Returning to Work and Screens After PRK: Planning Time Off Around Surface Healing

The email sits open on the desk. In three weeks, a laser will remove the thin outer skin of both corneas, and the person writing it has to tell a manager how long they will be gone. Five days? Two weeks? The clinic leaflet says “most people return to work within a week,” the online forums say “take ten days, trust me,” and the calendar has a product launch sitting right in the middle.

That gap between the leaflet and the forum is where most of the worry about working after PRK lives. Both are partly right. The surface of the eye does regrow quickly, often by day four or five. Seeing comfortably enough to read a spreadsheet for eight hours is a different milestone, and it arrives later and less predictably.

This explainer separates those two timelines, shows what the first days usually feel like, and gives you the questions that turn a vague “about a week” into a plan you can actually hand to your employer.

What actually happens to the eye during PRK

PRK, short for photorefractive keratectomy, is a laser procedure that reshapes the cornea, the clear dome at the front of the eye, so that light focuses more accurately on the retina. It treats refractive errors: nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, the same conditions that glasses and contact lenses correct.

The cornea has layers. On the outside sits the epithelium, a sheet of cells only a few hundredths of a millimeter thick, roughly the thickness of a sheet of office paper. Beneath it lies the stroma, the thick structural layer that gives the cornea its shape. In PRK the surgeon removes the epithelium, usually with a diluted alcohol solution, a soft brush or the laser itself, then applies an excimer laser to the exposed stroma. The laser vaporizes a precisely calculated amount of tissue, flattening or steepening the curve by microns. The actual laser time is measured in seconds per eye.

This is the key difference from LASIK. In LASIK the surgeon cuts a hinged flap in the cornea, lasers underneath it and lays the flap back down, so the surface is mostly intact the next morning. In PRK there is no flap. The epithelium is gone and has to grow back from the edges inward, like skin closing over a scrape. A soft bandage contact lens is placed on the eye to protect that raw surface while it heals.

Why choose PRK at all? Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic both note that surgeons often suggest it for people with thinner corneas, with jobs or sports that carry a risk of eye impact, or with surface conditions that make a flap less suitable. The trade is a longer, more uncomfortable early recovery in exchange for avoiding flap-related complications. Everything about planning time off flows from that single fact: the surface has to rebuild itself first.

Working after PRK: why the surface, not the laser, sets your timeline

People tend to picture laser surgery recovery as a question of how fast the laser’s work “settles.” With PRK that is the second act. The first act is epithelial healing, and it dictates how you feel and see during the days you are most likely to be deciding whether to log on.

While the epithelium is regrowing, the cornea’s nerve endings are exposed. The cornea is one of the most densely innervated tissues in the body, which is why a stray eyelash feels enormous. Removing its surface produces a predictable mix of grittiness, aching, watering and sharp light sensitivity. Cleveland Clinic describes this discomfort as typically lasting several days and easing as the surface closes.

Vision follows the same arc, for a mechanical reason. A freshly regrown epithelium is uneven, like a lawn that has just been reseeded. Light scatters through it, so everything looks hazy and ghosted even though the laser correction underneath is already in place. Mayo Clinic notes that vision is often blurry for several days after PRK and may take weeks to months to reach its final sharpness. As the cells organize and smooth over the following weeks, the view clears.

So two clocks run at once. The comfort clock runs fast: most of the raw soreness is behind people within the first week. The clarity clock runs slow, with fluctuating focus that can last weeks. Working after PRK is really a question of which clock your job depends on. A delivery driver needs clarity. A phone-based customer service agent mostly needs comfort. A software developer needs both, plus the stamina to blink normally through a long day of near focus. Your surgeon will talk in terms of these milestones rather than a fixed number of days, and the sections that follow show why.

PRK recovery day by day: what the first week usually looks like

Timelines vary, and your surgeon’s instructions always win, but the broad pattern described by Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic is consistent enough to plan around.

Day of surgery: the procedure itself is short and done with numbing drops. Many people feel surprisingly fine for the first few hours because the anesthetic has not worn off. By evening the eyes typically feel scratchy, watery and sensitive to light. Dark rooms, sunglasses indoors and sleep are the order of the day. Someone else drives you home.

