What to Expect After LASIK Eye Surgery

Dr. Joseph King is the Official LASIK Surgeon of the Vancouver Canucks.

A few days after your procedure, you are likely to experience some degree of discomfort. During this time, your vision may be blurry and/or may fluctuate between seeing clear and blurry. In some cases, a patient's vision improves immediately after the procedure, but later becomes blurry. These conditions affect patients differently. The final outcomes of PRK and LASIK are very similar; the difference is the healing time.

Wear the sunglasses provided. Most sunglasses do not provide adequate protection. Follow the eye drop regimen recommended by your surgeon.
Please read the activity schedule below.
Attend your required post-operative examinations.

Please remember that your follow-up care is as important as the actual procedure. You should see your doctor to check your progress at regular intervals after your procedure.

1 day (must be done at King LASIK)
1 week
1 to 3 months (as advised by your optometrist)

Activity Schedule:

Recommended activity schedule following your procedure:

Immediately after procedure:

The day of the procedure should be a day of rest.
Always avoid rubbing eyes.
No computer work, TV, or reading. Avoid staring without lubricating the eyes.
Avoid soap and water in the eyes.

24 hours:

Restrict movement to minimal activities.
Flying in air planes is acceptable, but keep eyes generously lubricated (every 30 minutes).
No eye makeup.
Continue avoiding soap and water in the eyes.

7-14 days:

Still avoid swimming, eye makeup, and touching the eyes.
Resume medium activities with caution.
Shallow swimming may resume after 14 days.

1 month:

Scuba diving, snorkeling, etc.
Biking, skiing, golfing, etc.
Baseball, basketball, football, soccer, etc.

3 months:

Proceed with caution as these activities have a high risk of water being forced into the eyes:

Water skiing, kayaking, surfing, etc…

Always use eye protection when dangers of flying particulates may exist, i.e., dusty work environments or yard work.

What to Expect After LASIK Eye Surgery

More About the LASIK Process