Are you thinking about scheduling LASIK eye surgery? Are you worried about not being able to drive after LASIK?
Making the decision to get surgery like LASIK is big. You have to consider what the surgery is, how long it takes to recover and what your limits are post-surgery.
Getting surgery and recovering can impact your independence for a little bit. For most of us, driving is our main mode of transportation, and not being able to drive can impact our lives. One of our biggest worries can be, when can I drive after LASIK?
Why Can’t I Drive Home After LASIK?
One of the most important things to know is that you cannot drive yourself home from LASIK. Patients usually feel good enough to drive home.
Or that’s what they think. In reality, your vision may be blurry after having LASIK, making it unsafe to drive. You are also given sedatives during the procedure and numbing eye drops.
These prevent pain, but they also mean you can’t drive. One of the most important things you should do is find someone who can drive you home after the procedure.
Worst case scenario, you can get a ride with a ridesharing app like Uber or Lyft, but it’s better to have someone who can see you inside. You’re going to be a little bit out of it after LASIK.
You may be more sensitive to light than normal. Having someone you trust with you helps because they can make sure you have what you need.
This may include pillows, soothing music, and a dark room so you can rest and relax. That’s not something you can ask your Uber driver to do!
What Happens After LASIK?
Within a day or two after LASIK, you will go back to your doctor for your post-operative evaluation. At this evaluation, your doctor will check your vision.
They will also look at how your eyes are healing and if your vision has improved. This is a good time to ask any questions you may have.
At this appointment, you will schedule future follow-up appointments. These follow-up appointments are important, so make sure you attend them all!
For most patients, at their first appointment, their doctor will clear them to drive again. It is important to remember that everyone’s recovery time can be different.
If your eyes haven’t improved enough, you may not get approved to drive at this appointment. This is normal, so don’t worry!
After the first appointment, most patients no longer need glasses or contacts while driving. Your doctor will give you paperwork to take to the DMV to have vision restrictions removed from your license.
There are precautions you still need to take to make sure your eyes stay healthy as they heal.
Eye Drops
You need to continue to use the eye drops and artificial tears your doctor prescribes and recommends. They help lubricate your eyes and protect them from infection.
Do Not Touch Your Eyes
Touching your eyes can irritate or infect them with the bacteria from our hands. Whatever you do, don’t touch or rub your eyes after having LASIK.
Wear Sunglasses
If you do decide to go outside or drive while your eyes are still healing, you should wear sunglasses. You should wear your sunglasses during the day or night to protect your eyes from bright lights.
You should do this for 2-3 weeks post-LASIK. Wearing sunglasses is a good habit to get into even if your eyes are not healing.
While you may be able to drive one or two days after LASIK, you should still take precautions to keep your eyes healthy.
Ready to find out if you can get LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Loden Vision Centers in Nashville, TN! What do you have to lose except your dependence on glasses and contacts?
