If you have finally decided to permanently correct your vision with LASIK after finding out you qualify as a candidate, you may wonder how best to prepare for the procedure. Keep reading for 10 ways to prepare before having LASIK eye surgery to know what to expect!
1. Do Your Research
When considering LASIK, the first thing you need to do is research. Any procedure performed on your eyes can be scary.
You’ll want to find a LASIK surgeon you can trust with a long history of successful LASIK procedures. Some of the questions you might want to ask before choosing your LASIK surgeon are:
- Are they board-certified?
- How many LASIK procedures have they performed?
- Are they realistic about the results of LASIK?
- Are they part of a team of experienced practitioners?
2. Schedule a LASIK Consultation
Once you’ve determined the best LASIK surgeon in your area, your next step should be scheduling a LASIK consultation. Your LASIK consultation is the only way to determine if you’re a good candidate for LASIK and whether LASIK is right for you.
Your consultation is also the perfect time to ask any questions about LASIK, what to expect during the procedure, your LASIK surgeon, and potential results. You should not feel rushed during your consultation.
Instead, you should leave feeling confident in both your decision about LASIK and your potential LASIK surgeon. If you feel uncomfortable during your LASIK consultation, this may be a sign that the practice may not be a good fit for you.
There is nothing wrong with considering several places until you find the best LASIK surgeon.
3. Stay Healthy
Once you confirm that you’re a good candidate for LASIK and schedule the date of your procedure, you must stay healthy! Temporary illnesses, like the common cold or flu, can lead to treatment delays.
You can also ensure you’re healthiest before having LASIK by prioritizing a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, regular exercise, and a good sleep routine. These healthy habits not only prepare you for LASIK; they also keep you feeling your best.
4. Treat Dry Eyes
If you have dry eyes, you need to manage this and have it under control before you can have LASIK eye surgery. Leaving dry eyes untreated can make you an unfit candidate for LASIK.
Before LASIK, the best way to treat dry eyes is with approved treatments to help you get your symptoms under control. This may include eye drops or other treatments.
Your ophthalmologist at Batra Vision can help you determine the best way to treat your dry eyes if necessary.
5. Drink Enough Water
Staying hydrated is essential for staying healthy and keeping your eyes in good shape to prepare before LASIK. Drinking the recommended amount of water daily helps keep your eyes moist, protecting them from irritation and injury.
Developing good hydration habits before having LASIK can also make you more comfortable after the vision correction procedure. Your eyes may feel drier than usual after LASIK, but drinking enough water can minimize dryness experienced after the procedure.
6. Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol
Just as you should drink the recommended amount of water daily to keep your eyes moist, you should also avoid beverages that could lead to dehydration. Some of the most dehydrating beverages you can consume contain either caffeine or alcohol.
If you have a coffee habit or like to unwind with a glass of wine after work, it can be hard to give these things up. Luckily, taking a break from caffeine and alcohol is just temporary, and you can go back to enjoying both after having LASIK eye surgery.
7. Stop Wearing Your Contact Lenses
If you wear contact lenses, you’ll need to stop wearing them before you can have LASIK. Contact lenses can temporarily change the shape of your eye and cause minute distortions to its surface.
If this occurs, it can affect the precise corneal mapping necessary for a successful LASIK procedure. The time needed to stop wearing your contacts before LASIK depends on the type you wear.
If you wear soft contacts, you must stop wearing them 5-7 days before the procedure. If you wear hard contacts, you must stop wearing them 10-14 days before LASIK. If you have any questions, talk to your ophthalmologist for clarification.
8. Fully Understand What to Expect During LASIK
Your ophthalmologist should go over what the LASIK procedure is like during your LASIK consultation. However, as the day of your procedure draws closer, make sure you fully understand what to expect during LASIK.
Depending on your comfort level with objects in and around your eyes, you should know that you will be completely awake during LASIK eye surgery. Though LASIK is quick and painless, knowing what to expect can make you feel more relaxed and less anxious on the day of the procedure.
9. Plan Ahead for the Day of Your Procedure
Knowing you’ll have everything taken care of the day you have LASIK can make the whole experience less stressful. Find a friend or family member to bring you to and from the procedure. You may also ask if they can help you with any household needs once you get home on the day of your procedure.
Most LASIK patients find that they can resume their normal activities within a day of having LASIK. However, it can be comforting knowing things will be taken care of if you need additional time to rest following LASIK.
10. Prepare For Your Recovery from LASIK
Just as you should plan for your needs on the day of your LASIK procedure, knowing precisely what you should do as you recover from LASIK is essential. Closely following your post-LASIK instructions can ensure proper healing and the best possible outcomes.
You should fill any prescriptions ahead of time that your surgeon may prescribe to promote healing and prevent infection after LASIK. You may also want to have lubricating eye drops on hand as dry eye is a common temporary side effect experienced after LASIK.
When you feel fully prepared for LASIK, you’ll have an easier time with the procedure. You’ll also be more likely to be satisfied with your results.
With approximately 90% of patients reporting improved vision, you’ll love how clearly you can see the world after LASIK.
Ready to start your journey to better vision? Take the next step by requesting your LASIK consultation at Batra Vision in San Leandro, CA, now! If better vision could be yours, why wait?
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