Healing Time? - Lasik Eye Surgery Message Board

kdrkdrkdr · 03-29-2006, 12:19 PM

I also have a healing time question. I just got my lasik done 3/24. After surgery, I had an excessive of mucus in my right eye so the Dr had to put a bandage contact on. He removed the bandage contact at my appt 24 hrs later. At that appt, the vision in my left eye had improved dramatically from my original -5.75 (contacts) but it was still very blurry. I could only barely read what I think was the third line from the bottom on the chart. The right eye was still very very blurry. He said the right eye would take a few days to catch up.

He was correct, now 4 days PO my right eye has caught up but neither have improved more than my left eye was at 24 hrs PO. I can still not see clearly at a distance. I'm Ok to drive in familiar areas but if I needed to read the street signs I would be in trouble. For example, I can't read the license plate numbers on a car that is only 1 car lenght in front of me.

Will this improve? If so, how long will it take? I'm worried b/c I read of people seeing 12/15 the next day. Does it take longer since I started with a -5.75 (contacts)? What can I do to help the healing along? Now I'm using systane drops about every 30 mins along with the antibiotics and steriods 4 times a day. Anything else I can do? I really bugs me not being able to see - it also gives me headaches. I try just to look at things closer up that I can see but soemtimes that is impossible.

I'm worried this was a waste...

Hating glasses · 03-29-2006, 01:31 PM

It really does take time and you are only 5 days post op. The people who see perfectly the day of or the day after their surgery aren't as common as it would seem...at least not in my opinion judging by the posts on this board. Your eyes can take as long as 6 months to get to their best sight. And, since there is still healing as long as 18 months, and in some cases - longer - I wouldn't worry about them at only 5 days post-op.

As for the license plate, I still have some astigmatism which I think is why I have a tough time making out some #'s and letters on a license plate a mere car length in front of me. And, to give you an idea of what my vision is, I am at 20/15 and am 1 year, 2 months, 1 week and 3 days post-op. My eyes are still healing and, I don't know if they are at best sight or if there is still some adjusting in my future. But, I am still happy with my results.

Do you know if you had any astigmatism?

Try to relax. I know it is easier said than done but, you really are so early on in your healing that you are causing yourself way more stress than you need to be.

Take care and keep in touch!

kdrkdrkdr · 03-29-2006, 02:14 PM

Thanks for the reply. I know I should be more patient but it is soo annoying to not be able to see. Mine doesn't even seem to fluctuate - it is steady, I just can't see clearly far away in either eye (they are both equally bad).

I was told I have just a slight bit of astigmatism in my right eye. I had been told by more than one dr that it wasn't even enought to correct for in my glasses/contacts. It never bothered me with glasses/contacts. I do remember that if I was trying to read something and I didn't have my glasses/contacts with me I would always instinctively close my right eye (not to mention hold what I was reading about 3 inches from my face). I was told I would close that eye b/c the very slight astigmatism. I didn't even realize I was doing it until someone else pointed it out. It is crazy how my brain knew to do this even though consciously I had no idea why (or is even that) I was doing it.

Did anyone also get pressure headaches? I keep taking tylenol but I feel pressure right behind and above my eyebrows. I'm not sure this is from the lasik or from me just not being able to see.

OK - I will try to calm down. What's done is done anyway - worrying about whether it is undercorrected it won't change it now.

bowriter · 03-30-2006, 07:41 AM

It does take time. It hasn't even been a week for you. Try to relax over the weekend and I think you should start seeing some improvement by next week. My docs told me that the eyes do most of the major adjusting in the first month. After that, the adjusting becomes gradual and not as immediately noticable. In my opinion, and from my experience, the first two weeks are crucial for taking care of your eyes. Make sure you use the prescription drops timely and try to avoid UV rays for long periods of time. If you stare at a computer all day, make sure to lubricate the eyes often. I started my first week postop using sunglasses when working at the computer. What a huge relief that was on my eyes!

The first week is very awkward, but be patient. As they say, time heals. This is not a process that can be rushed.

kdrkdrkdr · 04-03-2006, 04:29 PM

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I need it! I am now 10 days PO and I don't see any better than I did 24 hrs PO. I just finished my antiobotic but I have another week to go with the steriods. I'm using systane about every 30 mins during the day and 3 or 4 times at night (whenever I wakeup) - hoping if I keep them moist that they will heal faster. I spoke with the Dr and he thinks I can't see b/c my eyes are still swollen. I'm even trying to make myself eat carrots - which I absoutely hate. Any other advice?

Also - just curiously, what are other's myopia and the time it took before they could see perfectly? I know everyone is different but it seems the larger the correction the longer it takes to heal. Does everyone agree with that? Mine is -5.75 so I'm curious what the average healing time it for that.