Lasik | Checklist For Lasik Surgery

Below is a checklist you can utilize when you consider going for a Lasik surgery.

Know What Makes You A Poor Candidate For Lasik Surgery

• Career Impact - does your job prohibit refractive surgery?
• Cost - can you really afford this procedure?
• Medical Conditions - e.g., do you have an autoimmune disease or other major illness? Do you have a chronic illness that might slow or alter healing?
• Eye Conditions - do you have or have you ever had any problems with your eyes other than needing glasses or contacts?
• Medications - do you take steroids or other drugs that might prevent healing?
• Stable Refraction - has your prescription changed in the last year?
• High Or Low Refractive Error - do you use glasses/contacts only some of the time? Do you need an unusually strong prescription?
• Pupil Size - are your pupils extra large in dim conditions?
• Corneal Thickness - do you have thin corneas?
• Tear Production - do you have dry eyes?

Know All The Risks And Procedure Limitations Of Lasik Surgery

• Overtreatment Or Undertreatment - are you willing and able to have more than one surgery to get the desired result?
• May Still Need Reading Glasses - do you have presbyopia?
• Results May Not Be Lasting - do you think this is the last correction you will ever need? Do you realize that long-term results are not known?
• May Permanently Lose Vision - do you know some patients may lose some vision or experience blindness?
• Dry Eyes – do you know that if you have dry eyes they could become worse, or if you don’t have dry eyes before you could develop chronic dry eyes as a result of surgery?
• Development Of Visual Symptoms - do you know about glare, halos, starbursts, etc. and that night driving might be difficult?
• Contrast Sensitivity - do you know your vision could be significantly reduced in dim light conditions?
• Bilateral Treatment - do you know the additional risks of having both eyes treated at the same time?
• Patient Information - have you read the patient information booklet about the laser being used for your procedure?

Know How To Find The Right Lasik Doctor

• Experienced - how many eyes has your doctor performed LASIK surgery on with the same laser?
• Equipment - does your doctor use an FDA-approved laser for the procedure you need? Does your doctor use each microkeratome blade only once?
• Informative - is your doctor willing to spend the time to answer all your questions?
• Long-term Care - does your doctor encourage follow-up and management of you as a patient?  Your preop and postop care may be provided by a doctor other than the surgeon.
• Be Comfortable - do you feel you know your doctor and are comfortable with an equal exchange of information?

Preoperative, Operative And Postoperative Lasik Surgery Expectations

• No Contact Lenses Prior To Evaluation And Surgery - can you go for an extended period of time without wearing contact lenses?
• Have A Thorough Exam - have you arranged not to drive or work after the exam?
• Read And Understand The Informed Consent - has your doctor given you an informed consent form to take home and answered all your questions?
• No Makeup Before Surgery - can you go 24-36 hours without makeup prior to surgery?
• Arrange For Transportation - can someone drive you home after surgery?
• Plan To Take A Few Days To Recover - can you take time off to take it easy for a couple of days if necessary?
• Expect Not To See Clearly For A Few Days - do you know you will not see clearly immediately?
• Know Sights, Smells, Sounds Of Surgery - has your doctor made you feel comfortable with the actual steps of the procedure?
• Be Prepared To Take Drops/Medications - are you willing and able to put drops in your eyes at regular intervals?
• Be Prepared To Wear An Eye Shield - do you know you need to protect the eye for a period of time after surgery to avoid injury?
• Expect Some Pain/Discomfort - do you know how much pain to expect?
• Know When To Seek Help - do you understand what problems could occur and when to seek medical intervention?
• Know When To Expect Your Vision To Stop Changing - are you aware that final results could take months?
• Make Sure Your Refraction Is Stable Before Any Further Surgery - if you don't get the desired result, do you know not to have an enhancement until the prescription stops changing?

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health

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