Days one to three: this is usually the hardest stretch. The epithelial defect is at its largest, discomfort peaks, and vision is at its blurriest. Reading a phone is difficult and often not worth the strain. Most people describe wanting to keep their eyes closed for long periods. This is the window where the “a week off” advice earns its keep.

Days three to five: the surface usually closes. Cleveland Clinic gives a typical range of about three to five days for the epithelium to regrow, and the bandage contact lens is commonly removed at a follow-up visit in this window. Removing it can briefly increase scratchiness for a day. Light sensitivity eases noticeably once the surface is intact.

Days five to seven: comfort is often much improved. Vision is functional but soft, with halos around lights and letters that seem to swim slightly, particularly at the end of the day. Short bursts of screen use become tolerable for many people, though sustained near work still tires the eyes quickly.

Week two onward: discomfort is usually minor, and the daily task becomes managing dryness and fluctuating focus while clarity slowly improves. Return-to-work conversations usually happen at the first or second follow-up, when the surgeon can actually see how smooth the new surface is.

How many days after PRK can I work? Matching time off to your job

The honest answer is that it depends on three things: how fast your surface heals, what your work demands of your eyes, and how much flexibility your employer can offer. Cleveland Clinic’s guidance that many people return to work within about a week is a reasonable average for desk-based roles, not a ceiling or a floor.

The table below shows how surgeons typically think about different kinds of work. Treat the ranges as a starting point for a conversation with your care team, never as a promise.

Type of work	Main demand on the eyes	Typical planning range after PRK	What usually drives the decision
Phone or voice-based work, light reading	Comfort, some near focus	Around 4–7 days	Light sensitivity settling, bandage lens removed
Office and computer-heavy roles	Sustained near focus, screen glare	Around 7–10 days, often with shortened hours at first	Ability to read without strain for an hour or more
Driving as part of the job	Distance clarity, night vision	Until the surgeon confirms legal driving vision	Measured acuity, halos and glare at night
Dusty, outdoor or industrial settings	Protection from debris and infection	Often 1–2 weeks or longer	Surface fully closed, eye protection in place
Swimming, contact sports, water work	Infection and impact risk	Several weeks, surgeon-directed	Mayo Clinic and NHS advise avoiding pools and hot tubs early

A practical approach many people use is to book one full week off, arrange a second week of reduced hours or remote work if the job allows, and schedule the first follow-up before the planned return. If the surgeon is happy at that visit, you go back on schedule. If the surface is slow, you already have a buffer and do not need to renegotiate from a position of blurry panic.

Screen time after PRK: why computers feel harder than they should

Screens are not dangerous to a healing cornea. Nothing about the light from a monitor damages the new epithelium, and no mainstream guideline bans screens after PRK. What screens do is expose the two weaknesses of a freshly healed eye: it is dry, and it is not yet optically smooth.

Dryness first. When people concentrate on a screen, their blink rate drops sharply, often by half or more compared with relaxed conversation. Every blink spreads a fresh layer of tear film across the cornea. Fewer blinks means a thinner, patchier tear layer, and on a surface whose nerves are still recovering and whose tear production is temporarily reduced, that patchiness turns into burning, blur and the urge to shut your eyes. Mayo Clinic lists dry eye as one of the most common effects after laser vision correction, and it tends to be more noticeable in the first weeks after PRK while nerves regrow.

Then there is the optics problem. Text on a screen is high-contrast fine detail, which is exactly what an uneven epithelium struggles to render. People often describe letters doubling, a faint shadow under each line, or focus that drifts in and out. A spreadsheet is the worst case: small type, bright white background, hours of fixed near focus.

Screen time after PRK, then, is a matter of pacing rather than prohibition. Several practical habits consistently help:

• Increase text size and zoom rather than leaning in; a bigger target needs less precision from the surface.
• Lower screen brightness and use dark or warm display modes while light sensitivity lingers.
• Follow the common 20-20-20 habit: every 20 minutes, look roughly 20 feet away for about 20 seconds, and blink deliberately.
• Keep lubricating drops within reach, used as your surgeon directs.
• Start with short sessions and lengthen them as comfort allows, rather than attempting a full day on your first return.

Who is usually cleared sooner, and who is usually asked to wait

Surgeons do not pull return-to-work dates from a chart. They look at the eye, measure the vision and ask about the job. Still, some patterns in who tends to heal quickly and who tends to need longer are worth knowing in advance, because they affect how much leave you should request.

