At Piedmont Eye Center, we want our patients to know what to expect from their LASIK surgery. If you are thinking of scheduling a LASIK procedure, below is the timeline you can expect to follow, from evaluation to follow up.
Research
Almost all patients do research before committing to LASIK surgery. There are a lot of questions to be answered. Where do you go? Will it hurt? What is the recovery like? Luckily, we have many resources available on our website, as well as in our office, to help you answer all your questions during this phase.
Partial Evaluation
A partial evaluation can be done for a variety of reasons, but is not done for every patient. During this appointment, preliminary tests are run. Mainly, the goal is to determine that your eyes are healthy overall and have enough corneal tissue to support a safe correction for your prescription. For patients that are unsure if they qualify medically, this evaluation can set their mind at ease. If a patient is considered a good candidate, they are scheduled for a full evaluation.
Evaluation
Before the evaluation, patients must be out of their contacts for at least two to three weeks, depending on the case. By not wearing contacts, the doctor can observe your eyes in their most natural state. At this appointment, Dr. Bowers and a technician will work together to get a full picture of your eye health. Using a wave scan, your corneal topography will be mapped. The computer-generated information can be downloaded directly into the iLASIK™ device, providing a custom treatment that is unique for each patient. This iLASIK™ technology is only available locally with our practice.
Patients will also undergo a eye refraction test, the traditional test that most patients are used to receiving at the eye doctor. Next, your eyes will be dilated and examined. If everything looks healthy and normal, Dr. Bowers will provide instructions for both before and after surgery. Often, a surgery date is scheduled at this time.
Prescriptions
Between the evaluation and surgery, you will be prescribed steroid eye drops. These drops will help to control inflammation associated with surgery. After the procedure, you will continue with an antibiotic eye drop, which will help to prevent infection.
Surgery
Leading up to the day of surgery, many patients still have questions. The good news is that the staff at Piedmont Eye Center is always willing to answer them.
On the day of your surgery, the entire procedure will only take between 10-15 minutes. After it has been completed and you have been cleared to leave, a family member will need to drive you home.
Follow Up Visits
Once the surgery has been completed, follow up visits will be scheduled for about a year. The standard schedule is:
- 1 day after surgery
- 1 week after surgery
- 1 month after surgery
- 4-5 months after the 1 month appointment
At these visits, Dr. Bowers checks personally to ensure that the eye is healing properly. At each appointment, an eye refraction test is completed and compared to the previous one to measure changes in vision. Vision changes take three months or longer to fully stabilize, with some patients taking longer. Eye dryness can affect the stabilization process, with dryer eyes taking longer. It is important to use artificial tears regularly for at least 6 months.
As you walk through these steps, our staff is always ready to answer questions or clarify information. We want our patients to feel comfortable with their LASIK decision. If you have questions, or are ready to book an appointment, let us know!