subject: What To Expect Before, During, And After Idaho Falls Lasik Surgery [print this page] . The eyes are very sensitive, and the idea of having a laser slice away at your eye while you are awake may be quite unsettling. If you are preparing for Lasik in Idaho Falls and are feeling a little anxious, you should talk with your surgeon about your concerns. It can also help to know what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. Here is a brief overview of the process.
Before the Procedure
You will have at least one pre-surgery consultation with your surgeon. At this appointment, you and the surgeon will get acquainted and go over your medical history. The surgeon will examine your eyes much like your optometrist did in order to determine the amount of correction needed. The surgeon needs to determine the shape of your cornea in order to make the proper adjustments during the Idaho Falls Lasik procedure. Once the surgeon has completed the examination and your surgery date has been set, your consultation is complete. You shouldn't wear your soft contact lenses for three days prior to the surgery.
On the day of your procedure, eat a light, healthy meal before your appointment. Do not wear eye makeup, jewelry, or hair accessories that may interfere with the surgery equipment. Dress comfortably and make sure you have someone to drive you to and from the appointment.
During the Procedure
Once you are seated in the surgical room, the surgeon will administer some numbing eye drops. These will numb your entire eye and prevent you from feeling any pain during the procedure. During your Idaho Falls Lasik procedure, you will see two different lasers. The first laser is used to cut a small flap in your cornea. This flap is peeled back and the second laser will reshape your corneal tissue in order to correct your vision. The flap will then be replaced and your procedure will be complete. The entire process takes about ten minutes.
After the Procedure
Your doctor will give you a prescription for special eye drops to help prevent infection and manage dryness. You should fill this prescription right away and use the drops as prescribed. You may experience temporary burning or soreness when the drops first enter your eyes. Do not use any other type of eye drops until your eyes have healed completely.
You should expect to have blurry or hazy vision for the first day or two after surgery, but this will correct itself quickly and you will soon be seeing clearly. Your Idaho Falls Lasik surgeon will see you for a follow-up visit after 48 hours to make sure the eyes are healing well. He will continue to see you regularly for six months following your surgery. If needed, you can have additional "touch-up" surgeries to perfect your vision. If you needed reading glasses before the surgery, you will need to continue wearing them after surgery as well.
Now that you have a better idea of what to expect before, during, and after your Lasik procedure, you should be feeling a little more comfortable about the process. It is completely normal to feel apprehensive about surgery, so discuss your concerns with your surgeon in detail before the procedure. If needed, your surgeon may be able to administer a sedative during the procedure to help you feel calm and relaxed. Above all, keep in mind that Lasik is very safe and has very few risks when done correctly. Choose a surgeon with years of experience and glowing reviews so you know you will be in good hands.