Before LASIK Surgery
Once you have decided that LASIK is something worth pursuing, there are some things you should be aware of before your eye exam and consultation with laser eye surgeon, Dr. Christian.
If you wear contact lenses it is a good idea to stop wearing them before your first exam—wear your glasses instead. Contact lenses change the shape of your cornea for several weeks after you stop wearing them. You need to give your eyes the time needed to readjust to their natural shape. This will make the mapping of your eye accurate so Dr. Christian can plan out the procedure for your specific corneal shape in preparations for the LASIK surgery.
If you wear:
- Soft contact lenses: you should switch to your glasses 2 weeks before your initial consultation
- Toric soft lenses or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses: you should switch to your glasses for at least 3 weeks prior to your initial consultation
- Hard lenses: you should stop wearing them 4 weeks prior to your initial consultation
The Day Before Surgery
You should stop wearing creams, make-up, lotions and perfumes.
These products may increase the risk of infection during and after the surgery. Also, debris in the eye lashes can be a factor in infection. Dr. Christian may have you scrub your eyelashes before the surgery to get rid of any residues and eyelash debris.
During surgery
The procedure should take 30 minutes, 15 minutes each eye. You will lay in a reclining chair in the operating room with the laser system. The laser system is simply a large machine with a microscope and computer screen attached to it.
Next, a numbing drop will be placed in your eye, the area around your eye will be cleaned and an instrument called a lid speculum will be used to hold your eyelids open.
Now Dr. Christian will use his practiced hands to cut a flap in the cornea. He uses specially designed medical tools for this step. It is quick and painless thanks to the those numbing drops. With this flap opened and the underlying tissue exposed, the laser can now do its work.
The laser will be positioned over your eye and you will be asked to look at a light. This light is not the laser but simply a light for you to focus on to keep your eye still. Now the laser is turned on and immediately will begin to do away with imperfect tissue and reshape your cornea. Its operation has been preprogrammed by Dr. Christian based on your corneal topography and consultation.
Just minutes later, the procedure will be complete. The laser is removed, the corneal flap is put back in place and a shield is temporarily placed over your eyes for protection since no stitches are used. With effective, compassionate treatment, Dr. Christian delivers some of the best LASIK surgery available.
After surgery
Immediately after surgery, your eyes may burn, itch or feel like there’s something in them. This is only temporary and will disappear soon. Some people experience mild pain briefly. In this case, Dr. Christian may suggest a mild pain reliever. You may instinctively want to rub your eyes, but you must resist this urge. Rubbing your eyes may dislodge the corneal flap and necessitate further treatment.
Other things you may experience are light sensitivity, glare, starbursts or halos around light, or the whites of your eyes may become bloodshot. Each of these symptoms tend to disappear within a couple days. In fact, most people are ready to return to work within 24 hours.
You will have one or more follow-up appointments with Dr. Christian, depending on your specific case. If you experience any severe pains or your vision gets worse during your recovery, do not hesitate to call Dr. Christian right away. In the interest of delivering the finest LASIK Los Angeles & Santa Monica offer, he is committed to your total care during any period after your procedure,
Good practices post-surgery:
- No sports or exercise of any kind for 3 days after surgery
- No strenuous or contact sports for 4 weeks after surgery
- Wear eye shield at night for 4 weeks (helps prevent rubbing or irritation of the eyes)
- No swimming or hot tubs for 8 weeks after surgery
Following all of Dr. Christian’s post-LASIK advice will ensure the best outcome.
