Lasik Sunglasses – What You Need To Know Post-Lasik Surgery

Making the decision to have Lasik eye surgery is probably one of the biggest and most emotional challenges you’ll ever have to face, and once you’ve made your decision, post-Lasik eye care and Lasik sunglasses are of the utmost importance. There’s no point in having surgery if you don’t take care of yourself afterwards.

I know this, because I had Lasik surgery performed on both eyes back in 2000.

After hearing all the horror stories (and of course back then Lasik surgery was relatively new), I was terrified to make the decision.

A number of people who had already had the surgery kept prompting me to take the plunge, but I was always reluctant. After all, no matter how bad my eyesight was, at least I could still see with glasses (or contact lenses). What if something went wrong and then I was left completely blind?

Finally, in 2000 I was leaving for a 6 month trip through the Amazon jungle. Glasses or contact lenses were going to be a hindrance on my trip and so I finally made the decision to have the surgery.

I had the surgery done in September 2000 and I was on my way to the Amazon in October 2000; one month later!

Anyway, I only tell you all this to explain to you how vital post-Lasik eye care, and Lasik sunglasses truly are.

Sunglasses after Lasik surgery are absolutely essential and you should make sure that you have the correct sunglasses to help you to recover.

Quite obviously you will experience some discomfort after your surgery and by being aware of what can happen and being fully prepared, there is no reason whatsoever why you shouldn’t recover perfectly and in a short period of time.

So to begin with let me stress that you MUST wear sunglasses for the rest of the day after your surgery and it is highly recommended that you wear them for at least a month after.

Remember, after refractive surgery your eyes will be fragile and sensitive and protective eye wear is therefore essential.

Light sensitivity

You will need to keep your eyes in the dark for the rest of the day after your surgery and your eyes will remain sensitive to light for up to a month after. It is therefore essential to have a pair of dark sunglasses with 100%UVA/UVB protection.

For the period after the first month, you may choose to wear lighter sunglasses with 100%UVA/UVB. The amount of protection that you get remains the same even if the glasses are lighter.

It is very important that you make sure that your sunglasses have 100% UVA and UVB protection.

Prevent complications

Corneal haze (a hazy or foggy view) is a possible side effect of Lasik eye surgery and it is believed that exposure to UV light is a possible culprit, so if you’re debating whether you should get or wear sunglasses after lasik surgery, debate no more; and it doesn’t make a difference whether it’s summer or winter either, light can affect your eyes regardless of the season.

If you intend swimming in the months after your surgery, make sure that you wear goggles and that your goggles have the correct UV protection. It’s no use protecting your eyes by wearing the correct sunglasses, when a small slip up like not getting the correct protection on your swimming goggles, can lead to damage.

Another thing to be weary of is tanning and particularly tanning beds. The UV rays from a tanning bed are much more intense than the sun’s and extra care must be taken when using a tanning bed.

It is recommended that you refrain from using a tanning bed for up to a year after your surgery. However, if you absolutely must tan, make sure that you use protective goggles especially designed for use for a tanning bed.

It is also likely that the goggles provided by the tanning salon do not fit properly so it is advisable that you get your own and ensure that they have a snug fit.

Sunglasses come in many shapes, styles and colors and can include your prescription lenses, but it is essential, and I cannot stress this enough, that they give you 100%UVA/UVB protection. You will ideally need two pairs after your surgery; a dark pair that will shield your eyes from light from every direction – from the front, sides and bottom. Wraparound sunglasses are ideal for protecting your eyes for the month after your surgery.

After this period, your eyes would have started to heal and you can then use a lighter lens and less protective shape. However, always make sure that you give your eyes full 100%UVA/UVB protection.

Style is an important issue when choosing your sunglasses after Lasik surgery because if you have a pair of sunglasses that you don’t like or don’t find comfortable, you are more likely to not wear them as often as you should. So, buy a pair of sunglasses that are comfortable, yet stylish. You want to feel like a movie star now that you can see the world clearly for the first time.

For me, the decision to have Lasik eye surgery was the best decision I ever made. I know that there are many people out there advocating the negative effects of the surgery, but I’m not here to debate that. I’ve already had the surgery done and am 100% satisfied.

This article simply serves as a guide for those of you who already have, or are about to have, Lasik surgery. You are doing yourself the biggest favour by correcting your eyesight and you must ensure that you look after your eyes post-Lasik. So, make sure you invest in some good quality sunglasses and enjoy your new view of the world!