DAY OF SURGERY INFORMATION

The following is a summary of important surgery day highlights and some other information you may find helpful in preparing for your vision correction surgery.

PREPARING YOU FOR THE SURGICAL PROCEDURE

Do not wear makeup or anything with a scent.
Clean your eyelids the night before and morning of surgery.
Bring someone to drive you home after the procedure has been completed.
Sign the surgical consent document.
A one-day post-operative appointment will be scheduled.
You will be given your post-operative instructions (the most important of which is DO NOT RUB YOUR EYES), including the names and instructions of your post-operative eye drops.
You will be asked if you have any further questions.
One of the ophthalmic technicians will instill two sets of numbing drops in your eye(s). The outside of your eyelid(s) will be wiped with betadine solution. The technician will place a hair net or cap on your head.
You will be given your post-operative eye drops and instructions for using them, some eye shields to wear at night to protect your eyes from unconsciously rubbing while you are sleeping, and a pair of sunglasses to wear during the car ride home if your eyes are sensitive to the light.

IN THE LASER SUITE

The laser engineer is usually the first person to greet you when you enter the laser suite. The engineer will get you settled in the laser chair and give you some instructions (e.g. uncross your feet, don’t shake your hands, etc.).
The laser engineer will then calibrate the laser. During this calibration, you will hear the "noise" of the laser so that you can become accustomed to the sound.
The laser engineer will stand near the laser console during the procedure and will be counting down to you and to your surgeon, "Ten more seconds, five more seconds", etc.
Your surgeon will sit behind you during the procedure.
The microkeratome technician will stand to one side during the procedure.
During the procedure, the surgeon, laser engineer, and microkeratome technician will be working around your face and eyes, and three people will be talking to you and giving you instructions.
The surgeon will instill a third set of numbing drops.
The procedure will then begin.

THE PROCEDURE

Your left eye will be patched during the right eye procedure, and vice versa.
An eye lid holder will be inserted around your eyelids to prevent you from blinking. You may feel a stretching sensation when it is inserted.
Your job will be to stare at a red light. The surgeon’s foot has to depress a foot pedal in order to activate the laser. If you look away from the red light, the surgeon will lift the pedal and stop the laser.
Tape-like material will be placed on the eyelashes to hold them away from the treatment area.

MAKING THE FLAP

The next step is to use the microkeratome or the IntraLase® Laser to create a flap on the outer layer of your cornea.
Your surgeon will then fold back the corneal flap, exposing the middle layer of your cornea.
The entire process takes less than 10 seconds to complete.

LASER TREATMENT

Your laser treatment is specifically designed by your surgeon based on measurements gathered at the pre-operative evaluation.
Before beginning the laser treatment, your surgeon will confirm (by this time, the third confirmation) with the laser engineer that the treatment entered into the laser’s computer actually conforms with the figures derived by the surgeon from your eye measurements.
Typically, the amount of time the laser is actually applied on the cornea is between 10-45 seconds. This is the time when you will stare at the red light.
When the laser treatment is finished, your surgeon will smooth your corneal flap back into its proper position on the eye and irrigate the eye with liquid. You may feel the urge to blink due to the larger than normal amount of fluid that is placed on the eye. Although your eyelids are held open with the eyelid holder and you will not be able to blink, please try to resist the urge to blink.
The flap will reattach to the surface of your eye within 30-60 seconds.
During this waiting period, the tape will be removed from your eyelashes, and the eyelid holder will be removed.
Your surgeon will then ask you to blink a few times.
The surgeon will now perform the procedure on your other eye. A patch will be placed on the eye that just received the procedure and the same process will be performed on your other eye.

AFTER THE LASER TREATMENT

After the entire LASIK procedure has been completed, your surgeon will have you sit up in the surgical chair. The surgeon will remind you not to rub your eyes and to expect some fluctuations in vision, light sensitivity, and tearing.

AT HOME AFTER YOUR LASIK PROCEDURE

Do not expect your vision to be clear during the remainder of the surgery day. Most patients describe their vision as, "I felt like I was looking out from underwater," for the rest of the surgery day.
You will likely experience a foreign body sensation or the feeling of an eyelash in the eye, especially in the first three hours after the procedure. If you have some pain after the LASIK procedure you may choose to have Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, etc. on hand if needed.
If possible, resting (not sleeping) during the first three hours after the procedure may allow you to "miss" some of the foreign body sensation.
You may experience light sensitivity, minor irritation, tearing and/or dry eye sensation, difficulty with depth perception, and fluctuating vision. This may last from a few hours to a couple of days.
Try to get a good night’s sleep the night of surgery. The next morning you will notice a big change in your vision. You will go to the office the day after surgery so that the surgeon can examine your eyes for proper healing and record your vision. Over ninety percent of patients are able to see 20/40 or better the day after surgery.

IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING YOUR LASIK PROCEDURE

Attend all your post-operative exams.
Minor fluctuations in your vision can be expected in the first few days and weeks after LASIK. If, at any point during the first week, your vision worsens or suddenly becomes blurry, please call the doctor’s office.
Enjoy your "new" vision and freedom from glasses and contact lenses!