OOMC News

Can I watch TV after LASIK?

December 20, 2019

Everyone watches TV. Whether you’re binge-watching your favorite show or just watching the news, it’s okay to admit that we all spend time in front of the television set every day. However, there are a few precautions you need to take when watching TV, especially after LASIK eye surgery.

While you can watch TV after LASIK, it’s important to understand that your eyes are in a recovery process and you need to take special care to ensure they heal properly. To help you do just that, we have compiled a few helpful tips when watching TV after LASIK.

Contact any of our locations in Cherry Hill, Philadelphia, King of Prussia, Limerick, Springfield, Horsham, and Wilmington.

WAIT BEFORE WATCHING TV

Since your eyes are still healing, they will be especially sensitive in the first 24 hours after the LASIK procedure. So it’s recommended to wait at least 24 hours before watching TV again.

Watching TV immediately after the procedure can cause your eyes to strain, and that will negatively affect the healing process. Keeping eyes away from the screen will prevent them from straining, getting tired, and drying out. After the first 24 hours, your eyes should be strong enough to handle a little screen time.

GO EASY WHEN WATCHING TV AFTER LASIK

Even after 24 hours, you need to take it easy when watching TV. Remember, your eyes are still recovering from a medical procedure. So don’t binge-watch your favorite shows right away. Instead, in the days following your procedure, it’s a good idea to limit your time in front of the screen.

Try watching an episode or two throughout the day and monitor how your eyes feel. If you’re noticing any discomfort or straining, take a break and do something else or close your eyes to let them rest.

You can also follow the 20-20-20 rule. The 20-20-20 rule states that you should look away from the screen every 20 minutes at something that’s about 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. This will help prevent straining and ensures proper healing after your LASIK procedure.

KEEP YOUR EYES LUBRICATED AND MOISTURIZED

An important rule to follow after a LASIK procedure is to keep your eyes moisturized and lubricated. However, watching TV can make that difficult.

When you’re staring at a screen for long periods of time, your eyes don’t blink as often as they should. Because of this, your eyes can strain, get irritated, and dry out.

So remember to blink while watching TV. This will provide the moisture your eyes need. You also want to keep eye drops handy whenever you start to feel your eyes drying out. Your doctor should provide them after the procedure to help manage any discomfort and to keep your eyes lubricated and moisturized.

REST YOUR EYES OFTEN

Most importantly, make sure to rest your eyes as often as possible. A great way to do this is to close your eyes every so often when watching TV. This keeps you from overexerting your eyes and prevents any recovery issues.

Doing something as simple as closing your eyes for a couple of minutes can help promote healing and better vision.

While you can watch TV after LASIK, there are a few precautions you need to take. To ensure your eyes heal properly and efficiently, make sure you follow the tips above.

To learn more about how you can help your eyes heal after LASIK, check out our post on Computer Use After LASIK.

Kremer Eye Center is the Tri-state area’s LASIK innovator. We are located throughout New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania with offices in King of Prussia, Limerick, Philadelphia, Horsham, Pottstown, Springfield PA, Cherry Hill, NJ and Wilmington, DE.

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