Checklist before Your Laser Eye Surgery

While it has become quite common in recent years, laser eye surgery can still be daunting and elicit feelings of nervousness. To ensure you are at your best on the day of the procedure, follow these steps for a calm and smooth day. Since no one likes to be frazzled, this is a great checklist before your laser eye surgery that you should keep in mind.

Contact Lenses:
Stop wearing them. While it might hinder your aesthetic appeal, discontinuing the use of your contact lenses a few weeks prior to the surgery, and switching to full time wear of your glasses is in best practice. Since contact lenses can distort the shape of your cornea, any measurements that were taken might be slightly altered with continued use of the lenses. This could potentially lead to a poor surgical outcome, which is not desired in any situation. While your doctor will give you specific instructions, discontinuing your usage of contact lenses should happen a few weeks before the date.

Makeup:
A few days before, and especially on the day of the surgery, completely avoid using eye makeup, and/or creams that might be applied near the eye area. You might also be asked to clean your eyelashes daily, as to eliminate any chance of debris or bacteria falling into your eye. Avoiding infection is important, so minimizing the use of foreign substances will help you maintain healthy eyes before and after the surgery. Additionally, you will most likely be asked to not wear any perfume or heavily scented lotions, creams, fabric softeners, hair sprays, mousse, or after-shave, all of which contain alcohol.

Clothing:
Wear comfortable, easy to remove clothing on the day of your operation. Avoiding fabrics such as fleece or wool is best, as these fabrics tend to shed lint, which can potentially get into your eye.

Transport:
You will need to have someone drive you home after the surgery, so arranging this beforehand will be extremely beneficial. You may still feel the effects of the medicine given to you during the surgery, and your vision will most likely still be blurry. Having a last minute scramble to find a ride might not work out, and is an added stress that you should not have to deal with. Arrange your transportation in advance, for a peaceful post-surgery recovery.

Consumption:
There are generally no restrictions on the food or medicine you can have prior to the surgery, but informing your doctor about which medication you are on is important. Also, avoiding alcohol the night before, and the day of the surgery is advisable as alcohol tends to dehydrate the tissues, which can delay the healing process.

Following this checklist before your laser eye surgery will help you in feeling calmer and more prepared on the day. Contact us for more information on LASIK.