LASIK Surgery: What to Expect Before, During, and After

If you are considering enhancing your vision through LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis), knowing what to expect before, during, and after the surgery is very important. Dr. Jeffrey Minkovitz at Eye Physicians and Surgeons, P.A. provides LASIK surgery in Wilmington, DE, and will thoroughly review the details of the surgery with you during your consultation. Schedule an appointment today to learn more.

Green laser graphic going into brown eye. — During surgery, your surgeon will use a laser to precisely reshape the cornea.

LASIK Overview

Millions of patients have undergone LASIK surgery to achieve clearer vision. LASIK can help correct eye conditions such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness, reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. LASIK surgery improves your vision by reshaping your cornea using an excimer laser. LASIK is precise and very quick, taking only seconds per eye.

Preparing for Surgery

It is generally advised that anyone planning to undergo LASIK:

Stop wearing contact lenses for two to four weeks, depending on your prescription and the kind that you use.
Eat healthy, nutritious meals and exercise regularly.
Stop smoking or drinking alcohol for at least one week prior to surgery.
Make plans for a friend or family member to drive you to and from your surgery. A light sedative will be administered prior to the procedure, that may make you groggy and will prevent you from driving.
Make sure to wear a loose-fitting shirt on the day of surgery that will not touch your eye area as you remove it.
Gather recovery-related items, such as an eye patch or medicated eye drops.
Complete any necessary household chores, or arrange for someone to take care of these tasks, so that you can focus on healing in the days following your procedure.

We want you to feel comfortable and confident about your surgery, and will provide you with personalized pre-operative instructions. We encourage you to ask questions at this time.

The Procedure

Before beginning your LASIK surgery, we will administer a light sedative and numbing eye drop to keep you relaxed and comfortable. Next, a circular incision will be made in the cornea to create a hinged flap. The flap is then gently lifted to access to the stroma, the center layer of the cornea. Next, the excimer laser is used to reshape your cornea. Once your corneal tissue has been refined, we close the flap, and it will naturally heal over time.

LASIK Results

In many cases, patients notice an immediate improvement. The full extent of your results will become apparent over the next several weeks. Some patients experience higher order aberrations such as glare, halos, and starbursts for a few months after their LASIK surgery.

In rare cases, patients develop flap complications, persistent dry eye, persistent higher order aberrations, or an infection, which could require additional procedures or follow-up. Working with our experienced ophthalmology team and following the pre-operative instructions can help reduce your risk of complications, and optimize your LASIK results.

Learn More about LASIK Surgery

If you are interested in achieving sharper vision and independence from corrective eyewear, LASIK surgery may be the solution for you. Contact our practice today to schedule your consultation.