People who often return sooner include those having a lower correction, since the laser removes less tissue and the epithelium has a smaller, shallower area to repair; those with healthy tear production and no history of dry eye; those whose work is primarily spoken, physical in a clean environment, or flexible enough to allow breaks; and those who can work remotely with control over lighting and screen settings.

People who are often asked to wait longer include those with pre-existing dry eye or blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid margins), which slows surface healing and makes screen work uncomfortable; those with higher corrections, where haze and fluctuating vision can be more pronounced in the early weeks; those in dusty, smoky or outdoor environments, because debris and rubbing threaten the new surface; those whose role requires driving, operating machinery or precise distance vision, since legal and safety thresholds must be met rather than estimated; and those who work in water or near contaminated environments, because the NHS and Mayo Clinic both advise avoiding swimming and hot tubs for weeks after laser eye surgery to reduce infection risk.

Age plays a smaller role than people expect in surface healing, but it matters for the end result. Anyone in their mid-40s or beyond who already needs reading help will still need it after PRK, because the procedure corrects the cornea and not the aging lens. Someone in that group may find near work feels different, not just blurry, in the early weeks.

Only the treating team can say which group you fall into. The useful move is to tell them exactly what your workday looks like before surgery, so the answer is built around it.

How to reduce pain after PRK surgery during the first days

Discomfort after PRK is expected rather than a sign that something has gone wrong, and surgeons plan for it. The exact approach is set by your prescribing clinician; what follows explains the mechanisms so the plan makes sense, not what to take or how much.

The bandage contact lens does most of the heavy lifting. By covering the exposed nerve endings, it reduces the friction of every blink and lets the epithelium migrate across a protected surface. Do not remove or adjust it yourself; it comes out at a follow-up visit once the surgeon sees the surface has closed.

Medicated drops are usually prescribed in combination. Antibiotic drops lower the risk of infection while the surface barrier is open. Anti-inflammatory drops, often a corticosteroid class, calm the healing response and are also used over weeks to reduce the risk of haze, a cloudiness in the stroma that can form during repair. Some surgeons add a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory for the first days specifically for pain. Each has a schedule and a tapering plan set by the prescriber; changing it without asking can affect both comfort and the final result. Your surgeon may also discuss oral pain relief appropriate to your health history.

Beyond medicines, simple measures help a great deal:

• Cold compresses over closed lids, with a clean cloth and never pressing on the eye.
• Dim rooms, sunglasses indoors and screens switched off during the peak days.
• Sleep, which is both a comfort measure and a healing one, since closed lids keep the surface moist.
• Preservative-free lubricating drops as directed, to counter the dryness that amplifies every other sensation.

One warning worth stating plainly: numbing drops used during surgery are not for home use. Repeated topical anesthetic slows epithelial healing and can damage the cornea, which is why surgeons do not send people home with them.

What should I avoid doing after PRK surgery?

The restrictions after PRK have one purpose: protect a surface that is open for the first few days and fragile for a few weeks. Once you understand that, most of the rules become common sense rather than a list to memorize. Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and the NHS converge on the same themes.

Do not rub your eyes. This is the single most important instruction. Before the epithelium closes, rubbing can dislodge the bandage lens or tear the new cells. After it closes, the surface remains loosely attached for weeks and can still be disrupted. Many surgeons provide shields to wear at night during the first several nights for exactly this reason, because people rub in their sleep without knowing it.

Keep water out of the eyes. Tap water, pools, hot tubs, lakes and the sea all carry microorganisms that a healthy cornea shrugs off and an open one cannot. Mayo Clinic advises avoiding swimming and hot tubs for weeks after laser eye surgery; your surgeon will give the specific interval. Showering is fine with eyes closed and face turned away from the spray.

Skip eye makeup, creams and lotions near the lids for at least the first week or as directed. Mascara flakes and old applicators are a classic route for bacteria.

Avoid dusty, smoky or windy environments, and wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors. Ultraviolet exposure in the early months is linked to a higher risk of haze, which is part of why surgeons stress sun protection beyond the comfort it provides.

Postpone contact sports and anything with impact risk until cleared. Light exercise such as walking is generally fine once you feel steady, but sweat dripping into the eye is both uncomfortable and a hygiene issue, so gyms and running are usually paused for a short period.

