After undergoing LASIK eye surgery your blurry vision after lasik for a short time. Many patients report seeing the world through a frosted glass and also report halos, glare, and watery eyes right after the procedure. In most cases what you are experiencing improves within a few days of the procedure and continues to improve over the next few weeks or months which is dependent on your prescription, the dryness of your eyes, and rate of healing.
This guide goes into why it happens, how long will my vision be blurry after lasik it typically lasts and which warning signs indicate you should contact your surgeon.
Why Blurry Vision after LASIK
LASIK is a type of refractive surgery which changes the shape of the cornea with the use of a laser, therefore the eye requires a period of time to heal.
What you may experience in the early stages includes:
- Corneal swelling which temporarily affects how light gets in the eye.
- Flap healing time which is a requirement for the thin corneal flap to fully close.
- Breakdown of tear film which in turn causes dry eye and variable vision.
- Also corneal surface cell growth during the corneal healing process.
- Brain’s adjustment to the eye’s new focus which is seen especially in high power prescriptions.
LASIK Recovery Timeline
If you are asking, how long will my vision be blurry after lasik and will my blurry vision after lasik last, the answer depends on the healing stage. Most people improve in a predictable pattern.
Day 1
Vision will often be rather blurred on the first day. Halos, glare, starbursts, and watery eyes are present as well and what is to be expected.
Days 2–7
During the first week vision is reportable to have improved greatly. Many patients are able to get back to their routine within a few days.
Weeks 2–4
For a large majority of cases we see that vision stabilizes. May still experience some fluctuation in mild blur which in many is a result of dry eyes.
1–3 Months
Patients with higher prescriptions may continue to see gradual improvement during this period. Night glare and halos usually reduce over time.
3–6 Months
This is usually when the final result becomes clear for most patients, especially in complex cases. A follow-up refraction helps confirm whether the vision is stable.
Factors That Affect Recovery
LASIK recovery is different for every person. A few factors can make blurry vision after lasik lasts a little longer.
These include:
- Higher pre-surgery prescription.
- Age over 40.
- Pre-existing dry eye.
- Surface procedures like PRK or LASEK, which heal more slowly than LASIK.
- Not using prescribed medicines regularly.
- Too much screen time soon after surgery.
What Helps Recovery
Following the advice of your surgeon exactly can improve LASIK recovery and reduce discomfort. Good post op care practices really do make a difference.
Helpful steps include:
- Use of lubricating drops as required.
- Get good sleep and if recommended use protective eye shields.
- Do not rub your eyes.
- Wear UV protective sunglasses when out.
- For the first few days reduce screen time.
- For the advised time avoid swimming and contact sports.
- Attend all follow up visits.
Normal Or Red Flags?
Some LASIK side effects are expected, while others need urgent attention. Knowing the difference helps reduce worry and also protects your eyes.
Normal, expected symptoms
- Blurry vision on day 1.
- Halos and starbursts for several weeks.
- Mild blur that gets better and worse through the day, usually due to dryness.
- Vision is improving gradually week by week.
Red flags
- Vision gets worse after improving.
- Increasing eye pain after day 1.
- Redness gets worse after day 2.
- Light sensitivity becomes stronger instead of better.
- Visible flap edge or irregular surface.
- Discharge from the eye.
Enhancement After LASIK
If you still have some blurry vision after lasik at 3–6 months after surgery because of over-correction or under-correction, your doctor may discuss an enhancement procedure. This is part of the normal LASIK planning process for some patients and does not mean the original surgery failed.
Enhancement is considered only after the prescription becomes stable. It is more common in people with very high corrections.
LASIK Care At Vasan
At Vasan Eye Care we have in-depth testing for our LASIK patients that includes topography, pachymetry, wavefront analysis and dry eye evaluation. We use this info for the surgeon to determine which procedure out of LASIK, Contoura Vision, or SMILE is best for your eyes.
As well if you are shopping for the cost of LASIK or trying to determine what is the right procedure for you, an eye specialist hospital can give you a great pre surgery consultation. Also we use these pre op consults to set realistic expectations on the recovery time.
Key Takeaways
- Blurry vision after lasik is very normal.
- For most patients, vision improves greatly within 3-7 days and stabilizes at 4-8 weeks.
- Dry eye is the primary cause of intermittent blurry vision after lasik in the first 1-3 months.
- Higher prescriptions and older age may mean it takes up to 6 months for results to present.
- Prescribed drops and follow up visits are key for a smooth LASIK recovery.
- Worsening vision, pain, or discharge are red flags that require immediate review.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most people we see that their vision is very blurred which then greatly improves within the first 3 to 7 days of the procedure, also it will continue to stabilize over the 4 to 8 week mark. If you have a very high prescription or have dry eye issues that may last up to 3 to 6 months.
Yes it is a normal thing to see at that stage. Common causes are posterior capsule opacification, dry eye, or there is still some residual refractive error. It is best to get in to see an ophthalmologist who can determine the cause and recommend the proper treatment.
A warning sign is when vision deteriorates after a period of improvement or when you experience blurry vision that also has more pain, redness, light sensitivity, or discharge. These should be reported immediately to your surgeon.
We see this managed with the use of lubricating drops, reducing screen time, staying well hydrated and in for regular follow up visits. If at large the issue of blur persists beyond 3 to 6 months your surgeon will do a check to determine if an enhancement is required.
References
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: LASIK https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/lasik
- Mayo Clinic: LASIK eye surgery https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/lasik-eye-surgery/about/pac-20384774