Have you been debating getting LASIK eye surgery? Are you worried that it might impact your travel plans?
Deciding when to schedule your LASIK procedure is important. There are a lot of things you need to consider like time of year and any vacations you want to schedule.
One of the many reasons people love getting LASIK is that it has a quick recovery time. Your doctor will want to see you the following morning to remove your protective eyewear, check your vision, and make sure your eyes are healing okay. After that appointment, you should be able to safely drive.
If you are traveling after having LASIK, there are some things you can do to make your trip more comfortable.
Pack LOTS of Artificial Tears
One of the temporary side effects of getting LASIK is that you might get dry eye or be more sensitive to dry air. Traveling on an airplane can also dry out your eyes.
The combination of your eyes healing from LASIK and traveling can make your eyes more dry than usual. The best way to handle this is to be prepared!
This means packing plenty of artificial tears in your carry-on while flying. You can bring these because they are small enough to be TSA approved for travel-sized liquids.
If you know you will be traveling with a lot of artificial tears or other drops, put them in a clear bag. This will make going through security much easier and faster!
If you are taking a road trip instead of flying – still pack lots of artificial tears. The air blowing in your car (or having the windows down) will also dry out your eyes and you will want those tears handy.
Stay Hydrated
Another key factor for keeping your eyes moist is making sure that you stay hydrated. The smart thing to do is start your travels with a large, empty water bottle that you can fill at the airport. While you are flying, you should do your best to drink a lot of water. Once you get through security, fill up your empty water bottle and start drinking water.
Even if you don’t feel thirsty, you should still do your best to drink as much water as possible.
Reduce Eye Strain
While your eyes heal, you should try to rest them as much as possible. This can mean keeping them closed or not looking at things that will cause eye strain. Instead of watching a movie on your phone or tablet, maybe consider keeping your eyes closed or taking a nap on the plane.
If you have recently had LASIK, the best thing you can do for your eyes is to simply rest them.
Do Not Touch Your Eyes
We all know that planes are not the cleanest places. People touch everything: tray tables, armrests, toilets, and more.
With all the bacteria and germs that can be on the things you touch, you should avoid touching your eyes. You do not want to get any potentially harmful bacteria or particles in your eyes. Especially during the COVID pandemic.
Packing hand sanitizer is a great idea. Bringing and wearing protective eyewear may also help prevent you from touching your eyes.
Following these guidelines will make your travel experience post LASIK much better. As long as you get prior approval from your doctor, you can most likely fly and travel soon after having LASIK.
Ready to find out if you could be a good candidate for LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at VisionPoint Eye Center in Bloomington or Champaign IL!
