LASIK is known as one of the most effective and safest surgical procedures in all of medicine. While this makes most patients comfortable and confident enough to undergo the procedure, we want patients to understand the importance of the pre- and post-operative instructions. By following all of your surgeon’s eye care guidelines, you can enjoy the best possible results from your surgery and reduce the risk of complications. In this blog post, Dr. Paul H. Chen and the team at North County Laser Eye Associates review the pre-operative LASIK instructions that we provide at our San Diego, CA practice.
Stop Wearing Your Contact Lenses
Your contact lenses can temporarily alter the shape of your cornea. In order to precisely reshape the cornea and provide the best vision correction results, we want the cornea to be in its natural shape the day of surgery. For this reason, patients should stop using their contact lenses in the weeks before surgery.
- If you wear hard contact lenses, their use should be stopped three weeks before surgery.
- If you wear soft contact lenses, their use should be stopped two weeks before surgery.
Arrange Transportation
Prior to LASIK surgery, we will provide you with medication to calm your nerves. It is not safe to drive while under the influence of this medication. Instead, patients will need to arrange for a friend or family member to drive them to and from the surgical appointment.
Eat before Surgery
Many surgical procedures require fasting for several hours before the surgical appointment. This is not the case with LASIK. We actually recommend that you eat a light meal prior to surgery. After surgery, you may feel drowsy due to the medication that we provide, and we recommend that you take a nap upon returning home before surgery.
Wash Your Face
To reduce the risk of infection and contamination, patients should thoroughly wash their face before surgery. Be sure that all eye make-up residue is removed, and avoid the use of skin care products such as lotions and eye creams.
Avoid All Spray Products
Do not use any spray products, such as perfume, cologne, hair spray, or spray deodorant, the day of surgery. These airborne chemicals have the potential to reach the components within the laser that is used during LASIK surgery.
Dress Comfortably
Dress comfortably for your LASIK surgery. Since we recommend that you take a nap after surgery, you may want to be in clothing that is comfortable to sleep in. In addition, try to wear a button up shirt that does not need to be pulled over the head; this can reduce the risk of the shirt rubbing up against the eyes while they are healing.
Take Your Regular Medications
It is safe to take your regular medications in the days before and after LASIK surgery. Be sure to take your medications as directed the day of surgery.
For specific pre-operative LASIK instructions, contact North County Laser Eye Associates today.