Best Gifts to Celebrate Recovery After a Lasik Surgery

Lassie surgery, also known as Lasik surgery or laser surgery, is a type of eye surgery that corrects hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism. 

This type of surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist who requires a medical preparation and certification.

The goal of this surgery is to improve the visual acuity of the patient by reshaping the cornea. 

In the past, the only options for patients with low visual acuity were eye glasses.

Then came contact lenses. 

Today, medical technology, research and advances have come a long way and now offer the option of getting laser surgery, which in most cases, provide the long-lasting option of never having to use eyeglasses or contact lenses again. 

However, there are exceptions, such as patients with severe cases of myopia or patients who have thin corneas who are unable to have this type of surgery, but other options exist for them as well. 

This type of procedure has become very popular for people looking for ways to replace the more traditional options available for vision correction. 

Our eyes are very important. Without vision, we would be limited from a vast number of things, and our daily routines and activities would be affected as well. That’s why having the option of laser surgery is very beneficial.

Recovering from lassie surgery varies from patient to patient, but most people will start feeling better a couple of hours after the surgery and will begin to see improvements in their vision soon after. 

How soon the patient is able to see improvements and have better vision will depend on the type of surgery, the severity of the case, and the skill of the doctor who did the procedure.

Overall, although patients may see improvements the same day, full recovery may take from five to six months. Knowing how long the recovery might take and what to expect from the surgery is essential for a successful recovery. 

That’s why having a great team around the patient and having them know all the guidelines and recommendations is important. 

Depending on the surgery, the recovery period may be divided into a short-term and long-term recovery periods:

Short-term recovery period:

• The patient will not be allowed to drive for obvious reasons, so it is important that they have a family member or close friend available to pick them up from the hospital or outpatient clinic.  It is recommended that this person accompanies the patient from the very beginning.
• The patient may feel discomfort and eye pain for the first few days after surgery. Some irritation is also possible. Most patients complain of dry eyes and as if something sandy is in their eyes.
• Patients will be instructed to wear an eyepatch and special sunglasses to avoid rubbing and touching their eyes, and to prevent UV rays and other light sources from affecting the eye.
• Eyes will become sensitive to the sun and light. 
• Early complications to look out for are corneal hemorrhaging and eye pain that does not go away. 
• Family and friends should know which guidelines to follow and help the patient remember which medications to take, when to use sunglasses, to not touch their eyes with their hands or other materials, and to let them know if they are feeling any adverse effects.  
• The first few days after surgery are also crucial for complications, so caregivers should look out for infections, bleeding, constant watery eyes, eye pain and eye discoloring.

Long-term recovery period:

• As mentioned above, full recovery takes about five to six months, so patients and caregivers should be aware that they will have fluctuating vision during this time. 
• It is important to follow-up with appointments.
• Patients are limited to certain activities. They are not allowed to drive at night, use a computer for long hours, or participate in high-impact activities.  
• Elderly patients should keep in mind that with the aging process, vision changes will happen.  Whether Lasik surgery was done or not, losing the ability to focus on objects over time has nothing to do with Lasik surgery and will occur whether the surgery was done or not. Family and friends should remind them of this when concerns arise. 

One of the most important things to do after this type of surgery is to protect the eyes at all costs from injuries, materials and trauma. 

The patient may feel dull and have anxiety during the recovery period, but there are many fun activities to do.

Such activities to celebrate include:

Learning a new instrument

The patient won’t be able to see for the first few hours and will probably have discomfort during the following couple of days. Keep them entertained by gifting them a new instrument, maybe one they’ve always wanted to learn. An instrument can even be used for fun and not necessarily learning.  

Listening to audiobooks

Reading will be a bit difficult at first, so audiobooks are another great idea to keep the patient entertained.  

Intimacy

Compared to other surgeries where intimacy is not allowed for a few weeks after surgery, there are no restrictions after lassie surgery. Some points to remember are to keep the lights dim, which opens the opportunity to get creative.  

Exercise

The patient will be able to exercise, but not do high-impact sports. Exercises such as yoga, light aerobics and stationary cycling are exercises they can do. Doing them with friends and family makes it a lot more fun. 

Boardgames

Although patients will have blurriness and some irritation, there are board games that do not require too much reading. Plus, family and friends can help with instructions. This is a fun activity that can be enjoyed at any age. 

As for gifts, there are many fun and creative gifts ideas for patients with eye surgery.  

Creative gifts include:

Amazon, Kindle, or a bookstore gift card

Audiobooks are a great idea because the patient won’t be able to see for some time. Audiobooks let the patient catch up on their reading and gives them the chance to do it without having to worry about their eyes being put under stress.

Sunglasses

This is an excellent gift for all eye surgery patients – a good pair of sunglasses that cover the eyes very well.  Be creative and get them in their favorite color or brand. 

Hats

A customized hat with a message or just a simple hat from a patient’s favorite store is a great gift to help them shield their eyes from the sun and other light sources.  

Comfortable bed set  

A lot of rest and napping is recommended as soon as the patient gets home from surgery. A good bed with comfortable sheets and pillows will make the nap even better.  

Music

Getting the patient some of their favorite music will definitely put a smile on their face. Also, getting soothing and relaxing music or white noise CDs may help the patient get better sleep. 

Overall, recovery is very fast in most cases. 

The important thing is to keep the eye covered away from harm, and it’s important to follow all the instructions given by the doctor. 

As mentioned before, it is normal to have visual fluctuations, glares and halos. 

If there are any concerns or doubts, it is important to call the doctor. 

Getting one’s sight back is a very big deal and will change the patient’s life and the way they do certain activities, so it is important to celebrate these moments together.  

References

1. Bedinghaus, Troy. “Recovery Time after Lasik Eye Surgery.” Very Well Health, 21 Nov. 2019, www.verywellhealth.com/lasik-recovery-time-short-term-and-long-term-considerations-3421966.

2. “Lasik Eye Surgery.” Web MD, 2020, www.webmd.com/eye-health/lasik-laser-eye-surgery#2.

3. Reinstein, Dan Z., et al. “The History or Lasik.” Journal of Refractive Surgery, vol. 28, no. 4, 1 Apr. 2012. PubMed, DOI:10.3928/1081597X-20120229-01.

4. “What Should I Expect before, during, and after Surgery?” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 11 July 2018, www.fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/what-should-i-expect-during-and-after-surgery#after.