The expectations of laser eye surgery, before and after, can vary slightly from patient to patient. This is because everyone’s eyes and vision conditions are unique, which may affect what your eye doctor recommends, including the type of refractive surgery you’re offered. However, there are some general procedures and instructions you can expect before undergoing any type of laser vision correction, and certain guidelines to follow during your post operation recovery process.
How Laser Eye Surgery Works
Laser eye surgery procedures, such as LASIK surgery, aim to correct vision problems by using a laser to reshape the cornea. The ultimate goal is to reduce your dependency on glasses or contact lenses. Laser eye surgery employs the use of a laser beam to remove carefully selected areas of corneal tissue; doing this modifies the curvature of the cornea and how light bends through this surface as it enters the eye.
The most well-known form of laser eye surgery is the LASIK procedure. LASIK surgery is unique in the way that it involves the creation of a corneal flap. After the flap is opened, an excimer laser removes precise areas of the deeper tissues.
The Initial Consultation
Prior to any laser treatment, your eye surgeon will perform an initial consultation. If you wear contact lenses, whether soft contact lenses or rigid gas permeable lenses, the clinic will likely tell you to stop wearing them for at least couple of weeks before your appointment. The purpose of this consultation is to establish your suitability for any sort of laser eye surgery, and so the surgeon will need to take some precise measurements. Wearing contacts can change the shape of the cornea, so switching to glasses in the days leading up to this visit will give your eye specialist the most accurate results.
There are various types of laser eye surgery, including PRK, SMILE, and LASIK eye surgery. Your suitability for any procedure will depend on a number of factors to be determined at your exam with the eye doctor, including:
- The thickness of your corneal tissue
- Your age
- Your contact lenses or glasses prescription
- Any pre-existing vision problems that may increase your risk of complications or impact your potential for improved vision through laser eye surgery, such as retinal scarring from eye injury
- Any other systemic conditions that may hinder your healing process such as diabetes, or conditions involving hormonal changes such as pregnancy
At this appointment, your eye doctor will also have a discussion with you about your hobbies and occupation, such as whether you play contact sports. Understanding your lifestyle can also help guide the decision about which method of laser eye surgery would be the safest and most effective for you.
During your pre-operative appointments, you may also wish to prepare some of your own questions to ask the specialist.
What to Ask Your Specialist Before Laser Eye Surgery
The more informed and educated you can become before your laser eye surgery procedure, the more comfortable and empowered you will be to proceed with your chosen vision correction treatment.
You may consider asking some of the following questions:
- Is refractive surgery safe?
- What are the risks and potential side effects of laser eye surgery?
- Do I have any factors that increase my risk of complications during the recovery process?
- Can I have LASIK eye surgery? If not, why have you recommended a different type of laser eye surgery for me?
- How long is the expected recovery time?
- Does LASIK surgery hurt?
- How many follow up appointments do I need?
- What signs and symptoms should I look out for after having refractive surgery that mean I need to contact my doctor immediately?
- Will I still need to wear glasses or contact lenses after my procedure?
If you have additional questions or concerns, don’t be afraid to ask your eye specialist, optometrist, or to do your own reading from credible sources.
How Do I Prepare for Laser Eye Surgery?
Follow the recommendations of your eye doctor when it comes to pre-operative preparation for your laser eye surgery procedure.
If you wear contacts, you’ll need to wear glasses instead, leading up to your laser eye surgery. Your eye specialist will let you know exactly for how long you need to avoid your contacts, but in general, you can expect to:
- Cease soft contact lens wear for 2 weeks
- Cease rigid gas permeable lens wear for 3 to 4 weeks
If you have a condition known as blepharitis, your surgeon may ask you to go through a course of lid hygiene therapy. This can be as simple as using baby shampoo or a special detergent to clean away debris and bacteria around the eyelids and lashes.
The day prior to your vision correction procedure as well as on the same day, you should stop using any make up or other products around your face to avoid contamination during the operation itself.
The Recovery Process
After your laser eye surgery, your eye specialist will schedule a series of aftercare appointments. You’ll also be given a list of instructions and some eye drops, including antibiotic drops and an anti-inflammatory. It’s important to use these eye drops for the full course as instructed to avoid running into complications such as a bacterial eye infection.
Immediately after your laser eye surgery, most patients can expect:
- To have some degree of blurred vision
- To experience a degree of light sensitivity to bright lights
- To avoid strenuous contact sports
- Mild pain around the eyes, which can be managed with oral painkillers
- To need to stay away from some of their normal activities, such as those that involve a risk of contamination or trauma to the eyes
Depending on your occupation or the type of laser eye surgery procedure you had, some people may need to take leave for slightly longer than others. For example, if you needed PRK instead of LASIK surgery, it’s likely you’ll need a few weeks longer of leave. If you need to know more about the laser eye surgery, contact Eye Laser Specialists now on (03) 9070 5788!
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Sources
What should I expect before, during, and after surgery? https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/what-should-i-expect-during-and-after-surgery
Laser eye surgery https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/laser-eye-surgery
