Instructions for Wearing Eye Make-Up After LASIK
People throughout San Diego know that they can turn to the team at GW Eye Associates Inc for solid information on advanced vision correction options. This includes laser eye surgery treatments such as LASIK, which eliminate the need to wear glasses and contacts.
After undergoing LASIK, the eyes are sensitive to light and also need to be protected from potential physical contact. One source of risks after LASIK is the use of eye make-up. Let's look into this issue right now.
Eye Shadow, Eyeliner, and Mascara: No-No's After Your Surgery
While eye shadow, eyeliner, and mascara can really bring out the magic and the light in your eyes, they're just a bad idea to consider using in the first few days after you've undergone LASIK surgery. The make-up themselves may be safe to use and hypoallergenic, but following a surgical procedure, the use of make-up near the eye area increases your chances of infection and irritation.
It's really about playing things safe after you have undergone LASIK. By avoiding the use of eye make-up following surgery, you will avoid complications and heal faster.
Pre-Surgical Matters Involving Eye Make-up
In fact, patients should not wear any eye make-up prior to their LASIK procedure. On the night before surgery, it's a good idea to wash your face thoroughly of any make-up, creams, and so forth. The day of your surgery, patients should not use any facial make-up, facial lotions/creams, and even avoid wearing perfumes or colognes. This is to ensure that the patients is relaxed and no potential vectors or infections or causes of irritation are present during the surgery.
Why Eye Make-up Is Prohibited Until After LASIK
To explore these issues in more detail, make-up that comes close to the eyes carries the risk of infecting the eyes as they are healing. Even something that seems as benign as eyeliner can irritate and infect the eyes following LASIK, so it's important to be careful. Particulate matter from mascara can similarly cause potential infections if small particles wind up caught in the eyes. Again, this is about playing things safe.
In addition, applying eye make-up can be a real bother and lead to discomfort. Applying eye shadow, for instance, means touching the eye area while the corneal flap created during LASIK is healing. This can result in a potential flap error, which means discomfort as well as issues with overall vision quality.
When can I wear my eye make-up again?
Generally it's best to wait at least one week after LASIK to resume using eye make-up and other kinds of facial make-up near the eyes. By this point you will have had a follow-up visit with your eye surgeon, so you should be able to find out exactly when to resume using mascara, eyeliner, and eye shadow.
Just in case, it may be a good idea to buy new eye make-up just as a means of avoiding potential infection. Even a week after LASIK, eye care specialists want to just make sure that you heal properly and are totally in the clear.
Learn More About LASIK Surgery
For more information about LASIK surgery and what to expect after it is completed, be sure to contact our laser eye surgery center today. The entire team at GW Eye Associates Inc looks forward to your visit and helping you see clearly.
