Patient Education and Eye Care

Before deciding on Lasik, you should familiarize yourself with everything involved in the procedure. You can do this by attending seminars about Lasik, searching the Internet, reading books, and reading articles in health magazines. Some Lasik centers provide free eye examinations as a promotion. This is useful as it can provide you with all the information you need about the procedure and should clarify your expectations for the surgery.

When deciding on the day of your Lasik surgery, you should choose a day someone is available to drive you back home. After the surgery, you will have a transparent protective plastic shields placed on your eyes to protect them from dust, smoke, or rubbing. You should not remove these shields until you return to your doctor for a check-up. This is usually the next morning.

Your surgeon will prescribe you artificial tears or lubricating drops, and you should use them regularly as instructed, even if you do not feel that your eyes are dry, because they enhance the healing process. Sleeping for 4-6 hours after the surgery is a good way to speed up the healing process. This is due to the sealing of the flap caused by your eyelids when you close your eyes. You should relax your eyes and avoid activities that can tire your eyes such as watching TV or using a computer You must also avoid getting water into your eyes.