Aftercare and recovery

Some temporary blurred vision, grittiness, watering or light sensitivity can occur while the eye heals. You will normally use prescribed eye drops and attend follow-up appointments so your recovery can be monitored.

Contact the clinic if you develop symptoms that differ significantly from what your team has told you to expect.

You should not place a contact lens in the operated eye during the early healing period unless specifically advised by your eye-care team.

Once your eye has healed your visual needs can be reassessed, and your clinical team can advise whether any additional correction is required.

Where possible it is best to avoid alcohol during the first week after surgery, as it can contribute to dryness and slow your recovery.

Your clinical team will give you personalised advice based on your procedure, medication and general health, so always follow the specific instructions you receive on the day of surgery.

Flying is possible after the first few weeks following uncomplicated Cataract Surgery, but you should discuss travel plans with your clinical team.

Consider your follow-up appointments, access to prescribed eye drops, and how you would obtain medical advice if a problem developed while you were away.

You can normally shower after surgery, but take care to avoid getting water, shampoo or soap directly into the treated eye during the early healing period. Your clinical team will give you specific aftercare instructions.

You should not drive home after surgery. Most patients can return to driving locally within 24 to 48 hours, once your vision meets the legal driving standard and you have been advised that it is safe to do so. The timing varies between patients.

Vision may be blurred initially after surgery, but many people begin to notice improvement within the first few days. Your vision can continue to change and settle over the following weeks as the eye heals.

Contact the clinic straight away, or the out-of-hours emergency line if it is outside normal clinic hours, if you experience severe pain, an opaque discharge, a sudden deterioration in vision or excessive redness. Do not wait for your next appointment.

Clinic: (01) 223 8821. Out of hours: Dublin 087 168 0720, Cork 086 795 6539, Belfast 07523 466343.

As a general guide, avoid exercise for 1 week, swimming for 2 weeks and contact sports for 4 weeks after LASIK. Timings vary by procedure, so check the return-to-activities guidance for the procedure you have had.

Most patients are prescribed an antibiotic drop, an anti-inflammatory drop and a lubricant drop, on a tapering schedule over the following weeks. The exact drops, doses and timings differ by procedure, and the aftercare guide you are given sets out the schedule that applies to you.

Usually 24 to 48 hours after LASIK, 5 to 7 days after PRK and 4 to 7 days after lens surgery. Always wait until your optometrist has confirmed that your vision meets the legal standard for driving.

It depends on your procedure: typically from 2 days for LASIK, 5 days for PRK and 4 to 7 days for lens surgery. Where a range is given, your post-operative appointments will confirm whether you can return sooner.

We strongly advise our patients to attend all of their aftercare appointments. Your aftercare appointments allow us to track the progress of your eyes and to ensure they are healing properly.

For most of our patients, it takes one or two days for their improved vision to settle. However, we do advise that patients rest their eyes properly for the month following their surgery.

Please get in touch with the clinic to provide us with further details.

If you have hurt your eye(s) within 1 month of surgery please get in touch with the clinic as soon as possible.

You should not be in any considerable pain after your Laser Eye Surgery or IOL surgery though some discomfort is normal. If you find that you are in pain, you can contact our team.

You can wear eye make up 2 weeks after your surgery. This is best practice to avoid infection.

Please follow the post op guidelines sheet which you are given after your surgery.

There are no restrictions on flying after surgery, but you may be asked to sign an additional consent from if you plan to travel out the country soon after surgery, because there are some additional risks and considerations that you need to be aware of. Please let us know if this applies to you.

Please start using your drops on the day of surgery. Begin using your drops 3 hours after IOL.

You will be very light sensitive and it may be difficult to fully open your eyes, so it is not safe to travel alone the day of your surgery.

Please check if you can see the lens in your eye, and then call the clinic immediately. If it has been less than 7 day since your surgery and it is after hours, you may use the emergency phone number provided.

Yes, just after surgery, this is completely normal. Howver if you have any major drop in vision or discharge coming from the eyes, please get in touch with us immediately.

Yes, of course. Your drops are inlcuded for up to 3 months after surgery. If you have run out, please call the clinic for more.

We can provide you with a letter to give to your employer. In order to obtain a medical cert for sick pay, you would need to see your GP.

You will have a minimum of 4 post ops included in your surgery. If required, more post op appointments may be arranged.

Yes, we would like to see you at these times to ensure that healing is on track, and so it is important that you attend these appointments as scheduled.