Preparing For Your LASIK Surgery: Four Important Steps To Take

LASIK surgery can seem almost magical. You go from having blurry vision to clear vision in the matter of a day or two. You don't have to worry about glasses or contacts anymore, and you can finally see clearly as soon as you wake up in the morning! In order to ensure these great results, it is important that you fully follow your eye doctor's instructions prior to your LASIK procedure. Specifically, there are four important steps that you'll need to take in order to prepare.

Stop wearing your contacts.

If you're a contact lens wearer, your eye surgeon will advise you to switch to glasses a week or two prior to your LASIK appointment. This way, your eyes will be able to breathe properly during this time. This helps ensure they are as healthy as possible so that they can heal from the LASIK more quickly. It also reduces your risk of an infection, which would delay your appointment since your eye doctor cannot operate on an infected eye.

Ask your eye doctor before taking any new medications.

When you were evaluated as a candidate for LASIK, your eye doctor should have asked about any medications you are taking. You may have been told to top taking certain medications before the surgery. You should also make sure you tell your eye doctor before you start taking any new medications prior to your LASIK surgery. Certain medications can increase the risk of side effects.

Don't apply any cosmetics the day before or day of the surgery.

Lotions, eyeshadows, eyeliners, perfumes, and other cosmetics should all be avoided the day before the surgery and the day of the surgery. These products can leave residue along the eyelid, which could work its way into your eye during or after the surgery and cause irritation. Also, be very thorough about washing your face in the days before surgery so that any cosmetics you used previously are thoroughly removed.

Make sure you have a ride to and from your appointments.

Though your vision will start to improve immediately after your LASIK surgery, you won't be able to drive home. The next day, you'll have a follow-up appointment. Some, but not all patients are able to drive themselves to this appointment. Thus, it is best to make sure you line someone up to drive you to and from your surgery, and to and from that next-day appointment.

If you take the steps above, your LASIK surgery and recovery process should go smoothly and comfortably. For more information, consider contacting a professional like those at Terrezza O.D. & Associates, P.A.


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