Finally, do not drive until your surgeon confirms that your measured vision meets the legal standard. Feeling “okay” is not the test.

Driving, light sensitivity and the office environment

Getting to work is often a bigger hurdle than being at work. Driving requires measured distance acuity, and in the early days after PRK vision rarely meets the standard even when it feels usable. The NHS is explicit that you should not drive after laser eye surgery until your surgeon tells you it is safe. Night driving is usually cleared later than daytime driving because halos and starbursts around headlights are common for weeks as the surface smooths out.

If your commute depends on driving, plan for someone else to take the wheel for the first week at minimum, and ask the surgeon to check acuity specifically against the driving standard at your follow-up. Public transport and ride-sharing are reasonable bridges, though a bright bus or train window can be uncomfortable, so sunglasses belong in your bag.

Once at the office, the environment matters more than people expect. Overhead fluorescent lighting is a common complaint. The flicker is imperceptible to most people, but on a light-sensitive eye it adds to fatigue. Positioning yourself away from direct overhead light, using a desk lamp with warm light instead, and lowering blinds against window glare all help.

Air conditioning and heating dry the air, and dry air thins the tear film that a recovering cornea depends on. A small desktop humidifier, or simply sitting away from vents, can make a measurable difference. Keep lubricating drops at the desk and use them before the eyes feel dry rather than after.

Monitor placement is worth a few minutes of adjustment. A screen set slightly below eye level means the lids cover more of the eye while you look at it, which reduces evaporation. Larger fonts, higher contrast and shorter blocks of focused work round out the picture. None of this is specialized equipment; it is ordinary ergonomics applied to an eye that is temporarily less forgiving.

How long is PRK recovery really? Weeks to months of fine-tuning

The return to work marks the end of the acute phase, not the end of recovery. Both Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic describe PRK as having a longer visual recovery than LASIK, with final clarity often taking weeks to a few months to arrive. Knowing this in advance prevents a common second wave of anxiety around week three, when the eyes feel fine but the world still is not crisp.

What is happening during this period is remodeling. The epithelium that regrew in the first week is a rough draft. Over the following weeks its cells reorganize into the smooth, regular surface the eye had before, and the stroma beneath settles into its new shape. Vision often fluctuates during this time: sharp in the morning, softer by evening, better some days than others. This is expected and tends to even out gradually.

Dryness usually improves along a similar curve as the corneal nerves regrow. Mayo Clinic notes that dry eye after laser vision correction commonly lasts for weeks to months and generally settles, though a minority of people experience longer-lasting dryness, more often those who had dry eye beforehand.

Follow-up visits are scheduled across this period, typically within the first days, around a week, then at intervals of weeks and months. At each one the surgeon checks the surface, measures vision and adjusts the drop regimen. The anti-inflammatory drops in particular are often continued and tapered over weeks, partly to reduce the risk of haze. Stopping them early because the eye feels comfortable is a decision that belongs to the surgeon, not the calendar.

For working life, this means the first fortnight is about getting back to the desk, and the following two to three months are about allowing the final result to arrive without forcing it. Most people find the practical impact on work shrinks to minor adjustments well before the vision has fully stabilized.

What is the failure rate of PRK? An honest reading of the evidence

“Failure rate” is a phrase people search for, but it does not map neatly onto how eye surgeons think about outcomes. It helps to separate three different things: serious complications, the need for an enhancement, and simply not reaching the vision you hoped for.

Serious, sight-threatening complications after PRK are uncommon. The ones surgeons watch for are infection of the open surface in the first days, significant haze in the stroma that reduces clarity, and, rarely, scarring. The risk of infection is why antibiotic drops and water restrictions matter in week one. Haze risk is why anti-inflammatory drops are continued and sunglasses are stressed for months. Mayo Clinic lists these alongside dry eye, glare, halos and under- or over-correction as the recognized risks of laser vision correction.

Enhancement, sometimes called retreatment, is a second laser procedure to fine-tune the result once the eye has fully stabilized. It is not usually counted as failure; it is a known possibility that your surgeon should discuss before the first procedure. Higher corrections and astigmatism carry a greater chance of needing one.

Then there is the question of whether PRK works as well as LASIK. The mainstream view reflected by Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic is that long-term visual results of the two procedures are broadly comparable; the main difference is the speed and comfort of early recovery, not the destination.

