Consultation with the surgeon : Laser Eye Surgery
Before committing to laser eye surgery, you will have a consultation with your chosen surgeon in order to ask all your pressing questions and to exchange the required information with the specialist. During the consultation, they will explain the procedure to you and be open about all aspects of the process. It is also necessary to perform some tests; the specifics of these and the consultation are detailed below.
Questions for you and your surgeon
The consultation is very much a two way street in which both you and your surgeon need to be straightforward and honest to get the most out of the meeting. The surgeon will interview you with questions pertaining to your general health and lifestyle, the history of your visual impairment, your desires and expectations. This allows them to determine how suitable your health and eye condition is for laser surgery, and also to ascertain the appropriate type of operation to meet your needs.
It is important to ask your questions as well. From safety, risks and post operative care to likely results, details of the surgery and more, be sure to gain all the information you need to make an informed choice. If you have any concerns, now is the time to bring them up. You should feel comfortable with the surgeon and not pressured into making a decision.
Health questionnaire
Most clinics will require you to fill in a questionnaire about your general health. This ensures that everything is stored on paper and can be easily checked and confirmed, and also that nothing is missed or overlooked as might be during a face to face chat.
Contact lenses
Wearing contact lenses can temporarily alter the corneal curvature. As the specialist needs to accurately examine your eyes and the extent of visual impairment, wearers of contact lenses will be required to refrain from wearing your lenses for approximately a week before the consultation and eye test, including on the day of examination. Certain types of ‘hard’ lenses need to be discontinued for around a month before the test. Prior removal of lenses is standard practice when going for an eye test, and is heightened here due to the need for minutely precise measurements.
Eye Test
After the surgeon determines your suitability, an optometrist will carry out a detailed eye test for the most up to date results possible. They take accurate measurements of the eye using a microscope and precisely assess your eye prescription. They also identify any ocular conditions. Digital photographs of the eye are usually taken for analysis after the surgery.
You should seek to make responsible travel arrangements for this appointment, as the eye drops used in part of the test dilate the pupils and can blur your vision for almost a day in some cases. Wearing sunglasses after the test has ended can help to allay any discomfort.
Other tests
Other necessary tests frequently include pupillometry, wavefront analysis, and examining the corneal thickness. These may be carried out concurrently with your eye examination.
At the conclusion of all the relevant tests, the surgeon can make informed recommendations on the best type of procedure, and you are able to choose whether you wish to proceed with laser eye surgery.