A thorough exam is critical before LASIK.
LASIK has come a long way since its origination. The technology is becoming more and more precise and there have been consistent improvements to techniques and procedures. However, part of the process should be making sure that the patient to be prepared, too. Our blog today will focus on what to expect from LASIK before your procedure.
The Consultation
Meeting with your doctors and their team ahead of time is critical. This is used as an opportunity for your surgeon to complete a very thorough eye examination. Part of this exam is to measure the shape of your cornea and essentially “map” the exact landscape of your eye. Since each patient is unique, the machines must be calibrated to the exact shape of your cornea. The best part about a consultation from Eye LASIK is that it’s FREE!
An additional part of the consultation is the meeting with our office staff to determine payment arrangements. As we’ve previously discussed in other blogs, Eye LASIK offers affordable financing and the procedure is allowed under most HSA insurance plans. We want everyone to be able to see clearer than clear…it’s more affordable than you might think.
Plan Ahead
One of the most important things to do prior to your procedure (and preferably before your consultation) is to stop wearing your contacts. Contact lenses can manipulate the contours of your eye’s surface, so it’s important to get the exact “no bells or whistles” shape prior to your procedure. It’s a bit inconvenient but be sure to plan on wearing your eyeglasses for at least two weeks prior to your surgery date.
It’s Go Time!
On the day of your procedure, be sure to make arrangements to have someone available to drive you to and from your appointment. Your vision will be blurry for a while afterwards and some of the medications given to you can make you groggy, impairing your ability to drive. It’s just safer this way.
Also, be sure to avoid wearing makeup (especially eye makeup), lotions, creams, or other cosmetics. These particles of these products have been known to cause infections in some patients, though this is usually just a precautionary measure. We simply recommend going without it for the day.
Eye LASIK will have two more installments of the “what to expect” series, including the actual procedure and the post-operative care, which will be posted in the upcoming weeks.