Getting LASIK is not quite as easy as signing up for the procedure and coming into the office on time. You’ll need to do some homework ahead of time for a safe procedure with the best results.
Here are a few of the most important things to keep in mind when you decide to go down the path of getting LASIK.
1. Make Sure You Are Eligible For LASIK
Before you do anything else, you need to schedule a LASIK consultation. The LASIK consultation will take a few hours, so don’t expect to go home right away.
You and the doctor will discuss your medical history. You’ll also take some vision tests. This is to ensure that LASIK will be as safe as possible for you.
A few things that the doctor will be looking for are:
- You are at least 18 years old as this is the FDA mandated age to undergo LASIK. Even if you are at least 18, your doctor may recommend waiting until your mid-twenties.
- You don’t have any medical problems. These include autoimmune disorders, chronic eye diseases, severe allergies, or previous eye injuries.
- If you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant soon.
- The thickness of your corneas.
2. Avoid These Things Pre-LASIK Procedure
If you find out you’re a good LASIK candidate and you want to proceed, the next step is to schedule the procedure. After scheduling LASIK, you need to stop wearing contacts for two weeks before LASIK.
Wearing contacts temporarily changes the shape of your corneas. Giving your eyes a few weeks without contacts allows them to get back to their normal shape.
The day before you have LASIK, you will need to avoid wearing any kind of perfumes, makeup, or lotion. Doing so will increase your risk of infection.
3. Schedule A Ride
During LASIK, there is no pain thanks to numbing eye drops. As a result, you cannot drive yourself home after having LASIK. It can take several hours before these drops wear off.
Since you cannot drive yourself home after having LASIK, make sure you have someone who can. This can be a friend or family member.
Even though your vision will start improving after LASIK, it may still be blurry or unstable. This is normal and should go away on its own in the days after the procedure.
Your doctor will let you know when it’s safe for you to drive again, though most people can drive the day after LASIK.
4. Set Aside Time For Your Follow-Up Appointment
You will need to return to the eye doctor within 48 hours after LASIK so they can check for any problems. Although rare, issues and complications can occur after having LASIK. It’s much easier to treat them when diagnosed early on.
5. Ask Questions
LASIK can be intimidating, especially since it is dealing with correcting your vision. Being nervous or confused about aspects of the operation is very common and natural.
Coming up with questions to ask can help put your mind at ease. If you are still anxious on the day of your procedure, your doctor may give you a mild sedative to help calm your nerves.
Ready to find out if LASIK could be the right vision correction procedure for you? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Colorado Eye Consultants in Littleton, CO now!
