LASIK Postoperative Care & Follow-up 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When is the standard first post-operative follow-up visit typically scheduled after LASIK surgery?
- 24-48 hours post-op (Correct answer)
- 1 week post-op
- 2 weeks post-op
- 1 month post-op
Correct answer: 24-48 hours post-op
The first post-operative visit is scheduled 24-48 hours after LASIK to assess flap integrity, visual acuity, and early healing.
Question 2: Which medication class is routinely prescribed immediately after LASIK surgery to prevent infection?
- Antihistamines
- Topical corticosteroids
- Topical antibiotics (Correct answer)
- Oral NSAIDs
Correct answer: Topical antibiotics
Topical antibiotic eye drops are routinely prescribed post-LASIK to prevent bacterial infection during the early healing period.
Question 3: Which activity is most critical for patients to avoid in the first 24 hours after LASIK surgery?
- Reading books
- Watching television
- Rubbing the eyes (Correct answer)
- Using a computer
Correct answer: Rubbing the eyes
Rubbing the eyes must be strictly avoided after LASIK as it can cause flap displacement or dislodgement during the critical early healing period.
Question 4: How long should patients typically wait before swimming after LASIK surgery?
- 3 days
- 1 week
- 2-4 weeks (Correct answer)
- 3 months
Correct answer: 2-4 weeks
Patients should wait 2-4 weeks before swimming to prevent water-borne pathogens from entering the eye and causing infection while the flap heals.
Question 5: What visual symptom is most commonly experienced by patients in the first few days after LASIK?
- Total loss of vision
- Halos and glare around lights (Correct answer)
- Binocular diplopia
- Complete color blindness
Correct answer: Halos and glare around lights
Halos and glare around lights are the most common visual symptoms post-LASIK, caused by corneal edema and healing, typically resolving within weeks to months.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of prescribing preservative-free artificial tears after LASIK?
- To prevent flap displacement
- To manage post-LASIK dry eye symptoms (Correct answer)
- To promote faster epithelial healing
- To prevent intraocular pressure spikes
Correct answer: To manage post-LASIK dry eye symptoms
Preservative-free artificial tears are prescribed primarily to manage dry eye, a very common complication after LASIK resulting from transient corneal nerve damage during the procedure.
Question 7: Which post-LASIK symptom combination warrants immediate contact with the surgeon?
- Mild light sensitivity on the first day
- Slight blurring of vision in the morning
- Severe pain with sudden decrease in vision (Correct answer)
- Occasional mild headache after surgery
Correct answer: Severe pain with sudden decrease in vision
Severe pain combined with a sudden vision decrease may indicate serious complications such as flap dislocation, infection, or pressure spike requiring immediate evaluation.
LASIK Postoperative Care & Follow-up 1
When is the standard first post-operative follow-up visit typically scheduled after LASIK surgery?