What to do the day of Laser Eye Surgery at Arena Eye Surgeons in Columbus, Ohio.

Before Laser Eye Surgery

Before your Lasik eye surgery date, there aren’t any restrictions on the foods you can eat, what you can drink, or the medications you are taking. However, please let the doctor know any prescription medications you are on.  You will be asked to sign paperwork which will include consent forms.  You will also discuss payment of the procedure since Lasik is usually not covered by insurance plans.

Factors to Remember:

•Wear comfortable clothing
•Eat before arrival
•Remove all makeup and refrain from applying cologne, after-shave or perfume, as this may interfere with the lasers
•Remove your contacts prior to Lasik surgery: our surgeons will provide the preferred timeline, usually one week prior to surgery for soft and four to six weeks prior to surgery for hard or gas permeable
•Arrange transportation home from the center as you are not permitted to drive yourself
•You will be instructed to go home and take a two or three hour nap

When you Arrive at the Surgery Center

You will be greeted by staff and taken to a waiting area where you will be prepared for the procedure. Your surgeon will meet with you before the surgery and anesthetic eye drops will be placed in your eyes every few minutes before the procedure begins.

Inside the Laser Room

Laser vision correction will be performed in just a few steps and generally takes about 10-15 minutes. The laser used is first calibrated and then programmed with your specific prescription. It takes a couple of minutes to position you properly underneath the laser microscope. An eye holder is used to prevent you from blinking.

You will be asked to look towards a flashing green or red light while your surgeon monitors your eye with a microscope. You’ll hear a clicking or snapping sound come from the laser. This is normal.

The surgeon will examine your eyes immediately following the laser treatment.
After the Laser Eye Surgery

You’ll be taken to a post-op room after surgery and one of our staff members will give you  a kit that will contain eye shields, medicated drops, and artificial tears, as well as instructions on how to use them all.

Now go home and take that nap!

What to Expect

Your vision will still be somewhat blurry after the procedure. The day after the procedure is done is when most people start to see an improvement in their vision. You may experience a small amount of discomfort after leaving the office and before going to sleep, which is very common. It may feel like something is in your eye and you may have more tearing than normal. You may experience sensitivity to light and your eyes may burn while they are open. You may be instructed to use eye drops to keep your eyes moist.  This is again very normal.

Eyes usually take around three to four months to stabilize and your vision can also fluctuate for the first couple of months. Driving at night may also be difficult because of the glare and blur. Avoid driving at night if this occurs. It will usually resolve itself within a two to fourth month span. If for some reason it does not, please consult with our team at Arena Eye Surgeons.