Things to keep in mind before and after your LASIK procedure
From personal to professional, spectacles can hinder a lot of plans in your life. This is why LASIK, a popular corrective laser eye procedure, is preferred by many to get rid of their eyeglasses and enjoy glasses independent vision.
Not everyone is suitable for laser vision correction, therefore experts first scrutinize your medical records before giving a go-ahead for the LASIK procedure. That’s not all, you need to make sure that the necessary prerequisites of LASIK are adhered to in order to reap the complete benefits. You need to take due care even after the completion of a successful LASIK procedure.
In this blog, we look at some of the essential Dos & Don’ts that have to be kept in mind when opting for LASIK.
What is LASIK Procedure
LASIK( Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a vision correction surgery that is performed using laser technology. By the end of the procedure, a defined amount of tissue is removed from the cornea to reshape the cornea in order to change the power of the visual system.
It is an ideal solution for someone looking to fix vision problems that are caused due to refractive errors. Problems like blurry vision, nearsightedness, and farsightedness would be a thing of the past once you undergo a successful LASIK procedure.
Things to keep in mind before LASIK procedure
The readiness for LASIK starts way before the actual procedure is performed by the experts. It is essential to adhere to the following before LASIK:
Avoid Wearing Contact Lenses
As the cornea is elastic, there is a high probability that the contact lenses might alter its shape. This can cause a discrepancy in the readings that are calculated in software based corneal scans.
To avoid such issues, we recommend that you temporarily switch to spectacles at least a few weeks before the commencement of the LASIK procedure.
Avoid Applying Makeup, Ointments, etc.
It is important that you avoid applying any form of makeup, ointments, or any other cosmetics that are intended to be applied externally to the face and in close proximity to eyes. The chemical ingredients in these products pose a risk of infection in the eyes.
Scrubbing out the eyelashes prior to the surgery is also required but should be avoided on the day of the LASIK procedure. When doing so, the harmful chemicals might enter your eyes which in turn may act as potential roadblocks to the procedure. You should also avoid using any scented perfumes or fragrances on the day of LASIK.
Avoid Caffeine Consumption
Though there are no restrictions on what you can eat or drink before the LASIK procedure, it is still recommended to avoid drinks that can increase the risk of dehydration. Coffee, Alcohol, and other such drinks must be avoided at all costs.
On the other hand, you should consume more water as it will help you stay hydrated from the inside out.
Build Mental Strength
It is normal to experience anxiety before any surgical procedure. LASIK is one of the safest surgical procedures performed on human body. You can openly discuss your doubts and concerns with your operating surgeon to help get peace of mind before you undergo LASIK procedure. Exercises such as yoga and meditation help soothe the nerves. Prior to the LASIK procedure, experts might need to inject a sedative for better co-operation if you are anxious but you would still be completely awake during the course of the procedure.
Any surgical experience can be somewhat mentally draining, so we suggest you build mental strength before the actual procedure is conducted. You would initially have bouts of anxiousness, but once your vision is enhanced, it’ll all be worth it.
Things to keep in mind after the LASIK procedure
The job is only half-done with the successful completion of LASIK. You need to take utmost care post the procedure as well.
Following are the things you should keep in mind:
Do Not Rub your Eyes Post-LASIK
During the course of the LASIK procedure, a flap is created by the experts on the top layer of the cornea. This is primarily done so that the experts get access to the middle layer of the cornea and reshape it.
Since the corneal flap needs to be self-healed, you should avoid rubbing the eyes at all costs. Doing so will slow down recovery.
Avoid Ultraviolet Light exposure in the weeks following LASIK
The exposure to ultraviolet radiations can interfere with the healing process of the corneaand hence it is recommended that you avoid UV ray exposure and wear UV protected glasses when stepping out in the sun.
Avoid excessive Digital Eye Strain for a Few Days
Our eye muscles that help in focusing at near tend to get dependent on glasses and upon removal of glasses, need some time to regain their strength and focusing ability. It is advisable that immediately after LASIK procedure one should not resume excessive digital screen use and instead gradually increase the duration over the course of few days along with performing convergence eye exercises to improve focusing at near.
Avoid Driving for a Few Days
Your vision keeps improving steadily after the procedure. However, you might experience some blurriness for a few days.
Irrespective of that, it is recommended that you should not drive for some days after your LASIK procedure.
Take Plenty Of Rest
Give your eyes the much-needed rest after the LASIK procedure. Sleep is the only way to offer plenty of rest to your eyes. You should also avoid contact sports till you’re given the go-ahead by the experts.
When it is a matter of your eyes, you should only trust proven experts! At Planet LASIK, you can get your vision enhanced by some of the country’s top experts through a comfortable and effective procedure.
It is the ONLY private center to offer complete refractive solutions under one roof in the Delhi NCR region. Take up the LASIK preoperative evaluation survey to get started with your journey towards a specs-free life.
