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Home Patient Knowledge Preparing for Your Eye Surgery: A Patient-Friendly Checklist
3May

Preparing for Your Eye Surgery: A Patient-Friendly Checklist

by Alex

Preparing for eye surgery can be overwhelming, but following a simple pre-surgery checklist can help ease your anxiety and ensure a smooth experience. We’ve provided a patient-friendly checklist to help you get ready for your eye surgery.

The week before your LASIK Surgery / Laser Vision Correction Surgery:

  1. Don’t wear contact lenses.
  2. Buy PLENTY of artificial tears if your surgeon recommended them. Past patients swear by them.
  3. Buy an extra box of tissues.
  4. Buy non-prescription polarized sunglasses if you don’t have any.
  5. Buy over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol if you don’t have any at home.
  6. Line up a reliable ride to and from your surgery. You WON’T be driving yourself home and shouldn’t depend on public transportation. Ideally, you’ll be chilling out in the passenger seat of a car with your eyes closed until someone’s soothing voice announces, “hey, you’re home, get out of my car.”
  7. Inform your boss and coworkers that of the date of your surgery. Take time off. Depending on the type of surgery you get – ASA, PRK, or LASIK – you will need to take a few days off work – especially if you work on a computer screen.
  8. If you’re unsure about what to expect from your eyes after surgery, ask your surgeon. Then make plans now for post-op meals and activities so your eyes and body can get ample rest after your surgery.
  9. Shop for all the groceries you’ll need for the week after your surgery.
  10. Consider purchasing a cool humidifier.
  11. Take what you’ve learned about the actual surgery and try your hardest to imagine yourself going through it, minute-by-minute. One patient said, “The most nerve-wracking thing for me was not knowing what to expect. Even though I had talked to many friends about LASIK, there was still nothing like experiencing it yourself.”

The day before your LASIK surgery

  1. Do laundry and prepare post-op meals and comfort snacks so you can relax after your surgery.
  2. Remind your driver of your surgery and confirm they’re ready to be your chauffeur.
  3. Remind your boss of your surgery.
  4. Download a few podcasts and/or audiobooks.
  5. Abstain from drinking alcohol or smoking. Tomorrow is not the day to be dehydrated or jittery if you can help it.
  6. Try to get seven or eight hours of sleep.

The day of your LASIK surgery

  1. Don’t apply any makeup.
  2. Dress comfortably so you aren’t distracted by clothing that’s too tight, or that makes you too warm or cold.
  3. Eat a good meal so you’re not hungry after surgery when you should be resting.
  4. Important: remember to bring any prescribed pain relief medication to the doctor’s office.

Just before your LASIK surgery

  1. Drink a glass of water. 
  2. Ask your surgeon what you might see and smell during the surgery so you won’t be concerned when it happens.

Following this patient-friendly pre-surgery checklist will help ensure you are well-prepared for your eye surgery. Remember to consult with your doctor for any additional instructions or guidance, as they can provide personalized advice tailored to your specific needs.