So you’ve gone through the LASIK consultation, know you’re a good LASIK candidate, and have scheduled your procedure. The end goal of the procedure is better vision and freedom from glasses and contact lenses. 
Did you know that your journey does not end right after the LASIK machines turn off? In fact, the road to amazing vision will have just begun! 
Here are some things that you can expect to enjoy (and also have to deal with) once you’ve gone under the lasers. 

Your Vision Will Improve And Continue Improving

Many people notice their vision improves immediately after the LASIK procedure is over. This can be incredible, but even though your eyesight will be better, it will take some time for it to reach its greatest potential. 
In fact, you will likely experience some blurriness for the first day. This is why you will need to schedule a ride ahead of time to take you to and from the clinic. 
Driving yourself isn’t safe until the day after LASIK at least. You should get a friend or family member who can drive you home. 

You Will Be Very Tired

LASIK is not very intense as far as surgeries go, but it can still take a lot out of a person. As soon as the surgeon is finished you will be left to rest for about 30 minutes before you can go home. 
Sleep is a very important part of healing from something like LASIK, so don’t fight the urge to nap when you get home. Keep in mind that your eyes will be very fragile during the beginning stages of recovery. 
Don’t forget to wear the eye shields given to you while you sleep to prevent bumping or rubbing your eyes. 

Some Common LASIK Side Effects

Serious complications from LASIK such as regression or vision loss are rare. There are a couple of smaller, annoying side effects you can expect to have to deal with temporarily.
You already read about the blurriness that you will likely encounter immediately. This should only last a day or two, but it is not unheard of for it to last a couple of weeks. 
Everybody is different. Difficulty seeing may be especially noticeable at night. You may also experience visual aberrations like glare and halos from light sources. This is only temporary and should go away after about a week usually.

The Most Common Side Effect Is Dry Eye

Dry eye is another common side effect. This occurs because nerves that help your eye detect when it needs more tears are cut through during LASIK. As a result, it can cause a dulling of the tear response. 
Dry eyes can cause many problems for people healing from LASIK.  This can include an increased likelihood of infection, blurriness, and itchiness. 
Never rub your eyes after LASIK, because it will very likely cause complications. Instead, use eye drops to manage the dry eye symptoms, which can last up to 6 months.
Full recovery takes a different amount of time for everybody. Learn everything you need to know about LASIK and what to expect at a LASIK consultation. 
Think LASIK could be right for you? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Chesen Laser Eye Center in West Reading, PA to find out now!