LASEK — PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS
Description of Procedure
The surface of the cornea is cut using a trephine which cuts a circular
pattern on the surface of the cornea. The surgeon covers the central
portion of the cornea with an alcohol solution for about 30 seconds.
The solution loosens the edges of the epithelium. After sponging the
alcohol solution from the eye, the surgeon uses a tiny instrument to
lift the edge of the epithelial flap and gently folds it back out of
the way. An excimer laser is used on the middle layer of the cornea
and the flap is placed back over the middle layer of the cornea.
Patient Process and Procedure
| Three (3) days before
LASEK Surgery |
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Place one drop of Ocuflox
into the eye to be operated on every four (4) hours while awake. |
| On the night before
LASEK Surgery |
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Make transportation arrangements.
You should NOT drive yourself home after surgery because
you may be mildly sedated and your eye may be patched.
You will need someone to bring you to your post-operative
visit. At your post-operative exam, your doctor will let you
know when you are able to drive. |
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Wash face well with soap and water. Take a shower or bath and wash hair. |
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No food or drink after midnight unless otherwise instructed. You will be contacted by a nurse from the surgery center about
eating instructions. |
| The Day of LASEK Surgery |
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Please refrain from
wearing perfume, cologne, or after-shave on your surgery date.
Please do not use any hair products that contain alcohol such as
hair spray or mousse. |
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Do not wear make-up. Wash face
again with soap and water. |
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Avoid coffee, tea, or milk unless otherwise instructed. |
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Make sure to take all of your usual
medications before coming to the surgery center. |
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Wear comfortable clothing and
a short-sleeved shirt or blouse that opens down the front. Do
not wear nylons, stockings or support garments. Men, do NOT wear
t-shirts. |
| After LASEK Surgery |
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Topical anesthesia means rapid
visual recovery after LASEK surgery. Occasionally, a local anesthetic
is necessary. In that case your vision will return more gradually,
and you may notice blurred or double vision at first. Once in
a while a patch is placed over the eye after LASEK surgery. Leave the patch in place until your appointment on the day after
surgery. Wear the shield over your eye when you go to sleep for
one week after your surgery. |
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Post-Operative Medication: After LASEK surgery you should use these eye drops as directed:
OCUFLOX……….FOUR TIMES A DAY until gone
VOLTAREN……...FOUR TIMES A DAY x 2 weeks
PRED FORTE…..FOUR TIMES A DAY x 1 week
TWO TIMES A DAY x 2 weeks |
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Post-Operative Symptoms: You may have a scratchy or funny feeling like something is in
your eye after surgery. Also, many people notice a pink or red
glow following surgery. These experiences are normal and expected. If you have severe pain that is not relieved by pain medication
you should call the doctor's office. If
you have severe pain, sudden change in vision, or need explanations,
call any time day or night (541) 687-2110 / 800-452-2040. |
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Many people need a change in their
eyeglass prescription following LASEK surgery. Some will
only need glasses for reading, and some may find they need
glasses only rarely or not at all. |
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You should expect to visit the
doctor's office on the day after your surgery and again two weeks
after your surgery. Of course, individual differences in healing
may mean changes in this schedule. |
Related Information About LASEK:
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Feel free to call or drop in if you'd like to speak to someone in person.
Commonly Asked Questions:
How soon after surgery will I see well?
Vision is usually good in 3 to 5 days.
Will refractive surgery hurt?
During the procedure, a strong topical anesthetic is used to numb the
eye. Generally, only pressure is felt during the procedure.
Will I still need my glasses or contacts?
The goal of refractive surgery is to reduce your dependence on glasses
and/or contact lenses, but LASEK patients still may benefit from reading
glasses or distance glasses when they desire perfect near or distance
vision.
Will my insurance cover LASEK?
Most health care coverage considers LASEK surgery an elective surgical
procedure and does not cover it. For our LASEK patients, we highly
recommend CareCredit® or ChaseHealth
Advance.
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