What To Expect Before, During, And After LASIK

20/20 Institute
Aug 25, 2017 · 4 min read

If you want to ditch your glasses and contacts, LASIK may be right for you. But having the procedure may have you both excited and nervous.

For many of us, it is helpful to know what to expect. Surprises are great on birthdays and anniversaries, but not so much when it comes to our eyes, right?

This post will let you know what to expect and how you can make your procedure and recovery smooth and easy.

Before LASIK Surgery

Your first step is to call 20/20 Institute and speak with one of our experienced Vision Counselors.

Our counselors have specialized training and answer any questions you have. So there’s no need to take time off work to come in and meet with a doctor to get your questions answered.

After your phone call, you’ll visit either our downtown office or our office in the Denver Tech Center.

During your visit, one of our surgeons will examine your eyes and let you know if you’re eligible for LASIK.

If you’re a candidate and want to proceed, the next step is scheduling your LASIK procedure.

On the day you’ll have LASIK, you’ll need to wear comfortable clothing and someone to drive you home.

We’ll offer you a mild sedative to help you relax for your procedure. We recommend patients take the pill because it helps them relax during LASIK. It also helps them take an excellent nap after their procedure.

A lot of patients have told us their post-LASIK nap was one of the best naps they’ve had in a long time!

During LASIK Surgery

The LASIK procedure at 20/20 Institute takes about 10 minutes total for treatment on both eyes. Most patients have three common questions about LASIK:

What if I blink during LASIK?

You can’t blink during your procedure. The doctors will use a gentle lid holder that keeps you from blinking, so you don’t have to worry about that!

What if I move?

This is a great question. At 20/20 Institute, we use a laser laser with the fastest eye tracker available in the United States. So you don’t need to worry about any movement affecting your LASIK procedure

Is LASIK going to hurt?

We use numbing eye drops, so the only sensation patients feel is pressure on the eye for about 30–45 seconds during the procedure. The procedure may be uncomfortable, but our patients don’t use “pain” to describe their experience.

After Your LASIK Surgery

When you open your eyes, you’ll notice that your vision is different than what it was when you didn’t wear your glasses or contacts.

Most patients describe what they see as like opening your eyes under water. While everything isn’t clear immediately after LASIK, they are amazed at what they can see.

One of our LASIK surgeons will look at your eyes to make sure you’re ready to head home. From there, it’s time to head home and take a post-LASIK nap.

The sooner you get home the better. The worst part of post-op LASIK recovery is the 2–3 hours after the numbing drops wear off. The mild sedative were offered before your procedure does a great job at helping you get to sleep.

Vision tends to be better after you wake up from your nap, and the eyes tend to feel pretty comfortable already. It’s very common for patients to feel like an eyelash in their eye at times for the first few days.

Preservative-free artificial tears will be your best friend after LASIK. They help reduce those irritating sensations while your eyes heal.

You can’t over use artificial tears. Use them as as often as our doctors recommend since they help the healing process and keep you as comfortable as possible.

Many patients find it helpful to have some artificial tears cooled down a bit in a refrigerator. They say the cooler drops are extra soothing in those first few days after LASIK.

Before you leave, we’ll tell you what you need to do and what you need to avoid.

Three Things to Avoid Following LASIK:

  • We will ask you to stay out of hot tubs & pools (rivers, lakes, oceans, etc) for at least a week after your LASIK procedure. Of course, showering is okay — see #2.
  • We will ask that you avoid rubbing your eyes for 2 weeks after your procedure. When you shower, let the water run over closed eye lids, and avoid direct stream of shower water on your eyes. When you dry off, allow the area around your eyes to air dry instead of toweling your eyes dry.
  • We will ask that you not wear eye makeup for at least 36 hours after LASIK. When you go back to wearing eye makeup, remove the makeup with downward strokes on your top lid. Do NOT rub side-to-side to remove it.

Three Things to do Following LASIK:

  • Sleep is the best remedy for the initial post-op discomfort. Again, the most discomfort is 2–3 hours after the numbing drops wear off. When patients are able to get home and fall asleep, they tend to report little to no discomfort after LASIK.
  • Use your eye drops. You will be given a prescription for two medicated eye drops to use after LASIK. Use the drops as instructed. In addition, you’ll have the preservative-free artificial tears to use.
  • Wear goggles when you sleep. 20/20 Institute will give you goggles and explain why you need to wear them.

Post LASIK Follow-Ups

You will have your first checkup the day after your LASIK. Your second checkup will be sometime the following week.

These two appointments are very important. Our doctors will check your vision, how you are healing, and advise you on how to proceed to ensure a smooth recovery.

Deciding to have LASIK is a decision you’ll likely wish you did sooner. Our vision counselors are available at 303–202–0669. Call if you have questions or you’d like to schedule your complimentary evaluation and consultation.

This post was originally published at 2020institute.com.

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