Laser eye surgery is a popular alternative to traditional invasive surgery and offers many benefits. The procedure can treat myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia. Eye surgeons also use it for cataracts, glaucoma, cancer, and diabetes-related retinopathy. If you’re the right candidate for eye surgery, your ophthalmologist or surgeon will recommend LASIK, SMILE, or surface laser treatments. You’ll encounter procedures like PRK, LASEK, and TransPRK.
4 Things To Know About Laser Eye Surgery
Before surgery, your ophthalmologist will conduct a thorough evaluation of your eyesight. The goal is to determine whether you’re the right candidate for surgery. You may need time to reverse the changes caused by contact lenses. The surgeon may also recommend quitting specific substances for a few days/weeks before the procedure. Here are four things to know about laser eye surgery:
1. Switch Contact Lenses for Glasses
If you wear contact lenses, you should avoid using them for some time before your exam. You can switch to glasses during the recommended days. Contact lenses will change your cornea’s shape. The changes can last for days or weeks, depending on how long you’ve worn the glasses. Wearing contact lenses can result in inaccurate measurements and jeopardize the operation’s success.
You should cease wearing contact lenses for at least one week before the initial exam. If you wear RGP (rigid gas permeable) lenses and hard lenses, replace them with eyeglasses for at least a month before the baseline evaluation. Leading eye surgeons will give you a customized schedule to help optimize the outcome of the procedure. You should be patient and follow all pre-surgery recommendations your surgeon provides.
2. Bring Important Medical Records
You should tell your doctor about past and present medical conditions and prescriptions. Be honest about all past procedures, pains, symptoms, and relevant family history. Opening up about your eye problems and medical history equips the surgeon with helpful information for the surgery. The surgeon aims to optimize surgery for your needs and should know about pre-existing eye-related issues and other general health conditions.
Inform your doctor about all prescriptions you’re currently taking, including over-the-counter medication. You should also mention known or past allergic reactions to a specific drug. Physical evaluation, imaging, and blood/fluid tests can reveal much but are no substitute for medical history. You should provide honest accounts to help your surgeon devise a custom treatment plan for your needs.
3. Avoid Makeup & Strong Fragrances
Your eye surgeon will advise you to avoid makeup and fragrances leading prior to the operation day. Keep your eye area clean and free from makeup and other compounds. All surgeries begin with thoroughly cleaning the eye area, but some makeup compounds have long-lasting effects. You should avoid using makeup for at least two days before the surgery. Makeup sticking between your eyelashes can cause post-surgery infections.
You should gently and thoroughly clean your eyes during the two or three makeup-free days. The goal is to remove all leftovers and achieve a clean eye area ready for surgery. Lotions, creams, fragrances, perfumes, and other cosmetics can affect laser surgery and aftercare. Your surgeon may recommend thoroughly scrubbing your eyelashes before surgery to remove all residue from cosmetics and other products.
4. Arrange for a Driver/Caretaker
The immediate aftermath of eye surgery calls for attentive care to speed up recovery without compromising the outcome. Organize someone to drive you to and from the surgeon’s office on the day of surgery. You should be well-rested and calm. The surgeon will likely put you under a sedative to help you relax. You’ll also have shields to protect the eyes after the procedure. Eye laser procedures require a short recovery period, but you should protect yourself by not driving.
Your surgeon will recommend various aftercare observations to help you recover. Eye surgeries can leave you with blurry vision that heals over the next few hours or days. You may need eye drops and protection from dust, spills, bright light, and knocks. Plan for post-surgery care to protect your outcomes and prevent complications. You should also maintain open communication with your surgeon to get all concerns checked and resolved promptly.
Trustworthy Laser Eye Surgery
Working with an experienced eye surgeon is the best option when planning to undergo laser eye surgery. Your outcomes are only as good as your surgeon’s experience level. Stick to dedicated physicians specializing in laser surgeries. Leading surgeons have happy references you can contact to learn more about the procedures before committing.