Patient Care and Recovery Following Refractive Eye Surgery

If you are going to have refractive surgery then it is a good idea to have all the information about what to expect both before and after the procedure. This article provides everything you need to know about what will happen before and after refractive lens exchange.

On arrival at the eye hospital where the treatment is being carried out you will be greeted by the eye specialist surgeon who will be carrying out the treatment. They will be able to provide information and assurance too as this can be quite a nerve wracking time for patients. Anaesthetic will be administered to the eye in the form of eye drops. A few minutes later when the anaesthetic has taken affect the surgery will begin. Refractive lens exchange only takes approximately 20 minutes per eye. Usually only one eye will be done at a time. However, if both eyes need doing, the second one can be treated once the first eye has healed properly.

Once the surgery has been completed the patient will be able to relax in the recovery room. It is possible to stay for as long as you want but usually patients like to go home around an hour later. Once at home the eyes should be rested completely. This means no reading or watching television. Having a rest is a good idea as when the body is asleep the body has a good chance to heal. You should avoid getting your eyes wet and you shouldn’t touch the eyes at all. Your consultant will be able to advise you how long these steps need to be taken. Typically patients can be back at work two to three days after refractive lens exchange so the recovery period is very short.

Often eye drops will be given to the patient to use every day for a period of time after the surgery. These will help keep the eyes clear and free from infection. They will also help control any swelling or redness that occurs. Sometimes the eyes will be a little uncomfortable for a few days after surgery. Itching may also occur as the eye heals. This is completely normal and usually disappears a few days later. It is advisable to wait until the eyes feel back to normal before returning to work. If you work in an environment where there is a lot of smoke or dust then waiting for several weeks before going back may be necessary.

There will be at least one follow up appointment with the consultant following surgery. This will normally take place within the first week. During the check up the doctor will examine the eye closely, perhaps administering a reading test or using a bright light to see the lens more clearly. If the eye is healing as expected then no further treatments or appointments will be necessary. Sometimes the eyes take a little longer to heal or need fine tuning to improve eye sight further. This is a simple and painless procedure however.

If you are interested in finding out more about having eye surgery or refractive lens exchange search for Clarivu on the internet where you will find more information. Clarivu refractive lens exchange (RLE) is a unique procedure performed in specialist hospitals. RLE can correct refractive errors and also remove and prevent cataracts from forming in the future. People who have undergone this treatment have been amazed at the incredible results. From struggling to see expressions on people faces to clear and bright vision within just a few days is a remarkable experience.

Having a vision correction procedure to correct sight can mean that glasses and contacts can be thrown away for good. Contact an eye specialist to find out what treatments might be available to you. Refractive eye surgery is painless, effective and involves very little recovery time. It is a great solution for many eye problems or conditions.