How Does Screen Time Affect Post-Laser Surgery Recovery?
Your Phone Can Significantly Impact Your Laser Surgery Recovery
Your phone, tv, and computer can impact your post-laser surgery recovery. Your eyes are already delicate and when they are healing from a procedure, you should be even more mindful of taking care of them. In addition to following your doctor’s instructions and recommendations, you should also consider reducing your phone or computer time. Below are a few reasons why your screens can impact how long it takes you to recover and why you should consider taking a short break from them.
Straining Your Eyes
After Lasik or other eye surgeries, your eyes will be very sensitive to your surroundings. When you use your phone or have prolonged computer time, you may experience digital eye strain. When we look at our screens, we naturally reduce the amount of blinking since we are more focused and concentrating on what we are looking at. This can cause a strain on the eyes and take your body longer to recover. There are a few ways to avoid straining your eyes during this time. The most important thing you can do is reduce the amount of screen time you consume. This is good for both post-procedure and your everyday life. It is also important to remember to blink frequently.
Light Sensitivity
After Lasik surgery, your eyes will be more sensitive to light. This sensitivity can cause some discomfort and add to your eye strain. One way to make your recovery more comfortable if you are exposing yourself to lights emitted by screens is to consider turning down the brightness. This can be a dramatically positive way to reduce strain on your eyes. Another option you may want to consider is to invest in a pair of blue light glasses or a filter that can block the light that is being emitted. Both of these options are an easy way to protect your eyes both after surgery and beyond.
Dry Eyes
Your tear production will be temporarily reduced after getting surgery. This can cause your eyes to be more dry than normal. Dry eyes can be very uncomfortable in general and using your phone or looking at screens can make them even more dry. Make sure you remember to close your eyes frequently and use any prescribed eye drops during your recovery. Dry eyes can take your body longer to recover and make your experience more uncomfortable. Dry eyes can also cause itching which may cause you to instinctively want to touch or rub your eyes. You want to make sure to not touch or rub your eyes post-surgery to avoid any irritation or infections.
Headaches
Excessive phone or computer time can cause you to experience headaches. If you are on your phone or looking at a screen for too long during after your procedure, you may experience headaches, which can lead to fatigue. When you are experiencing fatigue, your body will not be able to focus on recovering from your Lasik surgery, and process may be prolonged. Keeping your mind and body relaxed will allow you to focus on a quick recovery so you can get back to enjoying your life to the fullest.
How Long Does Healing Take After Lasik Or Other Procedures?
Everyone’s healing process and timeline are unique. Most people see significant improvements in their vision a few days after surgery. For most Lasik eye surgeries, it will take weeks and sometimes months for your eyes to be fully healed. It is important to consult with your doctor about the best methods to use and how long it will take to recover. This will help give you a better understanding of how you can prepare for a quick and healthy healing process.
How To Manage Your Screen Time
Prior to having your laser eye surgery, it is important to be prepared and find ways to limit your screen time while you are recovering. Managing your phone time effectively will reduce your eye strain and improve your body’s focus. One of our favorite ways to manage phone or computer time both post-surgery and in everyday life is to use an app that limits your phone time. This can be a very helpful tool for those who may not notice how much time has passed when they are on their phone. You can set timers or limits throughout your day and when you exceed those parameters, your phone will notify you. Some time management apps also have the ability to keep you from using your phone or certain apps until a certain time has passed. If you do not have an app or do not want to use that resource, another great way of managing your phone time is to set a timer for yourself and schedule short breaks to step away from your phone.
How To Protect Your Eye When Looking At Screens
In addition to blue light glasses, turning down your brightness, and remembering to blink often during phone and computer use, there are a few other ways that you can protect your eyes post-surgery. It is important to maintain a proper distance between your face and your phone. Looking too close at your phone can be very damaging. We also recommend making sure the screen is slightly below eye level. Avoiding any awkward angles can help keep your eyes and neck from feeling any discomfort. You may also want to think about adjusting the text size on your phone or your computer. Having a larger font size can help you avoid squinting and which can cause strain. Lastly, it is important to avoid touching or rubbing your eyes. Your eyes are already in a more sensitive state and touching them can cause irritation and infections.
Consult Your Doctor
It is important to follow the specific instructions and advice that your doctor has given to you for post-surgery. Depending on your Lasik procedure, there may be changes to the timeline of how long it will take you to see improved vision and recover. Make sure you ask your doctor any questions you have prior to your surgery and to follow up with them after if you have any concerns.
Contact Columbus Laser & Cataract Center With Any Questions or Concerns
Protecting your eyes after your laser surgery is an important part of how quickly you will recover. Limiting your phone or computer time is one way to make sure your healing process is not delayed. If you have any questions about getting Lasik, other eye surgeries, or if you are experiencing any discomfort after your operation, please give Columbus Laser & Cataract Center a call today.