One question that most prospective laser eye surgery
patients want to ask is whether there are any particular things that they need
to do to prepare themselves for the surgery. This type of issue will have been
covered comprehensively by the clinic in the initial consultations and probably
also in the preoperative paperwork that the patient is provided with.
However,
we thought that it would be useful to provide a short aide memoir covering some
of the fairly straightforward things that should be done to make sure that the
patient is fully prepared for the laser eye operation that they are about to
undergo.
1. What
the patient needs to ensure, on the morning of the operation, is that the face
is clean and free of any soap, perfume or other type of cosmetic that might get
into the eye. Obviously, eye mascaras and eye shadow should be cleaned
thoroughly so that there is no trace of them left around the eye. In fact,. It
is preferable if the eyes are washed in only clean non-soapy water for two or
three days before the surgery to make sure that the risk of there being some
remaining traces of eye make up or detergents is kept to a minimum.
2. Patients
should also bear in mind that dryness of the eyes is not helpful when undergoing laser eye surgery.
They should steer clear of any activities that cause dryness, such as prolonged
exposure to the wind or sun, or working in a dusty environment. Some people
find that their eyes react to the presence of chlorine ion swimming pools. This
should also be avoided, to ensure that the eyes are not sensitive prior top the
laser eye surgery.
3. The
smoking of cigarettes and alcohol consumption, both of which can be dehydrating
to the eyes, should also be avoided or, at least, kept to a bare minimum on the
few days before the surgery. It is also sensible to continue with this for a
few days after the surgery to assist in the recovery process.
4. When
planning what to wear on the day of the operation, the patient should find
something that does not have loose fibres, which might get into the eye. Fibres
such as mohair, for instance, should certainly be avoided in preference for
cotton or linen items.
5. The
patient should also attempt to stay calm before the surgery. It is one of the
safest forms of surgery and it is not necessary to become stressed about it
beforehand.
6. Finally,
the patient should plan for the trip home for the clinic. Driving will not be
possible immediately afterwards, so the patient should be accompanied by a
friend or family member or arrangements made for some other form of
transportation home.
None of these safety measures in advance of laser eye surgery are difficult to adhere to and if the patient manages to do so, it is
likely that the surgery will go ahead smoothly with the minimum of fuss and the
maximum effectiveness in vision improvement.
