LASIK eye surgery - before & after

If you are considering the procedure, you should be aware of the requirements, procedure and aftercare.

Understand the requirements of Lasik candidates

Before embarking on the procedure, get a baseline evaluation from your eye doctor.

You are given the required exam to determine if you are a good candidate. Avoid wearing glasses and contacts since they tend to change the shape of your cornea, and this leads to inaccurate measurements.

Stop wearing soft lenses two weeks before evaluation. Toric soft lenses and rigid gas permeable lenses require a period of three weeks while hard lenses require at least four weeks.

What to expect during the procedure

The surgery is non-invasive and it should take less than half an hour. The doctor uses a laser machine with a microscope attached to his or her end. The doctor may use a mechanical microkeratome to cut around your cornea. Other options include using laser keratome to correct the cornea. After the procedure is done, your eyes are covered with a protective shield since there are no stitches used.

What to do after the procedure

The right aftercare is crucial to the healing process. You may feel a burn, or may feel like there is something in your eyes after the surgery. The following are important aftercare tips. 

The protective shield or eye gear is provided for you so that you avoid rubbing or putting any pressure on your eyes. Keep it to protect your eyes from accidental poking or rubbing until they heal.

You are advised to avoid going out in the sun, or wear a hat and protective shades if you have to go out in the sun. Avoid glares and bright lights since the eyes are still sensitive to light before they heal completely.

In some cases, patients experience mild pain and headache. Consult your doctor instead of self-medication. Pain could be a sign of something more serious. You may also have eye drops prescriptions, such as artificial tears to help with the healing process.

See your doctor regularly after the procedure and keep the follow-up schedule that you are given. The eye shield should be removed when the eyes heal. You get tests to evaluate if you have healed properly.

Keep off cosmetic lotions, creams, eye drops and eye makeup until your eye has healed completely. Avoid contact sports such as football, boxing and wrestling. Keep off swimming in whirlpools and hot tubs for a few months.

Your eyesight may fluctuate in the first weeks and take three to six months to stabilize. Do not resume eye contacts and glasses use at this period. If you develop new or worse post-surgery symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. Swelling, pain and bleeding are warning signs that should be attended to immediately. Remain patient until you regain normal eyesight.

Are you interested in getting a LASIK? Select from clinics that offer LASIK in Singapore through Business Directory.