People spend hours on screens every day. Work happens on a laptop or computer. Evenings are spent streaming or scrolling. On top of these devices, people have their phones by their side almost every moment. It is the first thing many people pick up in the morning and the last thing they look at before bed.
In many cases, it is impossible to avoid screens between work, school, and your personal life. With screens dominating daily life, they can affect your vision. Below you will find how screen time and digital eye strain impact LASIK outcomes.
How Screen Time and Digital Eye Strain Impact LASIK Outcomes
For those who are considering LASIK, your screen time matters. You will need to modify your screen time, especially right after the procedure. Digital eye strain is one of the most common complaints among adults about their vision. For LASIK patients, it can impact the recovery process. It can also impact your long-term LASIK results if you are not careful.
Digital Eye Strain
Digital eye strain impacts people of all ages and backgrounds. People who spend hours on their screens have likely experienced the symptoms of the condition. When you stare at a screen, your blink rate drops significantly. Normally, you blink between fifteen and twenty times each minute. However, this drops to five or fewer when you are looking at screens. Reduced blinking destabilizes your natural tear film. This leads to dryness, which can trigger several other symptoms. This may include irritation, blurred vision, fluctuating vision, and eye fatigue.
Digital Eye Strain and LASIK Patients
LASIK reshapes the cornea to correct how the eye focuses light. The procedure is precise and effective in correcting your vision issues. The procedure has a short recovery period, allowing you to get back to your routine quickly. However, the cornea does take time to heal properly. The healing window is important as your eye is vulnerable.
This vulnerability from the surgery makes it susceptible to dryness. This is the most common side effect patients experience after LASIK. Those who spend a lot of time on screens can worsen post-LASIK dry eyes. Additionally, ongoing digital eye strain can affect how clearly you see each day. Fluctuating vision, difficulty focusing, and eye fatigue can occur. This is not due to the LASIK results themselves. However, your daily habits can affect your recovery and long-term results after the procedure.
Managing the Recovery Process After LASIK
The recovery period is especially important for reducing the risk of dry eyes. This means that you will need to avoid screens entirely for the first one to two days after surgery. The eyes are healing rapidly during this window. They are highly sensitive to strain and light. Taking care of your eyes during this period is critical. Eye doctors recommend focusing on rest and recovery for the first couple of days. This can streamline the recovery process and avoid unnecessary risks.
After the second day, you can gradually resume screen use. Short sessions with frequent breaks are necessary. You need to follow the 20-20-20 rule during your recovery. You also need to integrate it into your routine to protect your results. The 20-20-20 rule requires that you look at least 20 feet away from your screen for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This gives the focusing muscles a break and encourages blinking.
Leading Eye Doctors
Vision problems can impact your daily life in so many ways. If you want to correct your vision issues, contact the team at Advanced Eye Medical today to schedule your consultation!