What we have deliberately not done here is quote a single percentage, because published figures vary with the prescription treated, the technology used and how success is defined. A person with mild nearsightedness and a person with a high prescription plus astigmatism are not facing the same odds. The useful question for your consultation is not “what is the failure rate” but “for a prescription like mine, how often do you see haze, how often do you perform enhancements, and what would make you advise against surgery altogether.” Those answers come from your own examination, not from a search result.

What people often get wrong about working after PRK

Recovery forums are full of confident advice, and some of it points in exactly the wrong direction. Here are the misunderstandings that most often lead to a bad first week back.

“Screens damage the healing eye.” They do not. The light from a monitor has no effect on epithelial healing. The problem is reduced blinking and dryness, which are managed with pacing and lubrication, not avoidance. Treating screens as forbidden leads people to delay return unnecessarily, then attempt a full day with no gradual build-up.

“Once the pain stops, I’m recovered.” Comfort returns in roughly a week; clarity takes weeks to months. People who return to detailed work expecting sharp vision on day eight are often disappointed and assume something has gone wrong. Nothing has. The surface is still remodeling.

“If the eye feels fine I can stop the drops.” Anti-inflammatory drops after PRK are partly about preventing haze over the following weeks, not just about comfort now. The taper is set by the prescriber for a reason. Any change belongs in a conversation with the surgeon.

“PRK is the inferior version of LASIK.” Long-term outcomes are broadly comparable according to Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. PRK is often chosen specifically because it avoids a corneal flap, which suits thinner corneas and higher-impact lifestyles. The slower recovery is a trade, not a defect.

“I can drive as soon as I can see the TV.” Driving standards are measured, not felt, and night driving is affected by halos long after daytime vision seems fine. Your surgeon clears driving; your own impression does not.

“Taking two weeks off is overcautious.” For a desk job, one week plus a flexible second week is a sensible structure. For driving, dusty or outdoor roles, two weeks or more may be the minimum. The right length is the one your job actually requires, agreed with the care team.

Questions to ask your care team before booking time off

The most useful consultation is the one where you describe your actual working day in detail and let the surgeon respond to it. Bring a written list; light sensitivity and a busy clinic make it easy to forget half of what you meant to ask. These questions cover the ground that determines your leave request.

• Given my prescription and corneal thickness, do you expect my epithelial healing to be typical, or are there reasons it might be slower?
• I work on screens for roughly this many hours a day. When do you usually see people with similar jobs comfortably back at a computer, and for how long at a time?
• My job involves driving, machinery, dust, water or physical contact. What specific milestone will you check before clearing each of those?
• When is my first follow-up, and can it be scheduled before my planned return date so the decision is made on an examined eye?
• Which drops will I be using at work, how often, and how long is the taper expected to run? Is there anything about them I should tell my employer, such as temporary blur after instillation?
• What does fluctuating vision in weeks two to eight typically look like for someone with my correction, so I know what is expected and what is not?
• How do you want me to protect my eyes at work: sunglasses, wraparound protection, avoiding particular environments?
• If I need an enhancement later, how long after stabilization would that be considered, and what would the recovery look like a second time?
• What symptoms would you want to hear about the same day, and how do I reach the team outside clinic hours?

Ask, too, whether your employer should receive anything in writing. Many workplaces accept a simple note describing restrictions and an expected review date. The note can say “screen work in short blocks, no driving until reassessed” rather than committing to a fixed return, which gives both you and your manager a realistic framework.

When to call your doctor after PRK

Expected discomfort after PRK follows a curve: worst in the first two to three days, then steadily better. The signs that need a same-day call are the ones that break that curve or add something new. Surgeons would far rather hear about a false alarm than miss an infection on a surface that is still open.

Contact your surgeon or the clinic’s emergency line promptly if you notice:

• Pain that increases after it had started to ease, or severe pain that is not controlled by the measures you were given.
• Vision that suddenly worsens rather than fluctuating gently, or a sudden new blur in one eye.
• Thick or colored discharge, or lids stuck together on waking with more than ordinary crusting.
• Increasing redness, especially if one eye becomes much redder than the other.
• A white or gray spot visible on the cornea, which can indicate infection and needs same-day assessment.
• The bandage contact lens has fallen out, shifted or feels wrong, particularly in the first days before the surface has closed.
• New light sensitivity so severe you cannot open the eye, after a period of improvement.
• Any injury to the eye, including an accidental rub that produced sharp pain.

