking or sneezing will not affect the outcome of your surgery.

A small instrument is placed over your eye that gently works to help keep your eye open, still and steady during the procedure.

Give Your Eyes some Downtime after LASIK

As part of this rest, we recommend that you avoid looking at screens of any kind — TV, phone, computer or tablet — for 24 hours after LASIK. After this initial resting period, you can gradually ramp up your screen time over the next few days.

We typically recommend that patients wear these goggles for the remainder of the day following surgery. However, patients should wear these protective goggles while sleeping for at least the first night of recovery.

If you sneeze, move or blink during the treatment, the laser tracks your eye over one thousand times per second and adjusts the laser to make certain the laser is applied to exactly the right place. So, there is no reason to worry if you sneeze during LASIK.

You may gently clean the lids with a wash cloth, but don't put any pressure on the eyes for the first 3 months. ✓ Wear protective eye wear for sports or any activities where you could get hit.

So how long should you avoid rubbing your eyes after LASIK? As a general rule, you should completely avoid rubbing the eyes for the first two weeks post-op. After this time, it is okay to gently rub your eyes, although it is always best to avoid eye rubbing if possible whether you have had LASIK or not.

Can you be asleep during LASIK?

A common concern among potential LASIK patients is whether they will be awake during the procedure. Yes—patients are awake during LASIK.

Do not use eye makeup for at least one month post the surgery. Avoid exercising for at least 1 week after the surgery. Do not stress your eyes in front of the computer screen till at least the 3^rd day after the surgery. Do not self-drive any mode of transportation for at least one week after the surgery.

Since your eyes are still healing, they will be especially sensitive in the first 24 hours after the LASIK procedure. Because of this, it's recommended to wait at least 24 hours before using your phone, computer, tablet or watching TV.

Dr. Mozayeni and Dr. Nunnery advise patients that it is okay to bathe or shower normally the day after your LASIK eye surgery. For the first week after your LASIK surgery, it's important to keep water, soap, hair care products and/or washing liquids away from the eye.

Using your phone immediately after the procedure can cause your eyes to strain, and that may negatively affect the healing process. Keeping eyes away from the screen will prevent them from straining, getting tired and drying out.

Generally speaking, you should wait at least 24 hours after LASIK before washing your face. This is the same guideline that we give our patients for showering. As with showering, you need to avoid getting soap and water in your eyes for a minimum of several days.

Does LASIK Affect Night Vision? Vision disturbances including decreased night vision can occur immediately after a LASIK procedure, according to Mayo Clinic. However, while you may experience difficulty with night vision right after your procedure, it typically will not last beyond a few weeks.

Fortunately, LASIK eye surgery is not painful. Right before your procedure, your surgeon will place numbing eye drops into both of your eyes. While you may still feel a little bit of pressure during the procedure, you should not feel any pain.

At the start of your treatment, you will receive anaesthetic eye drops. These numb the eyes, make them feel more comfortable and reduce the need to blink. Special adhesive drapes are then used to tape the eyelashes out of the way and a gentle eyelid retainer keeps the lids open.

Avoid smoky or dusty environments

S/he should refrain from doing so for at least six weeks after your surgery to prevent infection and eye irritation. Similarly, dusty environments also elevate your risk of eye irritation or infection after LASIK. If possible, avoid gardening during the post-surgical recovery period.

Should I sleep a lot after LASIK?

Sleeping is a crucial time that allows your eyes to recharge and heal. After a procedure like LASIK, you may need more sleep than you normally do. This is common. If you feel tired, there's nothing wrong with a few extra hours the first week after LASIK.

Despite LASIK being an incredibly safe and effective procedure, some patients report feeling anxious or nervous ahead of their surgery – this is completely normal!

The dislodging of a flap after LASIK is very rare and occurs in less than 1% of cases. Given the precise nature of modern, bladeless LASIK, the flap is able to heal so seamlessly that it would be surprising to see an injury result in flap complications.

After laser eye surgery, take these precautions to prevent injury or infection: Don't take a shower or wash your hair until the day after. Avoid getting non-sterile water from showers, hair washing, etc. into your eyes during the first few days after surgery.

Your eyes are especially sensitive for the first week after you have LASIK. Plan to wear sunglasses for at least the first week after your LASIK procedure. Also, even post-LASIK surgery, you should continue wearing sunglasses. Sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun's harmful rays.

A: Minor side effects associated with the LASIK procedure do exist. Although postoperative pain is not commonly associated with the procedure, some patients feel minimum scratchiness for the first day or two. This is similar to the feeling of having a contact lens in the eye when you blink.

Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.

There are muscles attached to the surface of the eyeball which are responsible for moving the eye. During the operation the optic nerve and eye muscles are cut and the eyeball is carefully removed.

It is best to go home, close both eyes and rest for the remainder of the day following the LASIK procedure. Keeping your eyes closed will minimize the discomfort and speed your visual recovery.

Are you drugged during LASIK?

Before the LASIK procedure begins, patients may be offered a very mild oral sedative. This sedative will help you feel relaxed while remaining awake. Patients will then be given anesthetic eye drops that numb the eyes.

There is still an incredibly minor lag between the laser noticing your eye has moved and compensating for that movement. However, it is not enough to impact the treatment. All this goes to say that if you move, look the other way, or suddenly blink during Laser Eye Surgery, the procedure will not be affected.

Small pieces of sticking tape are commonly used to keep the eyelids fully closed during the anaesthetic. This has been shown to reduce the chance of a corneal abrasion occurring. 1,2 However, bruising of the eyelid can occur when the tape is removed, especially if you have thin skin and bruise easily.

Protection of the surgeon

Most obviously, they can act as a physical barrier against blood and bodily fluid splashes during surgery. One prospective study revealed that facemasks prevented blood/bodily fluid splashes that would have otherwise contaminated the surgeon's face in 24% of procedures.

We recommend getting pre-purchasing entertainment that doesn't involve the heavy use of screens. Popular options include podcasts, audiobooks, and music. If you want to go analog, you could also just read out loud to the person who just had LASIK.

Mozayeni and Dr. Nunnery advise patients that it is okay to bathe or shower normally the day after your LASIK eye surgery. For the first week after your LASIK surgery, it's important to keep water, soap, hair care products and/or washing liquids away from the eye. Do not rub your eyes while bathing.