Post-operative Management
After treatment, an antibiotic ointment and a bandage contact lens soaked with preservative-free antibiotic are applied until healing of the corneal epithelium is complete. The bandage contact lens is applied for 5 days to help with corneal surface cell healing. Afterward, the patient is typically instructed to apply steroid eye drops for 6 to 8 weeks. A slight corneal surface haze, comparable with the healing reaction following corneal abrasion in PRK, can be seen in the first 6 to 8 weeks following surgery. Postoperative follow-up is performed frequently in the first week until the corneal surface cells are completely healed; and usually at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively; and yearly thereafter.
Individual tolerance to pain and light sensitivity is highly variable. Patients should take this into account and plan for the possibility of analgesics and sedation after surgery, and account for days off work.
