Are you scheduled for LASIK? Recovery from your LASIK procedure can come with some side effects that might impact your ability to drive at night.
Getting all the facts about the healing process can ensure a smooth and safe return to the road. Keep reading to learn more about whether night driving is difficult after LASIK.
What is LASIK?
LASIK is a surgical procedure that provides clear vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses. It uses specialized lasers to reshape your cornea and correct farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.
During the procedure, your LASIK surgeon will begin by applying anesthetic drops to numb your eyes. This will ensure you’re comfortable throughout the surgery.
After that, they’ll use a femtosecond laser to create a thin flap in the outer layer of your cornea and fold it back to access the underlying tissue. Then, they’ll use the advanced VISX Star S4 excimer laser to reshape the inner layer of your cornea, enabling it to refract incoming light as it should, so it lands precisely on your retina for clear, sharp vision.
Your surgeon will place the flap back in position, which starts reattaching almost right away and continues to heal over time.
Is Driving at Night Hard After LASIK?
While LASIK is a safe and effective procedure with a high success rate, patients may experience visual disturbances such as halos, glare, or starbursts to some extent as they heal. Halos are rings around light sources, such as street lamps and headlights.
Glare is when lights are overly intense and brighter than usual, while starbursts refer to the light that radiates outward in rays or spikes from light sources. These side effects are relatively common, especially in the initial healing phase.
They can make it challenging to see the road, objects, other vehicles, traffic lights, street signs, pedestrians, and animals, endangering everyone on the road. The good news is that they’re usually short-lived and can be easily managed.
How Long Do Halos, Starbursts, and Glare Last after LASIK?
The LASIK recovery timeline typically varies from patient to patient, but generally, visual disturbances are most pronounced in the first 2 to 3 weeks post-procedure.
Many LASIK patients experience a noticeable improvement in visual disturbances within a month. However, some individuals may still experience starbursts, halos, and glare for several months after the procedure.
If symptoms persist longer than that or worsen, it’s essential to see your eye doctor for further assessment.
How Can You Improve and Manage Your Symptoms?
If you’re struggling with glare, starbursts, and halos, the following steps can help improve and manage your symptoms:
- Wear high-quality sunglasses to reduce glare
- Use artificial tears to keep your eyes lubricated and decrease visual disturbances linked to dry eyes
- Follow your LASIK surgeon’s preoperative instructions diligently, including attending follow-up appointments and applying anti-inflammatory drops to reduce corneal swelling
- Avoid driving at night until your symptoms improve
When Can You Resume Driving at Night after LASIK?
During your post-operative follow-up visit, you and your LASIK surgeon will discuss when you can resume driving and other activities, such as exercise and work. If your eyesight meets the legal driving requirements and your visual disturbances are not severe, you will likely be cleared to drive again.
If not, your surgeon will recommend waiting a little longer to ensure you can safely get behind the wheel. However, most LASIK patients are cleared to drive after just one day of healing.
Get Ready for Stunningly Clear Vision
After LASIK, you’ll no longer need to rely on glasses or contacts when driving. This means no more pushing your frames up on your face while you’re trying to make a turn, or air conditioning drying out your contacts on a hot summer day.
Instead, you can hit the open road without the hassles of visual aids and enjoy your drive with crisp, clear vision. Learn more about LASIK and the recovery process when you schedule an appointment at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Manhattan, NY, today!
