What To Expect On the Day of Your LASIK Procedure

Phase 01

Before your LASIK surgery

Two things matter most in the weeks leading up: your contacts and your ride home.

Ask your doctor when to stop wearing contacts

Certain contact lenses can distort the shape of your cornea, leading to incorrect measurements that affect your outcome. Plan to switch to glasses beforehand.

Hard contacts

Stop wearing them four to eight weeks prior. This varies by patient, so consult your surgeon.

Soft contacts

Only one day prior, provided your Pentacam/Orbscan is normal.

Arrange for a ride home

Enlist a friend or family member to pick you up. After the procedure your vision may be blurry, and you may still feel the effects of the medication used during LASIK.

Phase 02

The day of your LASIK procedure

The procedure itself takes minutes. These four habits keep the day easy.

Skip eye makeup

No eye makeup or eye creams the night before or day of, and skip perfume or cologne too.

Wear non-shedding clothes

Comfortable is good, but avoid fabrics that shed, loose fibers, or animal hair (real or faux).

Eat and drink as usual

No fasting needed. Just avoid alcohol and any medication that may cause drowsiness.

Arrive with time to spare

The surgery takes minutes, but leave plenty of time for intake and paperwork at your designated arrival time.

Phase 03

After your LASIK surgery

Congratulations, the hard part is done. A few simple recovery steps help your eyes perform their best.

Learn about 1 day after LASIK

Rest your eyes for 2–4 hours. Have a friend drive you home, wear your sunglasses, and take a nap with your clear plastic shields on. Mild sensitivity for a few hours is normal.

Start your prescribed drops. After removing the shields, use them as directed for healing, comfort, and lubrication, plus preservative-free artificial tears for dryness, and take any other prescribed medicine as directed.

Don’t rub, squeeze, or touch your eyes. The surface is still sensitive. Wear the shields while sleeping, and sunglasses if you’re light-sensitive.

Take it easy for 24 hours. Skip reading, computer work, TV, and strenuous activity. No showers the first day, and keep soap and water out of your eyes for several days.

Follow these simple guidelines and you’ll be well prepared for your laser vision correction.

Remember to contact your LASIK provider with any questions or concerns leading up to your surgery.

Prepared today, clear tomorrow.