In the weeks after the acute phase, let the team know about dryness that is not improving, persistent haze or glare that is interfering with daily life, or vision that seems to be drifting back toward your old prescription. These are not emergencies, but they shape the follow-up plan and the timing of any enhancement discussion.

This guide describes typical patterns reported by major medical sources. It is not a substitute for the instructions you were given, and every decision about drops, driving, work and activity sits with your treating team, who have examined your eyes and know your history.

Frequently asked questions

How many days after PRK can I work?

Many people with desk-based jobs return within about a week, which lines up with the three to five days the surface typically takes to regrow plus a few days for light sensitivity to settle. Screen-heavy roles often need a second week of shortened hours, and driving or dusty jobs usually wait longer. Your surgeon confirms the date at follow-up based on how your eyes actually look.

What is a realistic PRK recovery time for screen work?

Expect short, tolerable screen sessions by the end of the first week and a gradual build toward full days over the second week, with fluctuating focus for several weeks after that. The limiting factors are dryness from reduced blinking and an epithelium that is still smoothing out. Larger text, lower brightness, regular breaks and lubricating drops as directed make the difference between workable and exhausting.

Is there a PRK recovery day by day pattern I can plan around?

Broadly, yes. The day of surgery feels fine until the numbing wears off; days one to three are the most uncomfortable and blurriest; the surface usually closes around days three to five and the bandage lens comes out; days five to seven bring real comfort gains with soft vision; and from week two the task shifts to managing dryness while clarity slowly improves. Individual timelines vary.

What should I avoid doing after PRK surgery?

Avoid rubbing your eyes, getting water in them from pools, hot tubs or the shower, wearing eye makeup near the lids, and spending time in dusty, smoky or windy settings. Do not drive until your surgeon confirms your vision meets the legal standard. Wear sunglasses outdoors to limit ultraviolet exposure, which is linked to haze, and postpone contact sports until cleared.

How can I reduce pain after PRK surgery?

The bandage contact lens, prescribed antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops, and any pain relief your surgeon recommends form the core plan; follow that plan exactly and ask before changing anything. Alongside it, cold compresses over closed lids, dim rooms, sunglasses indoors, rest with eyes closed and preservative-free lubricating drops as directed all reduce the grittiness and light sensitivity of the first days.

What is the failure rate of PRK?

There is no single figure, because published results vary with the prescription treated, the technology used and how success is defined. Serious complications such as infection or significant haze are uncommon, and some people need an enhancement procedure once the eye stabilizes. Long-term outcomes are broadly comparable with LASIK. Ask your surgeon how often they see haze and enhancements in prescriptions like yours.

How long is PRK recovery before vision is fully clear?

Vision is usually functional within one to two weeks but often continues to sharpen for weeks to a few months as the regrown surface remodels and the cornea settles into its new shape. Fluctuation between morning and evening is common during this period. Dryness tends to improve along a similar timeline as corneal nerves regrow. Follow-up visits track this progress.

Can I work from home sooner than going into the office after PRK?

Often, yes, because home gives you control over lighting, screen settings, break timing and humidity, and removes the commute. Many people use a hybrid approach: a full week off, then a week of shortened remote hours before returning to the office. The surface still needs the same protection at home, so the rules about rubbing, water and drops do not change.

When can I drive to work after PRK?

Only once your surgeon has measured your vision and confirmed it meets the legal driving standard; the NHS advises against driving after laser eye surgery until you are told it is safe. Daytime driving is commonly cleared before night driving, because halos and starbursts around headlights can persist for weeks. Arrange alternative transport for at least the first week.

Does light sensitivity after PRK affect office work?

It can, especially in the first one to two weeks. Bright fluorescent lighting, window glare and high screen brightness all feel harsher on a healing cornea. Sitting away from direct overhead light, using a warm desk lamp, lowering blinds, dimming the monitor and wearing sunglasses on the commute all help. Sensitivity typically eases markedly once the surface closes and continues to fade over the following weeks.

References

• NHS: Laser eye surgery and lens surgery
• MedlinePlus: LASIK eye surgery
• National Eye Institute (NIH): Refractive Errors

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.