How Long should I Avoid Watching TV after Laser Eye Surgery

For most recovering from a surgical procedure, most time is spent lounging on a bed in the hospital or at home watching the TV, but when it’s your eyes recovering from laser eye surgery, watching …

For most recovering from a surgical procedure, most time is spent lounging on a bed in the hospital or at home watching the TV, but when it’s your eyes recovering from laser eye surgery, watching a TV may be off the list of things to do while recovering.

If you intend to undergo laser eye surgery, you may have heard or read that it is not your usually surgical procedure, and this also applies to the recovery phase. After laser eye surgery, most people can resume their regular activities in 48 hours.

However, in the first 24 hours of recovery, you need to avoid screens and harsh lights, including activities that require visual activity such as reading. This 24-hour period post-laser eye surgery is also called the no-screen period. You can be back to your work, including watching TV and using a computer after this period.

The first 24 hours post-laser eye surgery

  • In the first 3 – 4 hours, you need to close your eyes and rest
  • After some hours, you can carry out light activities, but avoid anything that is harmful to your eyes, like air conditioning and dust
  • Avoid rubbing your eyes, but you can use lubricating drops for the eye dryness and itching
  • Take a bath, but avoids showers to prevent soap and water from entering your eyes
  • About 24 hours after your laser eye surgery, you can resume activities such as watching TV, reading, using your smartphone or tablets but ensure you use drops to prevent dryness
  • Most patients can resume their activities after 24 hours

During this period, the eyes are still in the early healing stages, and you need to follow certain precautions for a smooth recovery.

When using a screen for prolonged periods, lubricate your eyes with eye drops. If your eyes become dry, it may not affect the treatment outcome but lead to minor and temporary fluctuations in your vision.

Ensure you adhere strictly to the no screen period and use thetime to adjust to your new vision while developing a routine with using lubricating eye drops.

If you adhere to your eye surgeon’s recommendation, your eyes will heal quickly and return to full health.

If you want to book a consultation for laser eye surgery in London, feel free to contact Optimal Vision on 020 7183 3725. You can also visit our clinic to speak to our laser eye surgeon.