Does
LASIK Surgery Fit Your Lifestyle?
Find
out here…
Are you tired of wearing contact lens or eyeglasses? Are you tired
of sitting on the bench as an observer rather than a player in
sport events? If your vision problems are holding you back, perhaps
you may want to consider LASIK surgery to correct your eye problems.
If you plan to use LASIK as an eye corrective alternative, then
understand that post surgical risks in LASIK are to be considered.
Before you have surgery, you will be provided with instructions
and rules to follow in order to protect you during surgery. These
rules and instructions help you to cut back on the risks of LASIK.
The instructions provided will also provide you with steps to
take to avoid risks of injury or infection during the aftercare
phase. After LASIK certain activities must be avoided. Learn about
these risks.
Before you can go through LASIK surgery, your doctor must determine
if you are a good candidate for LASIK. LASIK is a great alternative
for correcting vision problems, but you do have other options
available.
If you choose LASIK however, it is important to follow the instructions
as ordered by your doctor. Before you go to surgery you must take
action to avoid certain risks of injury or infection. The action
you must take is listed below:
If you plan to take a vacation to a nice island, you may want
to unpack your suitcases until after you have had LASIK surgery.
It is important that you avoid too much exposure to sunlight,
as well as artificial light. Light from tanning beds and the sun
have harmful UV and radiation that can cause damage to your eyes,
especially if you are not protecting your eyes from the rays.
Doctors often recommend that you wear UV sunglasses or similar
eyewear to protect your eyes before you go for LASIK.
Tanning
Beds and the SUN
Patients are instructed to wear UV glasses to protect their eyes
before they go to surgery. If you are in the sun a lot or visit
tanning salons do not forget to wear your UV glasses. If you can
avoid the sun and tanning beds for two to three weeks before your
surgery, you can reduce your risks of injury or infection. After
you have finished your surgery it is highly important for you
to use UV Rays to protect your eyes for a few weeks, or even months.
Reverse effects can occur from LASIK if you are exposed to too
much UV. The reverse effects can cause hazy vision from latter-onset
cornea. Tanning beds as well as the sun can cause damage to your
eyes after and before surgery. Get in the habit of wearing UV
eyewear to protect your eyes. Make sure the glasses are comfortable
so that you do not take them off and forget them.
Water
Sporting Events and Swimming
LASIK can provide you improved vision so that you can enjoy more
activities. The things you could not enjoy at one time, such as
scuba diving, ski jetting, and other water sports, you can enjoy
after your healing process from LASIK. After surgery you want
to avoid water adventures for at least two months, to avoid infections
or damage to your eyes.
Most of your lakes and oceans have organisms and bacteria that
can increase your risks of getting infections. Try to keep water
away from your eyes. Hot tubs, pools, etc have chlorine in them.
Chlorine can cause damage to your eyes. Dry eye is one of the
common problems that could develop. Because hot tubs and pools
have chlorine to keep them clean, it does not eliminate them from
bacteria. Remember a lot of people dive into pools and hot tubs.
You can avoid other risks by waiting a few weeks or months after
your surgery to join in aggressive sports. Try to wait to go water
skiing or scuba diving.
Outdoor Adventures (High Altitude Adventures – Mountain
Climbs – Skiing
In high areas the climate changes, which oxygen and pressure changes
and affects a person’s eyesight. It doesn’t matter
if you have LASIK surgery or not, climbing in higher climates
can affect your vision. Most times the affects from declining
pressure and oxygen is short-term, but it can become a long-term
problem, especially when you have problems seeing.
Experts suggest that altitudes “10,000 feet” and above
could put you at greater risks. Most people who climb will experience
dry eye, which is very common. In mountainous regions the winds
tend to be much stronger. People who ski in mountains often experience
dry eye as well. Dry eye is a simple fix, but if the problem is
left untreated, it could be a problem that LASIK surgery cannot
fix. You want to avoid climbing in high areas during the aftercare
phase. Contact sports should be avoided as well.
Contact Sporting Adventures
From the get-go, contact sports put you at risk of injury. Therefore,
it is recommended that you wait at least 30-days after your surgery
before participating in contact sports. Some of the sport games
you should avoid include, football, martial arts, boxing, wrestling,
hockey, tennis, racquet ball, and similar games should be avoided
as well. During any contact sport event you should wear protective
eye wear at all times to protect your eyes whether you’ve
had LASIK surgery or not.
Sports are fun and many people enjoy playing the games. If you’ve
missed these activities because of your vision problems, consider
LASIK. Your overall life and eyesight could improve. Still, you
must adhere to the precautions. In the meantime, a qualified ophthalmologist
will assist you with deciding if you are a good candidate for
LASIK.
