Celebrate Thanksgiving Post LASIK Eye Surgery

Do you know how LASIK eye surgery was invented? The idea happened the day after Thanksgiving in 1981 when Dr. Rangaswamy “Sri” Srinivasan brought leftover turkey to his research lab. He did not plan to eat his leftovers, but rather he intended to fire a laser at them. Sri and his colleagues discovered that it was possible to use lasers to safely cut into living tissue. Thanks to some leftover turkey, millions of people have been able to successfully undergo LASIK surgery.

After you undergo Los Angeles LASIK eye surgery, you might be wondering what types of Thanksgiving foods you can enjoy eating. In this article, we explore post-op precautions, foods that you can eat for Thanksgiving dinner, and which foods you should avoid eating while recovering from surgery.

Post-Op Precautions

After getting LASIK eye surgery, you need to be careful about protecting your eyes. You must follow your doctor’s orders. Here are some precautions you can take directly after surgery:

Apply prescription eye drops as recommended by your doctor.
Do not rub or touch your eyes while they are healing.
Make sure to return to your surgeon a day after your surgery for a check-up.
Do not use eye makeup or creams on your eyes.
You can bathe or shower, but you need to be careful not to get water in your eyes.
Plan on getting two days of additional rest.
Wear eye shields during the day and night to prevent debris from infecting your eyes and to stop yourself from rubbing your eyes.
Avoid all kinds of water activities for two weeks. Do not scuba dive for four weeks after surgery.

Nutrition Post-LASIK

Here are some examples of healthy nutrition standards to follow after receiving LASIK surgery:

Poultry, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, nuts, and low-fat dairy products are all rich in protein and strengthen your eye health.
Dark, leafy greens, carrots, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, citrus, and tomatoes are all rich in vitamins A and C.
Healthy carbs such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and beams are all high in fiber.
Eat healthy fats such as olive oil, avocados, salmon, nuts, and seeds.
Drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins and stay hydrated throughout the day.

Food to Avoid Post-LASIK

The following foods should be avoided in order to maintain strong eye health:

Heavy spices and sauces, hot peppers, and food with a lot of salt. You especially want to avoid getting something spicy splashed into your eye because that could cause significant eye irritation. Eye doctors also recommend avoiding high salt intake because the long-term effects can be severe. Eating food that is high in salt could lead to osteoporosis and cause blurred vision.
Trans fats, high fats, and processed foods can lead to clogged arteries and heart disease and significantly affect eye health. You run the risk of developing glaucoma, cataracts, and other diseases when you eat unhealthy foods. You should check the labels on certain foods, such as margarine, fried food, and baked goods that contain hydrogenated oils.
Food high in sugar can lead to the development of diabetes, obesity, glaucoma, and even blindness in severe cases.