What Should I Expect Before Having LASIK?

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Posted by: Missouri Eye Institute in Blog on January 3, 2023

LASIK is a quick procedure that can allow you to experience true visual freedom and reduced dependency on visual aids. However, before you get to your procedure day, there are a few things to make sure of.

Keep reading to learn what you should expect before having LASIK!

The LASIK Consultation

The very first step in your LASIK journey will be to book a LASIK consultation. This appointment can take up to two hours and includes thorough testing.

During this consultation, your eye doctor will test and examine your eyes to ensure you are a good candidate for LASIK. Ensuring you are a good candidate will allow you to have the best possible odds of success going into the surgery.

There are many qualities the surgeon will look for in a LASIK candidate:

Age

The best time to get LASIK is in your twenties. Your eye doctor will want you to be at least eighteen to consider you for the procedure. 

If your eyes are still growing, you may need to wait longer. 

Health

Certain health problems can make LASIK too risky to perform. This includes diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions that affect your body’s healing ability. 

Your eye doctor will want to know your entire medical history before qualifying you as a candidate for LASIK.

Eye Health

Your eyes must be generally healthy before undergoing LASIK surgery. Injuries or infections need to be taken care of before you will be able to schedule your LASIK procedure.

Corneal Thickness

During the LASIK procedure, your eye doctor will alter your corneal tissue to correct your refractive error. In order to do this, they must create a flap in the top layer of your cornea.

Some people naturally have thinner corneas. A thin cornea can make creating a flap challenging.

For this reason, if you have thin corneas, your eye surgeon may recommend an alternative vision surgery. 

You Need To Be Contact-Free

Contact lenses, even soft contact lenses, can temporarily alter the shape of your cornea. In order for the procedure to be successful, your LASIK surgeon needs to get an accurate measurement of your cornea. 

This means your need to come in with your corneas in their natural state. In order for your cornea’s shape to be as natural as possible during the LASIK procedure, you will need to remove your contact lenses in advance and wear glasses for a little while.

You should leave your contacts out for at least two weeks before the surgery.

Plan Your Ride 

You will likely notice an immediate improvement in your eyesight after LASIK. However, you will not be able to drive. 

Your eye doctor will want you to plan a ride to and from the procedure with a friend or family member. It is important to have this arranged prior to the day of your procedure.

You Might Be Nervous

Feeling nervous about LASIK surgery is completely normal. Your eye doctor at Missouri Eye Institute will do their best to ease your worries and answer all your questions to ensure you feel the best you can going into the procedure.

During your consultation at Missouri Eye Institute in Springfield, Missouri, make sure to ask questions and share your concerns. You can learn straight from the source just how effective LASIK can be, which can help put your mind at ease!  

Do you want to learn more about how to best prepare for LASIK? Schedule an appointment at Missouri Eye Institute in Springfield, MO, today!