Why eye drop reminders matter after LASIK and LASEK

After vision correction surgery, using the prescribed drops consistently until your eyes settle is the part that counts. The first few days in particular can feel like a complicated schedule.

Seeing well and being done are not the same

When vision comes up quickly after LASIK or LASEK, the drops can start to feel less important. But post-op drops are usually not something you use only when your eyes feel off — they are used for a set period at the count you were given.

Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drops, steroid drops and artificial tears may all be doing different jobs. Names and bottles look alike, so it helps to write down what each one is for alongside its name.

With LASEK, the duration is what to watch

Recovery from LASEK can make the course of drops feel comparatively long. The first days are hard to record yourself because of the bandage lens, pain and light sensitivity — and later, once things are comfortable, it becomes easy to forget.

• Photograph the handout you got on the day of surgery
• Check each drug's start and end date separately
• Register artificial tears apart from the prescription drops

Building a post-op routine in EyeDay

EyeDay lets you set your own schedule for drops that repeat several times a day, and see completion on a timeline. That works well when a family member is checking along with you in the first days, and afterwards you can keep only the drops you still need.