5 Reasons to Wear Sunglasses After LASIK

Sunglasses are more than a fashion statement. While they can add to your look, their importance truly lies in how they protect your eyes. We recommend patients wear them, regardless of age or eyesight. Below, we share five specific reasons to wear sunglasses after LASIK.

5 Reasons to Wear Sunglasses After LASIK

Patients routinely report that LASIK has transformed their lives. Living free from the daily use of contacts or glasses can feel truly liberating. However, your eyes still need protection, now more than ever. Particularly during your recovery from LASIK, you will want to take extra precautions to keep your eyes safe.

Such precautions include consistently wearing your sunglasses. You can even wear sunglasses inside, at least for the first 24 hours after surgery. And we certainly recommend wearing them anytime you step outdoors, even during mildly sunny days.

UV Protection

Some sunlight is good for you. The light in your environment factors into your eye health, mental health, and your body’s natural rhythms. However, too much light, specifically UV light, can damage your eyes. Following LASIK, some patients may be more susceptible to bright lights. Thus, sunglasses improve both comfort and UV protection.

Overexposure to UV light can lead to several increased risks for your eyes. Cataracts and corneal damage stand out as the leading ones. While genetics can play a role too, sunglasses provide a protective factor for all patient groups.

Sunglasses also protect your eyelids from UV rays, which can contribute to eyelid skin cancer. While this type of cancer may respond well to treatment, taking steps to prevent it will always be to your benefit.

Debris Protection

The air is filled with dust, bugs, and other particles. Having any of these in your eyes can lead to issues. On the mild end, you have eye irritation. On the more severe end, your eye may fall prey to damage or infection. Sunglasses might not prove a perfect shield, but they do help keep irritants and debris out of your eyes.

Stop Rubbing or Scratching

Patients may experience mild itchiness during their LASIK recovery. As much as you know, you should not itch your eyes, one moment of inattention might find you doing so anyway. It might feel good at that moment, but rubbing or scratching at your eye can hamper the healing process. Sunglasses can keep your hands away from your eyes or at least put an obstacle between them.

Comfort and Relief

Some patients may have dry eyes for a few days after LASIK. It typically resolves quickly, but there is nothing wrong with wanting some extra comfort. Sunglasses can provide that, lending patients relief by decreasing the airflow around the eyes.

Longer-lasting Results

The benefits of LASIK surgery can last a lifetime. However, you want to give your eyes the best chance possible of staying clear for the long run. Even well after you have recovered from LASIK, making sunglasses a part of your day can provide lasting benefits.

Patients who live in sunny climates (like our local LA where Dr. Caster practices) will particularly benefit. You might not need sunglasses every day, however. But we do recommend wearing them when the UV index goes up. Most weather apps now include data on the UV index. If you see a UV index of 3 or higher, grab your sunglasses when you go outside.

Protecting your eyes from excess UV light will stand to your benefit over time. The goal with LASIK is to give you clearer eyesight today. But we want that clarity to last as long as possible.

What Sunglasses Should I Wear After LASIK?

Not all sunglasses actually protect your eyes. Just because they have tinted glass (or plastic) does not mean they block UV radiation. Before buying a pair, check that they have 100% UVA and UVB protection. Additionally, pay attention to how well they cover your eyes. Sunglasses will not provide much benefit if they have small frames that hardly shade your eyes.

When choosing your pair, buy from reputable sellers who can provide the specs for their spectacles. You might be tempted to buy a fun-looking pair from a booth by the beach. But if they do not provide appropriate protection, they may be nothing more than an accessory.

Restore Your Vision

Experience LASIk with an eye physician in Beverly Hills who has been a leader in the field since its inception. As a LASIK patient himself, he understands just how powerful the gift of renewed sight can feel.