How Soon After LASIK Can I Bathe or Take a Shower?

    CHICAGO, IL, January 23, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The care you take of your eyes after LASIK surgery will play a role in determining your final results. Immediately following LASIK surgery, you should try to keep your eyes closed for four to five hours. This allows your eyes a chance to rest, and the initial healing process to begin.

You should be able to bathe or take a shower within 24 hours of your LASIK procedure, but should not let water run directly into your eyes for at least one week. In addition, you should avoid directly applying a washcloth or towel to your eyes to minimize pressure on your corneal flap during this time.

Recovery from LASIK
Recovery from LASIK is generally very quick. Within 24 hours, you should be able to resume many of your normal activities. Driving, working, bathing, and even moderate exercise are all acceptable within a day following your surgery. It is important to remember that although these are generally acceptable, the healing process can take many months, and care must be taken of your eyes to ensure optimal results.

For the first few days, you may need to wear a shield over your eyes at night. You may also need to take antibiotics or other medications to help reduce the risk of inflammation or infection. Sunglasses may be recommended for up to three months to reduce sensitivity to light.

Contact sports and activities such as swimming should be avoided until your eye doctor tells you otherwise. These activities can damage your eyes, and interfere with your final LASIK results.

You can help increase your body's healing response by making simple lifestyle choices. For the first 48 hours following surgery, you should not smoke or drink alcohol. You should rest as much as possible, keeping your eyes closed if you can, and not engage in anything strenuous for the first 24 hours. You will need to keep your eyes moist, which may require eye drops for up to six months, or until the sensation of dry eyes subsides. Dry eye syndrome is more common in bladeless or all laser LASIK, and should be discussed with your doctor prior to your surgery.

Prior to your LASIK surgery, your eye doctor will carefully go over postoperative instructions. It is important that you follow these instructions to help minimize your recovery time, and ensure pleasing results from your surgery.

If you live in or around Chicago or Arlington Heights, Illinois and would like to learn more about LASIK recovery, please visit the website of Doctors for Visual Freedom for additional information at www.doctorsforvisualfreedom.com.

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