What should I expect in the first days after laser eye surgery?
Expect vision that is improved but fluctuating, some dryness or grittiness, light sensitivity, and halos around lights at night. Drops are typically used on a schedule for a period afterwards.
- Subject
- Surgery journey
- Topic
- Recovery & aftercare
- Kind of question
- Other questions
- Last reviewed
- 22 September 2026
In more detail
Fluctuation is the part people are least prepared for: better in the morning, softer in the evening, or changing with how dry the eye feels. That is common and not a sign of failure.
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Where this answer sits
It is one of 483 answers in the vision and eye health knowledge base, filed under The surgery journey in Recovery & aftercare . The subject page carries the answers either side of it, and the hub is searchable.
This information is for educational purposes and does not replace an examination by a qualified eye-care professional.
General answers cannot tell you what is happening in your own eyes. Only an examination by a qualified ophthalmologist can do that.