Can you experience light sensitivity after laser eye surgery?

Light sensitivity after laser eye surgery might be a little frightening to someone who has never had the surgical procedure. However, if you’ve ever been through it, you know that surgeons explain everything before the procedure in advance. This includes informing you of the side effects and complications.

Now, if you’re considering laser eye surgery, you’re probably wondering, “What are the risks?” Before you worry too much about the risks, keep in mind that LASIK eye surgery is one of the safest surgical procedures there is.

With that said, let’s talk about some laser eye surgery side effects, such as light sensitivity. Additionally, we will talk about how to reduce sensitivity and what you can do if it persists longer than a week after surgery.

Laser eye surgery side effects

Some patients experience discomfort following laser eye surgery, which usually lasts a day or two. Other rare side effects include dry eyes, halos, ghosting, starbursts and light sensitivity.

It’s important to distinguish between side effects and complications, as they are not the same thing. Over time, patients can expect side effects to go away. Complications on the other hand may require you to have more treatment.

Another thing to note is that laser eye surgery complications are rare.

One tip that can help you lower your laser eye surgery risks is to choose the right surgeon. The surgeon you choose should not only have years of experience and a long list of satisfied patients but should also know how to answer your topmost concerns.

They should explain the procedure, tell you how to prepare for it and what the recovery involves. The best laser eye surgeons will also know how to put your mind at ease.

Light sensitivity after laser eye surgery

Sensitivity is sometimes experienced by patients due to dry eyes or swelling around the surgical site. If it’s the latter, don’t be concerned. The corneal flap heals quickly, and some patients can endure short-term sensitivity without much problem.

If you’re worried about temporary light sensitivity shortly after the procedure, you can follow some tips:

• Avoid bright lights by wearing sunglasses.
• Avoid screens, try not to use your phone, tablet, laptop, or TV for at least two days.

We encourage you to contact your eye surgeon if you continue to experience discomfort after a week. If your light sensitivity worsens, you should contact your surgeon immediately. You may be able to avoid a potential longer-term side-effects by being cautious.

Let the best vision correction team in Fortitude Valley help you

Are you ready to learn if LASIK or SmartSight is right for you now that you know what to expect after laser eye surgery?

To find out more about your suitability, book a free assessment. In your assessment, we can talk about your vision correction goals and make recommendations. We look forward to hearing from you!