LASIK is one of the most effective ways to get rid of glasses and contacts. It removes bits of tissue from your cornea to correct its shape.
By having a more uniform shape, your cornea can more accurately focus light on your retina, improving your eyesight. But the procedure itself, while important, is only part of the vision-correcting equation.
You can do and avoid certain things before LASIK to increase your chances of a desirable outcome. Keep reading to learn what you should and shouldn’t do before LASIK to give yourself the best possible chance of visual freedom.
Follow Your Eye Doctor’s Instructions
Following your eye doctor’s instructions is the most important thing you can do before LASIK. They are a highly trained expert.
They know what they’re doing and the best ways to make LASIK as effective as possible. Other things you can do to prepare for LASIK are likely instructions from your eye doctor.
Follow them! If you don’t, it doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t have a good outcome. But doing so will increase the likelihood you get precisely what you want out of LASIK.
Stop Using Face Products
As with any medical procedure, there are some risks associated with LASIK. One primary concern during LASIK is the risk of eye infection.
During LASIK, an incision gets made in your cornea to create a flap with its outer layer, called the epithelium. The inner layers get exposed to open air while your surgeon reshapes the middle layer of your cornea.
This exposure creates the potential for infection. But you can mitigate this risk during your LASIK preparation. Stop using facial products at least a day before your procedure, if not earlier than that, to limit the risk.
Creams, lotions, makeup, and other face products can leave residue on your eyelashes that could cause an infection. Not wearing them for a few days before your procedure gives you a chance to make sure all residue is off your eyes.
Before your procedure, your surgeon may have you scrub your eyelashes. This cleansing is to ensure they are clean.
Schedule a Ride Home
You will be awake during your LASIK procedure, but there is a chance you may receive medicine to help you relax. Some people don’t need this extra relaxation. Some people do.
Whether you get a sedative or not, though, you will need a ride home from the procedure. That’s because your vision will likely be blurry following LASIK.
Some people notice an improvement in their eyesight immediately following the procedure. But it’s more common for your vision to be blurry for a few hours afterward.
This blurriness makes it dangerous for you to drive. So, during your LASIK preparation, schedule a ride home with a friend or family member. You should be able to go back to driving within a day or two of your procedure.
Get Plenty of Rest
LASIK is a straightforward and low-impact medical procedure with a relatively short recovery period. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t take a toll on your body.
Corneal reshaping is a challenging few minutes for your eyes. No matter how advanced the LASIK technology is and how experienced your surgeon is, it is still an intense process. Therefore your body will need some time to recover.
When your eyes heal, you need plenty of rest. You can get ahead of schedule by being well-rested before your procedure.
Your body can heal more quickly if you arrive for your procedure already rested. That way, it can focus all its energy on healing your eyes instead of healing and repairing the rest of your body simultaneously.
Are you ready for visual freedom? Schedule an appointment at Eye Care Specialists in Scranton, PA today!
