I have been getting a lot of questions about laser eye surgery lately, because everyone is so tired of their glasses fogging up and contact lenses drying out while wearing a mask.  So here is what you can expect before, during, and after laser eye surgery.

Before Surgery

You should visit your optometrist to get an updated prescription and eye health exam. Your optometrist can then refer you to a consultation at a laser eye center. During this consultation, the surgery team will examine your eyes further to determine whether you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery. They will discuss with you the different laser options available, and which one suits you best.

It is recommended that you stop wearing your contact lens for 2- 4 weeks before the consultation.

If you decide to have laser eye surgery, the surgery team will book an appointment for you. Avoid wearing makeup, cream and lotion the day before surgery, and arrange for after surgery transportation.

During Surgery

The surgery takes less than 30 mins. Your vision will dim during the surgery, and you will be awake. You won’t feel anything, except a little bit of pressure on the eyes. After the surgery is complete, a shield will be place over your eyes to prevent you from rubbing your eyes or putting pressure on your eyes when you sleep.

After Surgery

Immediately after surgery, your eyes may tear, and feel burning and itching. You may also feel a foreign body sensation in your eyes. Your vision may not be that clear, and your eyes will look a bit red. This is completely normal. You will be prescribed some eye drops to use to decrease infection and inflammation.

General recommendation is no makeup, no sports and no swimming for at least 2-4 weeks after surgery.

It may take up to 3 to 6 months for your vision to stabilize. In the meantime, you need to have follow up visits with your optometrist at post surgery 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year.

Laser eye surgery is a great options for people who wants to be completely independent of glasses and contact lenses. However, this procedure may not be suitable to some. Have a talk with your optometrist to see if you would be a good candidate for laser eye surgery.