Refractive errors in the eye
Generally, there are three types of refractive errors: astigmatism, myopia and hyperopia. Individuals with nearsightedness or myopia have difficulty seeing objects at distant vision compared to near objects.
Individuals suffering from farsightedness or hyperopia have difficulty seeing the objects near them compared to distant objects. On the other hand, astigmatism happens when image distortion occurs on the retina due to irregularities in the lens or cornea of the eye.
The combinations of these refractive errors are pretty common among people. Thus individuals use various kinds of measures to deal with this kind of issue, such as contact lenses or glasses, as these are primarily designed per the users’ needs and to deal with the imperfections in the eyes.
Another kind of surgical procedure is also designed to improve the eye’s focusing power, known as refractive surgery. One of these procedures is Lasik surgery; with the help of a laser, corneal tissue is precisely removed to reshape the cornea. It alters the eye’s concentration ability.
Aftermaths of a Lasik Surgery
Lasik surgery is one of the most fantastic procedures to deal with refractive errors of the eyes; it is fast and safe, and almost all of the lasik procedures are completed successfully; thus, it is an excellent choice if you are looking for something to get rid of your eyeglasses and contacts.
There are some things which every person, after going through lasik surgery, must follow religiously. These are helpful with their healing process and give the best results in the future.
First and foremost, immediately after the completion of the lasik surgery, the patent must take a long nap. Every surgeon prescribes their patient take a long nap after their surgery as the body needs rest after the lasik surgery. Taking a long nap or even resting with your eyes closed speeds up the recovery process and reduces the discomfort in the overall body.
When your eyes go through the lasik surgery, the hinged flap in the eyes is folded backwards to get access to the cornea and then repositioned without any suturing. So it is advised not to rub or touch your eyes as the corneal flap may get displaced, resulting in discomfort. So it would help if you stopped rubbing on or near your eyes after a few weeks of surgery or until your doctor says so.
The patients are also advised to avoid swimming and showering for some time after lasik surgery. They should avoid any contact with soap, shampoo or water with their eyes to prevent any risk of infection.
Instead of that, try using a face cloth for the drying of the eyes and not rubbing the eyes of the dry off. Thus there are certain activities the patient has to avoid and specific activities that must keep on hold after a lasik surgery, and another activity which raises the question is flying.
Flying after lasik
People who love to travel and have some eye issues and had to go through lasik surgery always have questions about flying after lasik surgery. So for people like these, determining the right time according to their conditions is essential after a lasik surgery. You must plan your activities related to flying, such as when you are going to take a vacation and if you are going to fly to that place generously.
The basic answer to Can we fly after lasik is a big yes; we can fly after lasik surgery; even if we want to fly the next day, we can. There is nothing concerning about that as you have the gift of a new vision and should definitely enjoy it. But to keep your eyes protected, there are some things which one must take care of. When you fly after lasik surgery, your eyes must be lubricated throughout the trip.
As in the cabins of the aircraft, the humidity levels are generally low, and this type of environment can lead to dry eyes. As the eyes are a little bit dry, then generally after a lasik surgery, the low humidity levels can also dry up the eyes, so you can use artificial tears to lubricate the eyes.
These artificial tears are generally designed to keep the eyes moist. Ensure that your artificial tears do not contain any decongestant as they are used for reliving the redness in the eyes but can also dry up the eyes.
If situations call for it, a person undergoing lasik surgery can travel the next day. If possible, waiting for a few days is always a good idea, and you always have your doctor whom you should consult in these scenarios.
Generally, after a lasik surgery, a follow-up is scheduled for the patient. The main reason behind this follows up to ensure that everything is fine with the eye and whether or not it’s healing correctly. You get permission to fly when you complete this appointment with your doctor.
Also, if you decide to fly somewhere after your lasik surgery, you must take care of yourselves and figure out what to do after you land. One obvious thing is to ensure you wear sunglasses after you land, as you must prioritise the health of your eyes above everything else. Usually, the recovery time for any patient after a lasik surgery is short, so there are no issues with flying.
Final Words
Even though you can fly after your follow-up appointment with your doctor, it’s probably the best option if you can wait for a few days. Waiting for some time provides extra time for your eyes to heal, and they are better prepared for any trip, reducing the chances of any risk or complications.
Also, due to any scenarios you have to travel, there are various things someone can do to make the trip easier on your eyes, like drinking water and keeping yourself hydrated and using eye drops.
