WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR LASIK EVALUATION
If you wear contact lenses, you will be asked to stop wearing them one to three weeks before the evaluation. Failure to do this will produce less predictable results. A LASIK evaluation will typically last about one hour from the time you enter the exam room. Your entire medical history will be reviewed as well as your expectations for LASIK surgery.
You will be given eye drops that will dilate your pupils. These drops take about 15-20 minutes to work. They may make your eyes light sensitive and difficult to focus, especially up close, for several hours.
Your doctor will then thoroughly examine your eyes and make sure you are a candidate for LASIK. Here is what will happen:
Test Your Vision
This is to make sure that your vision has not changed. It also shows how high your refractive error is and whether LASIK can be used to correct your vision. Your doctor will then shine several lights into your eyes, using both an eye microscope and headset. These instruments allow for a thorough examination of the various parts that make up both the outside and inside of your eyes.
Check for Other Eye Problems
Your ophthalmologist will make sure that you do not have eye problems. This is because other problems could affect your surgery, or LASIK could make those other problems worse. For example, if you have dry eye, they may be worse after LASIK.
Measure and map the surface of your cornea
Your doctor will check the thickness of your cornea and make precise measurements of the cornea’s surface. Your eye surgeon uses these measurements to program the computer-based laser used during surgery.
Measure your pupil size
He or she will also measure the size of your pupils. If your pupils are very large, you could see halos (rings of light) at night after LASIK.
At the completion of your visit, your doctor will then review your results and determine if LASIK is right for you.
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