LASIK celebrates a milestone next year, marking 25 years since the FDA approved the procedure for correcting refractive vision errors, like farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism. Since then, millions of people have achieved clearer vision while eliminating or reducing their reliance on glasses and contact lenses.
LASIK stands for laser in-situ keratomileusis, a surgical procedure that uses lasers to reshape the cornea, eliminating aberrations that cause refractive vision errors. Associated with high levels of patient satisfaction, planning and preparing for your surgery can help ensure your recovery goes smoothly, so you can reap the benefits of surgery as quickly as possible.
Rodrigo Belalcazar MD, PLLC, is a leading provider of LASIK surgery for patients at Advanced Eye Center in Hialeah, Florida. In this post. learn four steps you can take to get ready for LASIK surgery and enjoy a comfortable, quick recovery.
If you wear contact lenses, you’ll need to stop wearing them for a few weeks before your LASIK appointment and switch to glasses, instead. Avoiding contacts reduces the risk of irritating your corneas prior to your surgery.
Dr. Belalcazar will let you know how long you need to go without your contacts. If your glasses prescription is out of date, now is the time to order new glasses to wear during the pre-surgery period.
After your surgery, you won’t be able to drive right away. You’ll need to have someone on hand to drive you home from your appointment and to pick up any prescriptions or run any other immediate errands.
You’ll also need to arrange time off work — typically a few days to give your eyes time to recover. You should also review all of your post-surgery instructions prior to LASIK treatment just in case you have questions or concerns that need to be cleared up ahead of time.
On the day of your surgery, wash your face well, but don’t apply any creams, lotions, or makeup. These products can contaminate your eyes during treatment.
You’ll also need to avoid applying these products during the immediate postop period when initial healing occurs. During your postop follow-up visit, Dr. Belalcazar provides information about when it’s OK to start using these products again.
On the day of your LASIK procedure, choose a comfortable outfit to wear. Comfy clothes make it easy to relax after your procedure, and they can add to your comfort and ease during treatment, too.
Prepare a comfortable recovery spot at home, too. Keep the lights dim and queue up some music or TV programming ahead of time. Avoid activities that could strain your eyes. Ask Dr. Belalcazar to recommend some lubricating eye drops to have on hand, along with over-the-counter pain relievers. Having a meal or two prepped before your surgery day arrives can help, too.
LASIK surgery is associated with high levels of patient satisfaction and a relatively brief recovery period. To learn what else you can do to make your recovery as smooth as possible, call 305-707-6011 or book an appointment online with Dr. Belalcazar today.
