After LASIK Eye Surgery Series Part I of III – Bath and Shower

Once the LASIK eye surgery patient’s procedure is complete, the LASIK eye surgeon’s office sends the patient home with an escort driver for a long nap. When you wake up, you will already be able to experience clearer vision. However, it is imperative to remember that corneal tissue requires several weeks to fully heal. As this occurs, patients often have questions about when and how they complete certain everyday tasks after LASIK eye surgery. This article is one of an upcoming three-part series looking at when people who have had LASIK surgery can bathe and shower, how to address required medications, and how to complete daily activities until their eyes have fully healed.

When it comes to bathing, many LASIK eye surgeons find it acceptable to take a shower or birdbath the day after LASIK surgery, as long as you are extremely cautious and do not get hair care products and hair products too close to the eye. liquids for facial washing. However, many LASIK eye surgeons recommend waiting 5 days before allowing water (or soap, shampoo, body wash, etc.) in the eye or submerging the head in water. These precautions allow your corneal tissue to heal properly. If water, soap, shampoo, and/or similar washing materials are not kept out of the eye for 5 days post-op, patients may:

• You risk infection with soap, water, shampoo, etc. in the eyes

• You experience burning and irritation.

• Rubbing your eyes and creasing the corneal flap made during the LASIK procedure, risking the corneal flap becoming dislodged.

• Accidentally exacerbating any dry eye symptoms/starting to experience dry eye symptoms

When it comes to swimming, LASIK eye surgeons’ offices strongly advise patients who have undergone post-operative LASIK eye surgery to wait 14 days before jumping into the pool, hot tub, ocean, or lake. Due to the chemicals in chlorinated water and the particulates found in bodies of salt and fresh water, irritation, redness, and infection of corneal tissue are a great possibility immediately after LASIK. Interactions with these bodies of water can delay the healing process or cause postoperative damage.

In addition to swimming, bathing, and showering, patients after LASIK eye surgery are also asked to closely monitor other aspects of daily life for certain short periods of time. Closely monitoring your progress while remaining safe and cautious is paramount to allowing your eyes time to fully adjust to procedural changes. Medications, both required and optional, make-up practices, and proximity to pets and small children should also be controlled accordingly.