LASIK eye surgery is an effective specs removal surgery for eligible individuals. To know your eligibility, you must consult a LASIK surgeon, who will conduct a comprehensive eye examination to determine whether or not you meet the criteria for vision correction.
Apart from your eligibility being determined and verified, you also need to make sure your eyes are ready to undergo LASIK. In this blog, we will discuss some important tips you should follow in the days leading up to your specs removal surgery.
Disclose Your Medical History
This is more of a tip to keep in mind before your eligibility is determined. When you consult a LASIK surgeon, it is crucial that you disclose your complete medical history to them. This is so your doctor can properly assess your overall physical and eye health.
| DID YOU KNOW? Underlying health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease etc. can affect your eligibility for LASIK. |
So, if you are diabetic, hypertensive, or have a heart condition, do NOT hesitate to share this information with your eye doctor.
Stay Hydrated
The human body is 60% water, so there’s no doubt that water is a crucial element that aids every tissue, cell, and organ’s functioning. Because LASIK/laser eye surgery can temporarily cause eye dryness, staying hydrated before the surgery can help reduce susceptibility to dryness symptoms by keeping your body generally amply hydrated.
Artificial tears and lubricating eye drops, however, will be your primary helping factors in minimising dryness and relieving discomfort.
| 💧 Generally recommended daily water intake: 3 litres or 8-10 glasses per day. |
Refrain from Consuming Alcohol
You should generally avoid drinking alcohol at least 24-48 hours prior to your LASIK/laser eye surgery. This is because alcohol tends to have dehydrating effects on the body. Additionally, it may also interfere with the medication (if any) that might be used during the surgery.
Ditch Your Contact Lenses
If you’re someone who wears soft contact lenses on a daily basis, your surgeon might advise you to completely stop wearing them approximately 5 days before your surgery. If you use toric lenses, you might be asked to refrain from using them for a longer period. Exactly how long you’ll be required to stop wearing your contact lenses before surgery depends on the type of lenses you wear.
Now, you might be wondering why you need to stop using contact lenses before LASIK.
Well, the answer is pretty simple. Contact lenses temporarily alter the shape of the cornea (when in use) to facilitate clear vision. This effect (distorted corneal surface shape) may take some time to wear off. Accurate eye anatomy and dimensions are necessary for precise measurements of exactly how much corneal tissue needs to be reshaped during surgery. This is why you are advised to avoid using contact lenses before your pre-LASIK workup as well as the procedure.
👉 After a thorough eye assessment, your doctor can advise exactly how many days before LASIK surgery you would need to stop wearing your contact lenses. It is crucial that you follow this advice strictly for safe & accurate post-surgery results.
Avoid Eye Makeup
Your eye makeup may interfere with the lasers, eye drops, or medication used during LASIK/laser surgery. Stop applying eye makeup 24-48 hours prior to your procedure.
You will also be advised to avoid eye makeup after the procedure for 1-2 weeks. This is to promote good eye hygiene along with a smoother and more comfortable healing period for your eyes.
Limit Screen Time
It’s important to limit your digital screen time to avoid irritation, dryness, redness, or discomfort. You might want to reduce binge-watching shows for a few days before your surgery so your eyes can be as rested and ready for vision correction surgery as possible.
Get Enough Rest
LASIK/laser specs removal, while a daycare procedure, is a surgical method. And with the anticipation of undergoing surgery, come the jitters, nerves, and apprehension. This is why it is crucial to get adequate sleep before your surgery day, so you can be refreshed and calm when you step into the OT.
Your LASIK surgeon will give you a set of guidelines to follow in the days leading up to your surgery. These guidelines should be followed for a smooth surgical experience.
Sohana Hospital provides advanced specs removal technologies like:
