How to Reduce the Risk of Infection after LASIK

September 1st, 2014

If you’ve made the decision to undergo LASIK surgery, you are hoping for the best possible surgical outcome – one that is free of complications and results in clear vision that eliminates your dependence on glasses and contact lenses. So, are there things that you can do to increase your chances of undergoing a successful LASIK procedure? Indeed, there are. Patients should choose an experienced doctor, such as Huntsville LASIK surgeon Danny Lee, are more likely to experience excellent results after surgery. Patients should also follow all post-surgical instructions to reduce the risk of complications. One such complication that can be avoided is infection. Here, we discuss how patients can reduce the risk of infection after LASIK. 

Post-surgical Instructions

Following your surgeon’s post-surgical instructions is the best way to reduce the risk of infection. Most surgeons’ instructions include:

• Use of the prescribed antibiotics: LASIK surgeons prescribe an antibiotic and steroidal eye drop for use after surgery. The antibiotic eye drops reduce the risk of infection after surgery, and the steroidal eye drops reduce inflammation after surgery. Generally, the antibiotic eye drops should be used for about seven to ten days. The steroidal eye drops are used for one to two weeks. Your surgeon will advise you on how many times to use the eye drops each day, and how long the drops should be used for.
• Do not touch the eyes: Patients should not rub or touch the eyes for a couple of weeks after LASIK surgery. Touching the eyes for any reason can lead to cross contamination, and may increase the risk of LASIK infection. If the eyes feel itchy after LASIK surgery, resist the urge to touch them, and instead use over-the-counter lubricating eye drops to soothe the eyes.
• Wear the provided LASIK goggles: LASIK goggles are provided to patients after LASIK surgery. These goggles are intended to protect the eyes during the critical healing period immediately after LASIK surgery. Patients will be fitted with the goggles after the surgery is complete. The patient should continue to wear these goggles for the day of and the night after surgery. Wearing the goggles while you sleep will prevent you from unconsciously touching the eyes.

Choose an Experienced LASIK Surgeon

In addition to following the surgeon’s post-surgery instructions, patients should research potential surgeons prior to surgery. Selecting a highly skilled LASIK surgeon will reduce the risk of infection and other complications during and after surgery. Patients should choose a board-certified ophthalmologist who has experience performing hundreds of LASIK surgeries with successful results. A trained surgeon who works in a sterile office environment can greatly reduce the occurrence of infection after LASIK surgery.

An experienced surgeon will also properly screen patients before LASIK surgery to ensure that they are suitable candidates for this laser vision correction procedure. To find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery, and to learn more about how to reduce the risk of LASIK infections, contact the practice of Danny Lee, M.D., today.