What Happens on the Day You Come to the Clinic?
The day of surgery
It is natural to feel nervous, anxious or excited prior to your surgical procedure. Again, this is a completely natural and normal response.
Do not to wear perfume or cologne on the day of your surgery. Also, please do not use any hair products that contain alcohol such as hair spray or mousse.
Please remember to pre-arrange alternate transportation for after your surgery, because your eyes will be irritated and sensitive to light. This usually dissipates within 24 hours after surgery.
It is important that you remove all facial makeup (lipstick, facial creams, eye makeup etc.) a minimum of 3 days prior to surgery. For your own safety, surgery will be cancelled if makeup is present.
We also recommend avoiding alcohol 24 hours prior to and 48 hours after your surgery, as this tends to dehydrate the tissues. Wear comfortable clothing on your surgery day, and avoid clothing such as wool that may generate lint in the surgical suite.
In consideration of others, and to ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible, please do not bring young children/infants with you to the clinic.
When you arrive on the day of your surgery, expect to be at the clinic for a duration of two hours. You will be asked to fill out a patient consent form. Once the forms are completed you will then meet with one of our surgical counselors who will go over the drops procedure and what you can and can't do after surgery.
You will be required to return to our clinic within 24 hours after your surgery for your first (mandatory) post-operative appointment. Your appointment time will be given to you immediately after your surgery.
Surgery
After applying anesthetic eyedrops to numb the eye, the ophthalmologist uses a special, automated instrument called a microkeratome to fashion a micro-thin, hinged flap in the top layer of the cornea. This flap is then gently retracted and the excimer laser which has been computer programmed especially for your amount of refractive error, vaporizes the underlying cornea to the desired degree of curvature. The flap is carefully replaced and the eye's natural suction enables it to adhere without the need for stitches. The entire procedure takes less than 15 minutes for both eyes and is remarkably pain-free.
As a patient, all that is required of you is to lie down beneath the microscope arm of the laser and look at a red fixation light for a minute or two. A spring-like device called a lid speculum will be positioned in your eye to keep your eyelids open during the procedure. If you happen to move your eyes for a second, the laser will stop so that no irregular reshaping of your cornea takes place. A mild sedative can be given preoperatively if you are especially anxious or nervous. Visual recovery is relatively quick with most patients seeing fairly well the very next day without eyeglasses. Some patients, however, may take up to 5 or 6 days to achieve their best vision
For more detailed information, click here to request an information package or you may also click here to download further information that you may find useful.
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CK surgery at www.CK-treatment.com |
