Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism surgery

Recovery from Lasik eye surgery is quite fast. If there are no incidents, in less than 24 hours patients will generally achieve vision that is as good or better than it was when they wore glasses or contact lenses before the surgery, and will be able to return to normal life.

Furthermore, unless indicated otherwise by the ophthalmologist, you will be able to sleep in whatever position you like, although we would recommend that you avoid sleeping face down for the first five days.

What should I do when I get home after laser refractive surgery?

✓ Take a nap, for a couple of hours, to rest and keep your eyes closed.

✓ Wear sunglasses for at least three days, to avoid rubbing your eyes.

✓ Wash your hands well o before using the eyedrops. You should use the eye drops as prescribed without fail (throughout the day), following the instructions.

Will I notice any alterations to my vision?

Yes, this may happen and it is entirely normal. You may see halos or flashes when looking directly at a light source, for example.

What medication should I take when recovering after surgery for myopia, hyperopia and/or astigmatism?

→ Post-operative medication o and a refractive surgery kit (sunglasses, eyedrops and gauze) in the operating room on the day of the surgery.

→ Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication for fifteen days.

→ Artificial tears for three months.

Although it’s true that the rates of unforeseeable complications have fallen drastically with the introduction of laser technology, which we use in our centres, we will outline some of the potential side effects that may arise from laser refractive surgery, primarily during recovery:

Dry eye

Patients that regularly wear contact lenses and suffer from dry eye syndrome may experience discomfort due to eye dryness after undergoing laser surgery to correct myopia, hyperopia and/or astigmatism for a few months afterwards, such as irritation or a sensation of having something in their eye.

This can be relieved through the use of artificial tears. However, thanks to femtosecond laser technology, there are now a larger proportion of patients with dry eye that are suitable for this surgery.

Minor residual refractive error

This happens in around 5% of surgeries. In general, this can easily be corrected 12 weeks later with a readjustment procedure.

Infection

This happens very rarely, with an incidence rate of less than 0.4%, as it can be prevented with the right medication. The period of greatest risk is the first 72 hours.

The best way to prevent this complication is to take antibiotics before and after laser surgery. Patients should also attend all their follow-up appoints with the ophthalmologist.

Flap complications (flap dislocation)

This happens with less than 0.5% of patients. It occurs when the flaps are not positioned correctly or when they have to be repositioned after surgery, so they become dislocated from the cornea.

This complication can arise after surgery, which is why we recommend that patients rest properly. The likelihood of this complication is reduced by performing the surgery more quickly, which we are able to achieve thanks to the cutting-edge femtosecond laser technology.

Dislocation of the flap due to injury

This may happen as a result of a knock or an injury up to 7 years after the operation. If this happens, the patient should go to the ophthalmologist straight away.

Eye rubbing

If the patient rubs their eye after the surgery, they could cause the corneal flap to dislocate. This can be easily resolved by going back to the ophthalmologist.

Possible ballooning of the cornea

This will only happen if the cornea is very weak. It is a very rare complication. The ophthalmologist may detect this issue in the preoperative consultation and rule out surgery.

For all these reasons, the initial preoperative consultation is an essential part of the surgery. This is where the ophthalmology specialist will perform myopia, hyperopia and/or astigmatism tests to assess the characteristics of each patient’s eyes and determine the most suitable technique. This will help to avoid any unnecessary risks.

The ophthalmologist may also rule out certain patients who are not eligible to undergo laser refractive eye surgery. Patients may be ruled out if they have scarring on their cornea, if they’ve had an eye infection in the past year, if they have a history of herpes or other disorders, such as Sjögren’s syndrome or lupus, or if they suffer from keratoconus.