Categories: HEALTH & WELLNESS

How to Prepare for LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK eye surgery has been around so long that going to your LASIK eye clinic is like going to a normal doctor’s appointment. Lasik is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning the procedure only takes a short time on an outpatient basis, meaning you can go home the day of surgery. There are a few instructions to follow in preparation for your LASIK procedure.

Here are a few tips on the “do’s” and “don’ts” in preparation for your LASIK surgery:

Do not wear make up on the day of LASIK surgery.
Do not wear perfume or cologne.
Stop wearing soft contact lenses at least three days before the procedure.
Stop wearing hard contact lenses at least three weeks in advance of the procedure.
Wear comfortable clothing the day of the procedure.
Someone must drive you to and from the surgery. You cannot drive after LASIK surgery.
Do not eat or drink anything prior to your surgery.

When you arrive to the LASIK clinic, you will check in and the doctor will be available to answer any last minute questions or address any concerns that you may have. If you feel anxious or nervous, the healthcare provider can give you medication to relax and decrease your anxiety.

LASIK is fast – whether you are getting LASIK in Utah or anywhere else, the actual procedure of reshaping the cornea only takes from 5 to 15 minutes per eye. Before the surgery, the doctor will administer numbing eye drops in the eye and an eyelid speculum is placed on the eyes. The doctor marks the eye with a special marker to align the eye with the laser and creates a flap in the cornea to reshape it so light rays can bend at the correct angle to focus images on the retina thereby lessening or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. This is one of the most common procedures for vision correction.

Once the surgery is complete, you will be moved to a recovery room until the doctor feels that you are ready to go home. This can take up to an hour of recovery or longer if needed. It will be difficult to see but you will be able to walk but not drive. It is necessary to have a driver on hand to take you home.

After the medication wears off, you may experience a scratchy feeling in your eyes, which is normal. It may feel as if an eyelash is in your eye. If this persists or something does not feel right, always report any discomfort to your doctor with a full report and description of what you are experiencing. The healthcare providers want to be aware of any issues or discomfort your may have.

Continue to rest the remainder of the day and as you continue to use the eye drops, your vision will start to improve. Most people return to work within 24 to 48 hours after LASIK eye surgery. The recovery takes a fairly short amount of time.