Preparing for Laser Eye Surgery at an Orange County Clinic

Laser eye surgery is a big step for anyone to take and it should be considered carefully. Once you’ve been deemed a good candidate for the surgery and you make the decision to have it done, you need to start getting prepared.

This type of surgery is done on an outpatient basis and your doctor will give you instructions that you’ll need to follow completely. After all of the arrangements have been made, you’ll need to start preparing a few weeks prior to your scheduled surgery date.

What you can do:

• During your last visit to the doctor before the actual surgery takes place, make sure you have a complete medical history ready. Ask lots of questions and make sure you know everything possible about the procedure in advance.

• Don’t wear contacts lenses a couple of weeks before the schedule date of the procedure. They change the shape of the cornea and this can cause problems during the surgery and the surgeon will have to re-evaluate your case.

• A couple of days before the surgery you should avoid wearing any lotions, creams, aftershave, perfume and similar items because they increase your risk of infection.

• Do not wear makeup the day of the surgery due to the risk of infection.

• Make sure you have transportation to and from the doctor because you will not be able to drive. In fact, it may be several days before you can drive a vehicle so it’s a good idea to have someone available when you need them.

• Always follow the advice and instructions of your Lasik eye surgeon.

Getting prepared mentally is also necessary for the best results. Some people get nervous because they worry about the procedure being painful but most patients report feeling discomfort, not pain.

Having this type of information can help you relax and mentally prepare for the laser eye surgery.