Just because you think you are “ready” to have LASIK, doesn’t mean you are actually ready for the surgery itself. There are a lot of steps to take before you reach your goal of amazing vision.
Keep reading for some tips on how to prepare before having LASIK!
Take a Break From Contacts
You will need to stop wearing your contacts for a while before your LASIK procedure. This is because contact lenses alter the shape of your corneas temporarily.
In order for LASIK to be successful, your corneas need to be in their natural state. This is the only way that the surgeon can adjust the instruments the right way.
The last thing you would want is the computer gathering inaccurate information on your cornea. This would cause the lasers used to change the shape of your corneas to reshape them wrong. If this occurred, you could end up with less than ideal results or serious complications.
How long you need to rely on glasses depends on what kind of contacts you use. Corneas used to soft contacts will resume their normal shape much faster than those used to hard contacts.
For this reason, how long you need to stop wearing contacts depends on if you wear soft or hard contacts.
Set Up a Ride Ahead of Time
Although you may want to drive home right after LASIK, you’re not allowed to. Part of this is because your eyesight will likely be slightly blurry after the procedure.
It can take a few hours or several days before this goes away. You may experience visual improvement that’s noticeable right after LASIK but it’s still not safe to drive after LASIK.
That’s why you need to have someone that can drive you home after your procedure. It’s a good idea to get your ride sorted out before the surgery.
You don’t want to be scrambling around looking for a ride the morning of your procedure! Once you get home, rest and relax to start your recovery off on the best foot possible.
Stop Wearing Makeup
You should remove any makeup or any other lotions the day before the surgery. Makeup, perfume, and lotion can affect your eyes after LASIK while they heal.
Makeup and lotions can leave behind contaminants that could get in your eyes. This could cause irritation and even lead to infection.
You will need to continue being makeup-free for at least a week, or until your doctor says it’s okay to use it again.
Attend a LASIK Consultation
The most important thing you’ll need to do is attend a LASIK consultation. During your consultation, you’ll learn all about LASIK. This includes if you’re a good candidate, how the procedure works, and you can ask any questions.
The consultation lasts longer than the surgery itself, which only takes about 15 minutes per eye to perform. The screening could take upwards of 3 hours to complete.
This is because it is important to be thorough when determining LASIK candidacy. You can expect to receive a multitude of tests. You’ll also need to answer a lot of questions about your medical history and expectations of the procedure.
Ready to find out if you could be a good LASIK candidate? Request a LASIK consultation at Colorado Eye Consultants in Littleton, CO, and get ready to see clearly!
