Getting LASIK surgery can be a life-changing experience. It’s one of the most popular elective surgeries in the world, and for a good reason.
Over ninety-six percent of those who have had LASIK are happy with their results. With LASIK, you can have total visual freedom, significantly reducing your dependency on pesky glasses and contact lenses.
But any surgery, no matter how minor, can be a little scary. LASIK is an outpatient procedure that only takes a matter of minutes, but some patients understandably have some anxiety about the procedure.
One great way to minimize this anxiety is to take a few steps to prepare yourself for LASIK surgery so you know what to expect and have everything ready to go when it’s time for your LASIK procedure. Keep reading to learn five of the best ways to prepare for LASIK!
1. Talk to Your Surgeon
When you get your LASIK consultation, talk to your LASIK surgeon extensively. Once you’re evaluated for LASIK surgery, and they determine you’re a good candidate, you can schedule your procedure.
This is a great time to learn more about LASIK surgery and express any concerns you may have. Your LASIK surgeon can tell you exactly what the surgery will be like and what to expect during recovery.
LASIK is a very low-risk procedure, but no surgery is without risk.
The vast majority of patients end up with incredible vision, but you should know that there is no guarantee that your vision will be perfect after getting LASIK.
Be sure to discuss these risks with your LASIK surgeon so you can make an informed decision about whether or not to have the procedure. It’s important that you know exactly what you’re getting into and that you have healthy expectations about LASIK surgery.
2. Arrange a Ride To and From LASIK Surgery
Once you’ve decided to have LASIK surgery and set the date with your LASIK surgeon, you should ensure you have someone who can drive you. It’s best to have a family member or friend drive you so they can drive you there, wait while you’re having LASIK, and then drive you home.
This is very important because you will not be able to drive yourself home after the procedure. You may also need them to drive you to your follow-up appointment the next day.
Your LASIK surgeon will let you know when it is safe to begin driving again.
3. Prepare Some Food
Recovery from LASIK surgery is pretty easy, and you shouldn’t experience much discomfort past the first day or two. However, for those first couple of days, you need to rest your eyes.
For this reason, it may be challenging to cook for yourself. You can prepare some easy meals to have when you get home from surgery, or you can stock up on frozen dinners.
Having a meal plan in mind before you go into your LASIK surgery will allow you to have more time to relax and recover after your procedure. This way, you won’t have to worry about what you’re going to do for food during those first couple of days of recovery.
4. Download Some Audio Entertainment
After LASIK surgery, your LASIK surgeon will likely tell you that you need to rest your eyes as much as possible for at least twenty-four hours. You can and should spend a good portion of this time sleeping, but you may get bored when you aren’t sleeping.
The best way to combat this boredom is to make sure you have plenty of audio entertainment ready to go when you get home. Download a few episodes of your favorite podcast or maybe the audio version of a book you’ve always meant to get around to reading.
Another idea is to put together a long playlist so you can jam out while you’re relaxing and resting your eyes. Just make sure you have something to do that still allows you to rest and not use your eyes.
5. Relax
It can be hard to relax before LASIK surgery but remind yourself that LASIK is a quick and often comfortable procedure. Just make sure you’re all prepared for when you get home and get a good night’s rest the day before surgery.
f you’re struggling with anxiety, you can also practice some relaxation techniques before surgery, like medication and deep breathing. There are a lot of apps on your phone that can teach you and walk you through these techniques.
Making sure you’re relaxed and ready to go is the best way to make sure your LASIK surgery and recovery goes as smoothly as possible! And if you’re still on the fence about LASIK surgery, schedule your commitment-free LASIK consultation at Sugiki Portis Eye Center.
Our specialists can evaluate you and help you decide if LASIK is right for you!
Are you interested in learning more about LASIK or determining whether or not you are a good candidate for the procedure? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Sugiki Portis Eye Center in Honolulu, HI, today!
