You already know that laser eye surgery can free you from eyeglasses and contacts. But many patients aren’t aware of several fascinating aspects of these procedures until they’re sitting in the treatment chair.
Stephen Khachikian, MD, performs laser eye surgery for patients in Rapid City, South Dakota, using advanced laser systems that incorporate technology most people never hear about. These lesser-known facts about laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK®) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) might surprise you.
Understanding the changes that happen in the weeks after laser eye surgery helps you know what to expect during recovery.
Your vision may seem sharper some days than others during the first month. This happens because your cornea is still settling into its new shape, and small amounts of swelling can change how light focuses through your eye.
Most patients experience some degree of dry eye symptoms after laser surgery. The laser temporarily affects the nerves that signal your eye to produce tears. These nerves typically regenerate within 3-6 months, and Dr. Khachikian can recommend specific eye drops to keep you comfortable during this period.
While many patients see clearly within 24 hours, your final prescription continues to fine-tune itself for several months.
Most patients experience some degree of night vision changes following laser eye surgery, including increased sensitivity to bright lights, seeing halos around light sources, or noticing starbursts from headlights. While these effects usually diminish significantly within the first few weeks, complete stabilization can take several months.
Changes in weather, altitude, or air pressure can cause temporary vision fluctuations during the first few months after laser eye surgery. Your vision might feel slightly different on humid days or when flying in airplanes.
You may experience these temporary changes:
These atmospheric effects occur because your cornea is still stabilizing and can be slightly more sensitive to environmental changes. The fluctuations typically resolve completely once healing finishes, usually within 3-6 months after surgery.
The thickness of your flap makes a huge difference in how strong your cornea remains after LASIK surgery. Recent studies show that when surgeons make thinner flaps, your cornea keeps much more of its natural strength compared to thicker ones.
The reason is simple: The front part of your cornea is about twice as strong as the deeper layers. Dr. Khachikian measures each patient’s cornea carefully to create the thinnest safe flap possible, which means your eye keeps more of its original toughness while still having great vision.
After LASIK surgery, the corneal flap that Dr. Khachikian creates stays in place through natural suction and healing, but it never fuses back to the underlying tissue the way it was before surgery. The flap remains secure through natural adhesion and typically stays in position permanently.
Call Stephen Khachikian, MD, at 605-203-4256 today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about how modern laser eye surgery technology can help you achieve clearer vision.
