Your doctor will conduct a comprehensive medical history review at your consultation and run diagnostic tests to screen for any conditions that could affect the surgery. This thorough process is designed to ensure your safety and the success of your LASIK Surgery. On the day of your surgery, it’s advisable to avoid wearing makeup, perfumes, and lotions to maintain a sanitary environment and prevent contaminants from getting into your eyes.
Your eye doctor will assess the overall health of both sides of your retina. They will look for signs of dry eye syndrome, macular degeneration, glaucoma, or any potential complications of LASIK eye surgery and perform corneal mapping tests to confirm your eligibility for the procedure.
Examining the Medical History
During this exam phase, your surgeon will review your general health history, including any autoimmune or chronic conditions that could impede surgery outcomes or recovery, medications taken or supplements consumed—some may affect healing—and any medications and supplements you are taking.
Comprehensive Examination of Your Eyes
At your eye exam, a doctor will conduct various tests to assess the health of your eyes. They will look for signs of glaucoma or other eye conditions that could reduce the quality and effectiveness of laser vision correctionor hamper recovery. Your doctor will also measure the thickness of your cornea, an important factor in determining your eligibility for LASIK, using special tools that measure peak and valley contours on its surface.
Your eyes may become dilated during this test, and your vision may remain temporarily impaired for up to a few hours afterward. Therefore, it is advisable to bring sunglasses and arrange for someone else to drive you home afterward.
Your doctor will conduct an eye exam that includes dilation of the pupils to inspect your cornea, lens, and retina for irregularities while checking tear film quality to ensure LASIK surgery will go as smoothly as possible. Contact lenses must typically be removed during this examination process.
Proceeding with the LASIK Procedure
Your eye doctor will conduct a detailed evaluation to determine your eligibility for LASIK. They will look at factors like overall health and vision stability. Additionally, corneas must be thick enough to allow for effective reshaping, and certain medical conditions can interfere with post-LASIK healing.
Next, your doctor will administer numbing eye drops before creating a thin flap on the cornea and folding it back. Although this procedure causes temporary vision loss, most people return to normal activities the day after surgery with improved vision.
However, for best results, you must select an experienced LASIK surgeon and adhere to pre- and post-surgery instructions.
Discussing LASIK Procedure & Its Benefits
LASIK eye surgery is an elective process typically not covered by health insurance; however, flexible spending or health savings accounts could help cover its cost.
Your doctor will complete an analysis of your general and ocular history, medications you are currently taking that could interfere with healing, and other factors that could determine whether LASIK surgery suits you. Being honest is vital so the doctor can accurately evaluate your candidacy for vision correction surgery.
LASIK surgery can effectively address common refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism; however,it’s important to note that it cannot correct presbyopia, an age-related loss of near vision that affects most people.
Evaluate Your Eligibility for LASIK
LASIK corrects vision by reshaping the cornea, which helps focus light onto the retina. To determine whether surgery would be successful, an extensive series of tests are administered during the LASIK consultation to assess both the eye’s health and function; additionally, your doctor will review any medical history that might impede the surgical progress.
Pregnant women should wait until after their hormones have returned to normal before considering LASIK surgery. At the same time, people living with epilepsy should wait until their symptoms have subsided, as this procedure modifies corneal structures that could trigger seizures.
Addressing All the Questions & Concerns
If you have questions about LASIK surgery, your physician at Bagan Strinden Vision willbe more than willing to answer them. This is an integral part of the LASIK consultation process and ensures you have all the required knowledge to make an informed decision.
At this appointment, your eye doctor should address any specific medical concerns that you have, including your current medications, which could hinder your recovery. You should bring a list of all current prescriptions so they may assess them for potential side effects and review any possible interactions.
Discuss All the Potential Risks & Complications
As with any surgery, there are possible risks s associated with LASIK. It is important to discuss these with your LASIK specialist and voice any reservations or concerns you may have. This open dialogue is crucial for making an informed decision about your LASIK surgery.
Your LASIK specialist will also need to know more about general health or eye conditions that could interfere with LASIK candidacy, such as chronic illnesses, autoimmune disorders, hormonal diseases, or medications you’re taking.
This may affect how quickly and effectively your eyes heal post-LASIK surgery and help them recommend other treatments better tailored to you.
Pre-Surgery Preparation
Your doctor will review your medical history and conduct a physical exam, providing an ideal opportunity for you to ask any queries about yourself or the surgery.
Discuss potential risks and complications with your surgeon, including their long-term effects. Your surgeon can tell you whether these apply specifically to you or not.
Before going in for surgery, you must follow specific guidelines, including brushing your teeth and not wearing jewelry or piercings. In addition, you must bring a change of clothes, your ID, and a medical insurance card and arrange transport from and to the hospital.
Conclusion
Preparing for LASIK surgery involves a thorough consultation to ensure the procedure is suitable and safe. It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions, ask any questions you may have, and understand the pre-surgery preparations. By doing so, you can confidently approach your LASIK surgery, knowing that you’ve taken the necessary steps to achieve improved vision and a smoother recovery process.
Call Bagan Strinden Vision For LASIK Surgery!
Experience top-quality eye care with Bagan Strinden Vision! From glaucoma treatment and general eye care to eyelid procedures, laser eye surgery, and cataract surgery, we are dedicated to preserving and enhancing your vision. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and see the world more clearly!
