After Laser Eye Surgery As with other surgeries, recovery is a key component of the LASIK process. Generally, patients experience very little pain, and can resume normal activities within a few days. Most patients notice immediate improvement in their vision. This improvement may gradually continue over the next few weeks. In some cases, it may take several weeks for vision to stabilize. Please be advised that your follow up care is as important as the actual procedure. Wear the sunglasses provided. Most other varieties do not provide adequate protection. You are required to return to our office within 24 hours after laser eye surgery for your first mandatory post-operative appointment. Your appointment time will be given to you immediately after your surgery. Following your 24-hour visit, there are 2 additional, mandatory visits required for LASIK (4 for ASA). Should you choose your own eye care professional to provide the follow-up care, you will incur the cost of these examinations. Post-operative examinations are required at one one (1) month and three (3) months from the date of LASIK eye surgery with additional appointments at four (4) days and six (6) months from the date of ASA eye surgery. If you choose to use your own eye care professional, your doctor will require pre-and post-operative forms to complete and return to Bellevue LASIK. After your 24-hour post-operative appointment you will receive, in person, via fax or by mail, your refractive surgical report and post-op forms for your own eye care doctor. Each post-operative appointment is important even if everything seems fine to you. These examinations help us to evaluate the healing process of your eyes and monitor for the development of infection. Follow-up to laser eye surgery Thoroughly follow your doctor's instructions in the weeks after laser eye surgery. This will include protecting your eyes from dust and abrasion and keeping them rested and well lubricated. And be sure to meet all your after-surgery appointments. These usually are scheduled at the following intervals after laser eye surgery: One day. One month. Three months. If you develop no complications after three months, an annual exam will be sufficient to monitor the health of your eyes. All patients should plan to rest for the remainder of the day following their laser eye surgery. Most patients can return to work the day after treatment. Most patients are able to legally drive without eye glasses within a few hours of laser eye surgery. However, you should not drive until your doctor verifies your vision at the one-day postoperative visit. Most patients return to their normal activities the day after laser eye surgery. However, you should avoid doing very intense exercise for 72 hours.