Oh what a night! Makes me think of a Frankie Valli song…
We have a lab that loves to sleep in our bedroom with us. When we really need a good night’s rest we have her sleep in the crate with her little brother. It is a huge crate, and she can stand up in it, but she misses us. So, from about 2AM on all I heard was a high pitched whine.
What does that have to do with Lasik? Well, my eyes have been getting dry at night, but I only notice it when I wake up. The challenge is getting drops in my eyes when I am half asleep. *grin*
Since I am now farsighted, it is a bit more difficult to see up close, which one needs to be able to do in order to get drops in their eyes. Also, being half asleep at night, my depth perception is off, so about half the drops go to my cheek rather than my eye. The Refresh vials are also quite small, and the tips are difficult to see when I am half asleep, so I try to make sure the tips do not touch my eye. I told my husband about the nightly adventure of drops and he got a kick out of it. Must have been the way I described it. In a way it is a bit funny.
The drops the doctor gives you to use after Lasik have different purposes. One is an antibiotic, one is an anti-inflammatory, and the third is for artificial tears since it is normal for eyes to be a bit dry after Lasik.
Anti-Inflammatory Drops
These usually come in a white or pink capped bottle. It is milky white. This drop must be shaken prior to instillation. It is really a suspension, that is, the drop contains microscopic particles of drug that settle out.
Antibiotic Drops
These usually come packaged in a bottle with a tan colored top. The drop is clear and may be prescribed to be used 4 times per day.
Artificial Tear Eye Drops
It is always best to use true preservative free eye drops during the recovery period after Lasik. It is even a good idea to use preservative free eye drops long after surgery, but they are more expensive and after the cornea has healed adequately an artificial tear with a preservative or is preservative free on contact may be appropriate. Check with your doctor. Even if the eye drops do not cause irritation and feel fine, toxins in non-preservative free drops may slow or negatively affect the healing process.
I also bit the bullet and ordered clear eye protective glasses today from Amazon: 3M SecureFit Protective Eyewear SF201AS, Clear Lens, Anti Scratch Coating.
Daily Observations
- Left eye a bit dry and scratchy.
- Definitely need to wear goggles if out outside and it is windy.
- Dizziness is gone. Most likely eyes have finally adjusted to seeing distance.
- Stores don’t carry reading glasses with magnification under 1.25. So, Amazon and eBay to the rescue.
- Still need to rest eyes as they are recovering.
- Purchased clear eye protectors so I do not need to wear sunglasses inside.
- Eye strain and tiredness kicked in around mid-afternoon. Had been on computer for a maximum of 2 hours total for the day.
- Sneezed for the first time since Lasik. It stung a bit. Possibly due to clamping my eye lids down when closing eyes.
Lasik Journal: Day 4 Post Procedure