QUESTIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND MORE
How should you dress for the day of the procedure? R /. You must present yourself in informal and comfortable clothing.
Should I be accompanied the day of the procedure? R /. Yes. Must present with a companion the day of the procedure.
Can I have an ordinary breakfast that day? R /. Depending on the process your Ophthalmologist will tell you whether or not you can do it.
Can I wear perfume / cologne that day? R /. No, please do not apply any lotion.
Should I go fasting the day of the procedure? R /. Preferably Yes. Consult your Doctor to confirm it.
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Can I wear my jewelry? R /. No, please do not do it because you will have to remove them before you enter the rooms.
Is it okay if I leave the polish or shine? R /. No. We ask you to remove any enamel you have on your feet and / or hands.
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Can I go makeup (or)? R /. Do not apply any type of makeup on your face.
Am I a candidate for Laser procedure? R /. If you are not happy with your glasses or contact lenses and are motivated to make a change and not depend on them, of course you are a candidate.
What is LASIK - Laser Surgery? R /. It is the most effective and safe procedure for the correction of astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia and presbyopia under 6 diopters. It is the most commonly used procedure since 90% of patients have astigmatism less than 6 diopters. It modifies the power of the cornea, which is the main lens of the eye. The cornea has three main layers: epithelium, stroma and endothelium. LASIK modifies the curvature of the stroma to reshape the cornea.
How safe is LASIK? R /. In the Naranjo Uribe Institute this procedure is extremely safe since we fulfill the following requirements:
Astigmatism less than 6 diopters and stable for at least one year (astigmatism usually stabilizes around 18 years of age).
Absence of Glaucoma, Keratoconus and other eye diseases (which the ophthalmologist should rule out before surgery).
Corneal thickness adequate (this measurement must always be carried out prior to surgery using pachymetry).
Surgery is not recommended for pregnant women.
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What should I do before the surgery? R /. Prior to surgery, your ophthalmologist must perform a complete examination of your eyes to ensure that you do not suffer from any disease or condition that prevents the procedure or worsens the prognosis. It is vital to perform a computerized corneal topography and a pachymetry. These two tests allow the specialist to know the shape and thickness of your cornea to plan surgery and rule out some diseases not detectable in the initial examination. It is highly recommended to perform an examination under pupillary dilation to verify the degree of astigmatism and ensure that there are no diseases of the retina. In some cases, it is necessary to improve the capacity for accommodation through pre-surgery approach exercises. No special preparation is needed by the patient.
What should be done during the surgery? R /. During the procedure you will be lying on a stretcher specially designed for the equipment in which the procedure is performed. A small device will hold your eyelids so they do not interfere with the laser and so you do not have to worry about blinking. When performing the cut with the microkeratome you will feel a slight pressure. Since the device must pass right in front of your eye, you will stop seeing for a few seconds. When you finish the cut you will see blur. At that time your ophthalmologist will ask you to look at an intermittent light within the laser equipment. This is the time when you can really help with your surgery: The prognosis and results are much better if you keep your head absolutely still and your gaze on the intermittent light while the laser carves your cornea. Finally the surgeon will place the superficial layer of the cornea in its place and will indicate that the procedure has finished. At some points during the procedure you will feel cold water on your eye that can sometimes run down your cheek. It is merely the solution used to keep your eye hydrated and to wash away any particles that may interfere with the results.
Is the procedure painful? How long it takes? R /. No. LASIK is performed with topical anesthesia (drops of anesthetic) and does not require anesthesia injections or general anesthesia. The patient is awake during the procedure but with their anesthetized eyes. This means that he does not feel anything in his eyes: There is no discomfort or pain. The procedure lasts approximately 5 minutes for each eye.
What should be done after the surgery? R /. It is important not to touch the eye the first day and not put pressure on it for 5 days (especially not rubbing). It is normal that there is a slight discomfort in the eyes on the same day of surgery (similar to having a tab inside the eye). In general it is not necessary to occlude the eyes, so that the patient leaves walking by his own means of the surgery room although the vision will be blurred during the first 2 or 3 days, due to the minimum inflammation that occurs. Fifteen days after the procedure, any activity can be performed as if it had never been operated. With LASIK there is no risk that existed with other procedures where the cornea lost stability and therefore a blow to the eye became a high risk situation. The structure of the cornea is maintained and therefore the eye has the same characteristics of an eye that has not been operated.
What results can I expect? R /. The result of the surgery depends mainly on the vision with glasses or contact lenses that you have before the surgery. In general, it can be expected that vision without glasses after surgery is similar to the vision you had with glasses or contact lenses prior to the procedure. 90% of people who operate LASIK get a better vision of 20/40 and more than half of the total get a perfect 20/20 vision. This vision is usually achieved 7 days after surgery.
