So your health care provider has recommended LASIK eye surgery (LASIK is short for Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis) to correct a common vision problem, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
You've learned about the procedure and decided that it's a good choice for you.
What can you expect before and after your LASIK eye surgery? Your doctor will give you specific instructions to follow, but here's what you can anticipate happening.
Before the Procedure If you wear contact lenses, your physician will probably instruct you to stop wearing them for a period of time before the day of your appointment.
Contacts can temporarily change the cornea's shape and your doctor will want it to be shaped normally when the work is done.
You'll get specific instructions from your health care provider regarding how long you need to have your contacts off prior to the appointment.
The doctor will also ask you to stop wearing all makeup (especially eye makeup), creams, or lotions before the appointment.
Using these products could hinder the procedure or increase the risk of infection.
Your health care provider also may give you instructions for cleaning your eyelashes prior to the appointment; again this is a precaution to guard against infection.
Be sure that you contact your health insurance provider before the appointment.
LASIK is usually considered to be an elective surgery, which means you will need to cover the cost yourself.
Don't be surprised if you are expected to pay the cost prior to the start of any work.
After the Procedure The recovery time following the LASIK eye surgery is relatively quick.
Likely you may decide it's best to stay home from work for a few days after the appointment.
Your doctor will probably advise you to avoid sports or other contact activities for about a month.
You should also avoid getting into swimming pools, hot tubs, or whirlpools for two weeks after the procedure.
You will need to wait a few weeks until you start using eye makeup again.
You may expect to experience some mild discomfort after the appointment.
Your physician will likely provide eye drops or pain medicine to help ease the pain.
While your vision may be blurry immediately following the procedure, this should quickly improve.
You'll want to delay driving until all blurriness or haziness has ended, so be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home following the appointment.
Your doctor will explain to you how to handle any unusual side effects, if they should occur.
You will return to the doctor for regular check-ups during the first six months following LASIK surgery.
The Mayo Clinic reports that it takes about two to three months for you to heal completely and your vision to become stable.
As with any medical procedure you are considering, talk to your healthcare provider about any questions you have.
Your doctor can give you specific instructions and answer any questions you have about returning to normal activities while you're healing.
You've learned about the procedure and decided that it's a good choice for you.
What can you expect before and after your LASIK eye surgery? Your doctor will give you specific instructions to follow, but here's what you can anticipate happening.
Before the Procedure If you wear contact lenses, your physician will probably instruct you to stop wearing them for a period of time before the day of your appointment.
Contacts can temporarily change the cornea's shape and your doctor will want it to be shaped normally when the work is done.
You'll get specific instructions from your health care provider regarding how long you need to have your contacts off prior to the appointment.
The doctor will also ask you to stop wearing all makeup (especially eye makeup), creams, or lotions before the appointment.
Using these products could hinder the procedure or increase the risk of infection.
Your health care provider also may give you instructions for cleaning your eyelashes prior to the appointment; again this is a precaution to guard against infection.
Be sure that you contact your health insurance provider before the appointment.
LASIK is usually considered to be an elective surgery, which means you will need to cover the cost yourself.
Don't be surprised if you are expected to pay the cost prior to the start of any work.
After the Procedure The recovery time following the LASIK eye surgery is relatively quick.
Likely you may decide it's best to stay home from work for a few days after the appointment.
Your doctor will probably advise you to avoid sports or other contact activities for about a month.
You should also avoid getting into swimming pools, hot tubs, or whirlpools for two weeks after the procedure.
You will need to wait a few weeks until you start using eye makeup again.
You may expect to experience some mild discomfort after the appointment.
Your physician will likely provide eye drops or pain medicine to help ease the pain.
While your vision may be blurry immediately following the procedure, this should quickly improve.
You'll want to delay driving until all blurriness or haziness has ended, so be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home following the appointment.
Your doctor will explain to you how to handle any unusual side effects, if they should occur.
You will return to the doctor for regular check-ups during the first six months following LASIK surgery.
The Mayo Clinic reports that it takes about two to three months for you to heal completely and your vision to become stable.
As with any medical procedure you are considering, talk to your healthcare provider about any questions you have.
Your doctor can give you specific instructions and answer any questions you have about returning to normal activities while you're healing.
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