Factors To Consider For LASIK Surgery

Are you excited to get LASIK surgery and finally see clearly without glasses? Before we book your appointment, there are a few things to consider so you can time it optimally.

While LASIK surgery’s outcomes are generally consistent regardless of the time, day, or month you get it, timing it carefully can make your recovery period more comfortable. Otherwise, you might face certain inconveniences you don’t want to worry about during your recovery.

Hence, it helps to outline these considerations and plan your LASIK procedure accordingly. From vision stability to your routine, we’ll discuss these factors in this blog, along with a brief overview of the timeline for LASIK surgery.

Timeline Considerations

Understanding the typical timeline of a LASIK surgery is the first important consideration when choosing the right time for your procedure. Here’s a rough timeline of what it looks like at Saddleback Eye Center:

Pre-operative Consultation

Average Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours

As we boast one of the most comprehensive eye exams in the country, we ask that you allot about two hours for your initial consultation. The LASIK surgery consultation involves a series of 14 diagnostic tests to assess your eye health and determine your eligibility for LASIK.

You can maximize this time by asking all questions about your most pressing concerns with our well experienced doctors. You’ll also receive pre-surgery instructions to help prepare you for a smooth procedure.

Related Article: Addressing Common Patient Concerns about LASIK Surgery

LASIK Surgery Procedure

Average Duration: 10 to 15 minutes per eye

After your comprehensive eye exam and consultation, LASIK surgery will be quick. The procedure itself is completed within 30 minutes for both eyes. During this time, your surgeon will use advanced laser technology to reshape your cornea and correct your vision. The procedure is performed after a series of numbing eye drops to make it painless.

Immediate Post-op Monitoring

You can go home (or to our complimentary hotel) immediately after your LASIK surgery. We typically see patients the morning following their procedure for a quick post-operative exam. During this time, we will check your eyes to ensure the corneal flap is smooth, measure your vision, and provide post-operative care instructions. You’ll also receive protective eyewear and eye drops to aid in healing.

Follow-up appointments are crucial as they help your doctors monitor the progression of your vision and healing. If needed, your doctor will prescribe specific medications that will help with the healing process and additional adjustments to your vision.

At-home Recovery Period

Within 24 hours, you will notice a significant improvement in your vision as well as increased clarity in the following weeks and months after the procedure. However, complete healing can take up to one full-year as with any surgery on the human body.

During the first week or two, it is important to remember that some activities will be restricted to guarantee maximum healing and recovery. Your eye surgeon will provide specific care guidelines, but as a standard practice, you must follow your eye drop schedule religiously and avoid touching your eyes.

Patients are covered for any and all requested appointments related to the LASIK procedure for one full year after their surgery. At a minimum, it is recommended that patients schedule 6-month and 1-year follow-up appointments to be monitored and to get any concerns addressed.

Personal Health Considerations

Your health is the second factor you must consider when choosing the right time for your LASIK procedure. Understanding this consideration is essential, as some conditions may require your surgeon to advise a delay that will give you time to recover.

These health considerations and eye health conditions are what we look for and address during your initial consultation.

Eye Health

There are some eye conditions that may require delaying your LASIK surgery to ensure the best possible outcomes. Hence, your eye health is critical in determining the optimal timing for your procedure. Among the things you must look into are:

• Vision stability for at least a year. Your vision should be stable for at least a year before considering LASIK. A stable prescription means your eyes have remained consistent, which allows for accurate surgical corrections. While minor changes in your prescription are normal and don’t disqualify you from being a LASIK candidate, significant changes from year to year suggest that your eyes are still changing, indicating that your prescription is not stable enough for the procedure.
• Allow time to recover from eye infections or injuries. Active eye infections and injuries must resolve fully before undergoing LASIK surgery. These cause inflammation and irritation, interfering with the LASIK process.

If you acquire an eye infection before your LASIK procedure, you can reschedule your appointment to get ample time for recovery. After that, you can come back for a reevaluation to assess your suitability for LASIK surgery.

• Severe dry eye syndrome can pose a problem for LASIK surgery as it causes discomfort and prolongs recovery. Hence, treating it is paramount to ensure a smoother surgery and recovery process. However, most patients have some level of dryness and it is not typically an issue. Our doctors will examine dryness levels at the exam to let you know whether or not this will be an issue for your LASIK candidacy.

General Health

Apart from your eye health, we must also consider your overall health before your LASIK surgery. Certain conditions require you to wait a little bit before scheduling your procedure so you are in an optimal state for surgery and recovery.

These conditions can include diabetes, other chronic and autoimmune disorders, and pregnancy. If you want to get LASIK surgery, we ask you to get clearance from doctors overseeing your health concerning these conditions before you do.

Age and Life Stage Considerations

The last thing you need to consider when choosing the right time for LASIK is your age and the life events you’re going through. Here are the crucial factors to keep in mind:

Age Factors

Part of your LASIK assessment is meant to check for age, as we have to wait for your cornea to reach the right level of maturity before the procedure can be done. That’s usually when a person reaches the age of 18; after that, anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 may qualify for LASIK as long as their cornea is in a suitable condition for it.

Dr. Manger does not recommend LASIK eye surgery for patients 65 or older. This is because the lens inside the eye often begins to change with the onset of cataracts at this age. As a result, LASIK would not provide a long-term solution since vision will continue to fluctuate with cataract development. Instead, we advise patients 65 and older to see an ophthalmologist annually to monitor eye health and assess the need for cataract surgery.

Life Events

Finally, life events are a typical consideration when scheduling your LASIK surgery. For grand and minor life events, the critical thing to remember is that you can return to your normal activities within 24 hours after surgery.

That means you have minimal downtime and can even return to work the day after your procedure. However, you should avoid certain activities that cause rubbing, touching, or squeezing of the eyes within the first month after surgery.

If these activities are necessary, like if you’re an athlete getting LASIK, consult with your surgeon closely to get clearance for training or competing.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right time for your LASIK surgery involves considering several key factors, from your eye and general health to your age and significant life events. Ensuring your vision is stable and addressing any health conditions beforehand can significantly impact the success and recovery of your procedure. It’s also crucial to plan around your personal and professional schedules to allow for a smooth and convenient recovery period.

Remember, LASIK surgery is a safe and highly effective procedure with a high success rate, especially when performed by an experienced surgeon such as Dr. Charles Manger at Saddleback Eye Center. If you have any questions or need further guidance on timing your LASIK surgery, don’t hesitate to contact our team for a consultation. We are excited to help you achieve clear vision and an improved quality of life through LASIK!