April 25, 20265 min read
The First 24 Hours
You walk out of the clinic with your eyes feeling watery, a little scratchy — like you have something in them. That is completely normal. The best thing you can do is go home and sleep.
A 3 to 4 hour nap right after surgery is the secret weapon of recovery. While you sleep, your eyes do their first round of healing without you doing anything.
When you wake up:
- Your vision will already be clearer than it was that morning.
- The scratchy feeling will be gone or much better.
- You may still see slight halos around lights — this fades over weeks.
Use your drops on schedule. Do not rub your eyes. Sleep on your back if you can.
A 3 to 4 hour nap right after surgery is the secret weapon of recovery. While you sleep, your eyes do their first round of healing without you doing anything.
When you wake up:
- Your vision will already be clearer than it was that morning.
- The scratchy feeling will be gone or much better.
- You may still see slight halos around lights — this fades over weeks.
Use your drops on schedule. Do not rub your eyes. Sleep on your back if you can.
Day 1 to Day 7
Most LASIK and SMILE patients can read and use their phone comfortably the day after surgery. We will see you for a check-up within 24 hours.
What is normal in the first week:
- Mild dryness or "windy eye" feeling.
- Slight fluctuation in vision — clearer some hours than others.
- Light sensitivity, especially outdoors.
What to avoid:
- Rubbing your eyes (we will give you protective shields to wear at night).
- Swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas.
- Eye makeup.
- Dusty environments and contact sports.
Most patients return to work in 1 to 2 days for LASIK and SMILE. PRK takes a bit longer — usually 4 to 7 days off.
What is normal in the first week:
- Mild dryness or "windy eye" feeling.
- Slight fluctuation in vision — clearer some hours than others.
- Light sensitivity, especially outdoors.
What to avoid:
- Rubbing your eyes (we will give you protective shields to wear at night).
- Swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas.
- Eye makeup.
- Dusty environments and contact sports.
Most patients return to work in 1 to 2 days for LASIK and SMILE. PRK takes a bit longer — usually 4 to 7 days off.
Weeks 2 Through 4
By now, your daily life is back to normal. You can resume:
- Regular exercise (gym, running, cycling).
- Eye makeup (around week 2).
- Watching screens for normal hours.
Still avoid:
- Swimming pools and the sea (until at least week 3).
- Contact sports without protective eyewear.
You will have a follow-up at the 1-month mark so we can check that your healing is on track. Vision continues to sharpen during this period — small fluctuations are completely normal.
- Regular exercise (gym, running, cycling).
- Eye makeup (around week 2).
- Watching screens for normal hours.
Still avoid:
- Swimming pools and the sea (until at least week 3).
- Contact sports without protective eyewear.
You will have a follow-up at the 1-month mark so we can check that your healing is on track. Vision continues to sharpen during this period — small fluctuations are completely normal.
Did You Know?
Your cornea continues to remodel and refine itself for up to a year after laser eye surgery — even though most of the visible improvement happens in the first month. This is why we do follow-ups at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year for many patients.
When to Call Us
Most recovery is uneventful. But you should reach out right away if you notice:
- Sudden, sharp eye pain (different from mild scratchiness).
- A sudden drop in vision.
- Increasing redness or discharge.
- A feeling that the flap or surface has shifted.
These are all very rare, but they are situations where we want to see you quickly. With prompt care, almost all minor issues resolve completely.
Healing is a partnership. Your job is to follow the drop schedule and protect your eyes. My job is to be here if anything feels off. Together, that is how we get the best result.
- Sudden, sharp eye pain (different from mild scratchiness).
- A sudden drop in vision.
- Increasing redness or discharge.
- A feeling that the flap or surface has shifted.
These are all very rare, but they are situations where we want to see you quickly. With prompt care, almost all minor issues resolve completely.
Healing is a partnership. Your job is to follow the drop schedule and protect your eyes. My job is to be here if anything feels off. Together, that is how we get the best result.
recovery
aftercare
LASIK
SMILE
PRK