How Long After LASIK Can I Drive?
Laser eye surgery can dramatically improve your life, but many people worry that it would require too much time away from work, driving, and other daily activities. LASIK lets most people return to their daily routine within just a few days, making it possible to get back behind the wheel with minimal recovery time. LASIK gets you back to your busy schedule quickly, so achieving clear vision doesn’t have to interrupt your life.
What is LASIK Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser eye surgery, like LASIK, uses a laser to correct vision. The clear window at the front of your eye, the cornea, helps focus light, so changing its shape with a laser can correct problems where light does not focus correctly (refractive errors).
During LASIK, your eye surgeon creates a flap in the surface of your cornea and then lifts it aside to perform the reshaping. The flap is moved back into place, where it will start to heal almost immediately. Using this flap technique gives LASIK its short recovery time.
How Long After LASIK Can I Drive?
You will need someone to drive you home from your procedure, and you may experience sensitivity, irritation, and blurry vision. Using your prescribed eye drops as instructed will help these effects resolve quickly. Although each person’s recovery process differs, most people can drive, return to work, and do most other activities within one to three days.
Your eye surgeon will provide aftercare instructions, including when you can resume strenuous exercise and heavy lifting. Avoid exposure to airborne dust and irritants. While you can see clearly enough to do most things within a few days, your vision will continue to adjust and stabilize for the next few weeks.
How Long Does LASIK Last?
While LASIK results can last for many years, how long your clear vision lasts depends on many factors. One of the most important is your age. Individuals over the age of 40 will develop changes to the lenses of their eyes called presbyopia, which makes up-close vision difficult. This condition is not treated with LASIK but can be resolved with another procedure called refractive lens exchange (RLE).
Request a Consultation
We’d love to help you get all the information you need in order to make the best choice for your eyes. Request a consultation today! Our staff is available and happy to answer your every question.
Am I a Good Candidate for LASIK?
LASIK is an excellent vision correction option for many people, but not everyone. You may be a good candidate for this procedure if:
- You have a stable vision prescription that is within the range LASIK can correct
- You have healthy eyes
- You are under the age of 40
- You have normal, healthy corneas
- You do not have dry eye problems
- You do not play contact sports
Because LASIK creates a flap in the cornea, it is not suitable for people with abnormal or thin corneas. If you are not a candidate for LASIK, your eye surgeon can recommend several other procedures that provide equally excellent results.
Take the Next Step
To learn more about LASIK, please schedule your consultation by either filling out the form on this page or by calling (866) 458-1545. We look forward to helping you!
