What to Expect
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QualSight wants you to be informed and prepared for what to expect from the night before your treatment to the days afterward when you’re enjoying the great benefits of your laser vision correction. It is an exciting path you have chosen, and we would like to guide you through every step of the way. Please note that this information should not substitute in any way the instructions you receive from your surgeon and is based on what to expect for traditional LASIK. The Day Before Surgery
Day of the Procedure Pre-Treatment –You’ll be led into the room with the laser equipment and seated while the engineer calibrates the laser. This will orient you to the sound the laser makes. Once you’re ready for the treatment, your doctor or a technician will give you numbing drops for your eyes. A patch will be placed over one eye, and an eyelid holder will be inserted around your eyelids on the other eye, the first to be treated. The eyelid holder keeps you from blinking and is painless. Microkeratome Stage – The first key step in the LASIK procedure is to create a corneal flap. A vacuum ring is placed on your eye to keep it motionless. You will hear the equipment move as the flap is made. Expect your vision to dim or darken completely at this point. Once the flap is created, the microkeratome is removed and your vision will return. Your surgeon then lifts the flip, exposing the cornea’s middle tissue for treatment. Overall, this stage takes only ten seconds. Laser Stage – The surgeon will ask you to stare at a red light in the laser machine. It is activated by a foot pedal, and if for any reason you turn away, the laser will be stopped immediately. Based on your pre-operative evaluation, your surgeon will have calibrated the laser to your specific measurements and needs prior to the procedure. As you stare into the light, the laser will be applied painlessly to your cornea for 10-45 seconds. Once finished, the surgeon repositions your corneal flap and rinses your eye with liquid. In roughly a minute, the flap will have naturally reattached to your eye’s surface. During this process, the surgeon and technician will remove the eyelid holder. The surgeon will then ask you to blink several times. He will examine the eye and then place a patch over it. You’re halfway there. The surgeon will repeat these procedures for your other eye. Hours After Treatment It is likely that your vision will not be totally clear for the first several hours. Patients commonly feel a strange sensation in their eyes directly after surgery, as if they have an eyelash within them. Have a family member or friend bring you home directly after the surgery. Shield your eyes with sunglasses. Most patients feel some light sensitivity, mild dryness, and fluctuating vision in the first few days. This is common. If you experience some mild pain, you’re free to take medication like Tylenol or Advil. Try to take at least a two hour nap, using the eye shields provided by your doctor to prevent unconscious rubbing of the eyes. Reapply the eye shields at bedtime. Apply the antibiotic drops as directed by your surgeon. Also use preservative-free lubricating drops for dryness Be vigilant. Do not rub or touch your eyes. Avoid soap and water on your face. Please rest and get a good night’s sleep. We recommend no staring at the computer, reading, or watching television for twenty four hours. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any unexpected symptoms. Days and Months After Treatment Most patients notice a dramatic change in their vision the first morning after your surgery. Savor the moment. Visit your surgeon for your follow-up examine. You’ll likely be able to see 20/40 or better already and feel comfortable enough to drive that day. Afterward the exam, you’ll schedule several more post LASIK visits at your doctor’s office to make sure your eyes are healing properly. Also, your QualSight Care Manager will call to see how you’re doing and to confirm you paid the price QualSight confirmed with you prior to the procedure. Continue to use your doctor-prescribed eye drops as directed. For the first week, maintain special care of your eyes: wear the eye shield at night; avoiding rubbing the eyes or getting soap near them or any lotions/makeup. Try to restrict yourself from any very physical activities, but you can now read, work at your computer, or see a movie. It is not uncommon for your vision to continue to fluctuate during the first weeks following the treatment. Your vision in the evening may not be as sharp as during the day, and you may still experience some light sensitivity. This is normal, as is some minor discomfort which will improve each day. Again, call your doctor or QualSight Care Manager if you suffer any significant pain or change in vision. For preventative measure, avoid swimming, hot tubs, and saunas for two weeks after surgery. Please maintain only mild physical exercise during this period as well. In terms of strenuous activity, restrict yourself from any racquet sports, mountain climbing, or scuba diving for at least one month after your procedure. After 3-6 months, your eyes will most likely have healed completely and your vision stabilized. Please continue to attend your post LASIK visits with your surgeon. Now enjoy your newfound freedom, and if you’ve appreciated your QualSight service, please tell your colleagues. We want everyone to discover a world without glasses or contact lenses. |
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