One of the most common questions that our eye surgeons in Kolkata are asked about laser eye surgery is how soon one can resume driving after having the treatment. On the day of the surgery, you definitely cannot drive. Therefore, you will have to arrange for someone to drive you home. You may feel well immediately after the surgery but your eyes may feel sore and your vision may be blurry, thus making it unsafe for you to drive.
To help you prepare for your laser eye surgery, we have answered a few important questions that you may have in mind regarding driving after the laser eye surgery:
- Can I drive home after laser eye surgery? No. After scheduling your eye surgery, the first thing you should do is to arrange for someone to drive you home. Laser eye surgery is an outpatient treatment. While many patients may experience improved vision after surgery, some may have blurry vision. Moreover, in addition to having blurry vision, patients may feel drowsy because of the local anaesthesia or medicines administered during the surgery. As a result, it is not safe for you to drive home immediately after surgery.
- What mode of transport to go for? It is prudent to avoid the crowds on public transport immediately following surgery. If you have a long way to travel to and public transport is the only option, have someone to accompany you.
- When can I drive again? After having your laser eye surgery, you should only resume driving when your eye surgeon gives you a go-ahead. Usually, after a laser eye surgery, the eye surgeon will call you for a follow-up appointment. Ask a family member or friend to drive you to and from the eye hospital. During this followup appointment, your eye surgeon will let you know whether you should resume driving or not after assessing the health status of your eyes. Most people are able to drive within a couple of days after the surgery. However, the recovery rate of each patient differs.
- My eye surgeon has cleared me to drive. Are there any precautions to follow? Despite having clearance from your eye surgeon, there are still a few things to keep in mind. Most patients after having undergone eye surgery may find it difficult to drive at night because of the bright lights of the oncoming vehicles. It is advisable to avoid driving alone at night especially during the first few weeks after the surgery. Though the aim of laser surgery is to reduce dependence on spectacles, still there are certain tasks such as reading and driving that may require you to wear glasses. Check with your eye doctor whether or not you need glasses for driving.
Laser vision correction surgery is an effective way to improve poor eyesight. We, at Disha Eye Hospitals, have some of the best eye surgeons in Kolkata on board who use the laser to perform retinal, cataract and glaucoma surgery. Laser eye surgery not only gives you long-lasting results but also involves a quick recovery period as there is no need for stitches. If you want to know about the many benefits of laser eye surgery and whether you are the right candidate for it, schedule an appointment with our well-experienced doctors.