Precautions before and after surgery

Need to know

Precautions to vision correction procedures are just as important as the actual procedure. Having vision correction surgery done is joint responsibility by the clinic, the doctor and YOU, the patient. The way you take care of yourself before and after your correction greatly affect the efficacy and success of your procedure. We have divided the precautions up into 2 parts. Before and After.

Before

Certain precautions need to be taken before even getting your eyes tested.

1. Eye exam
   • Contact lenses – Patients should be sure to stop wearing their contacts at least 4 days before undergoing an eye examination. There are a few reasons to stop wearing contacts before surgery. Firstly, contacts cause a small amount of swelling on the cornea, this swelling might affect the accuracy of certain measurements. It is very important that the ophthalmologists get accurate readings of your eyes during the examination, in order to recommend the best treatment options. 
   • Driving after your eye examination is prohibited. This is because you will have blurred vision for a couple of hours. So, it is best to take public transport, or have a friend pick you up.
   • For those that are pregnant it is not advisable to undergo vision correction. The exams may interfere with a pregnant person’s hormones and so we recommend only coming in 3 months after giving birth. 
   • Always notify our staff of any medical conditions that you have or may have had in the past. IF there is any eye disease present, eye surgery will not be possible. 
2. Surgery
   • Many of the precautions that you should be aware of before an eye examination is also applicable to before surgery. 
   • Once again you should stop wearing contact lenses at least 4 days before the surgery (in some cases it can be up to a month).
   • No alcohol – It is important to feel good and come to the clinic in good condition.
   • Rest – Make sure you get a good night sleep the night before, as bad sleep can lead to itchy or irritable eyes.
   • Perfume and makeup – Do not wear perfume on the day of your procedure as the laser is actually sensitive to fragrance. 
   • If possible bring someone with you to the clinic who can escort you afterwards. You might feel dizzy and or disorientated as well as having blurry vision. 

After

Taking care of your eyes after the procedure is very important in order to ensure your eyes heal properly. Each surgery has a slightly different process when it comes to post-procedure care.

1. SMILE
   • Of course, there will be a natural tendency to rub your eyes after surgery, but it is very important to refrain from doing this! You do not want to irritate the eyes. 
   • When we focus on screens, we strain our eyes in order to concentrate. To ensure a speedy recovery, avoid all screens, TV, PC, Phone etc. on the day of surgery. 
   • Use the drops provided to you by the clinic and blink often to make sure the eye remains moist.
   • Another important thing to remember is to stay out of the sun. This means wearing sunglasses after your procedure and staying in doors as much as possible. 
   • The day after surgery you are free to engage in most normal activities, including; TV, reading, baths, makeup, face wash etc. 
   • W.r.t exercise you are free to resume light exercise after 1 week and strenuous or heavy exercise after 1 month. 
   • It is also safe to start smoking again or consume alcohol 2 weeks after the procedure.
2. LASIK
   • Post-operative care is almost the same for LASIK. But, 
   • With LASIK, face wash, soap, makeup and skin care routines should only be resumed 2 days after the procedure.
3. LASEK
   • Once again most post-operative care is very similar to SMILE and LASIK. But,
   • Face wash, soap, makeup and skin care routines should only resume 5 days after the procedure. 
4. PIOL
   • Lens implantation is slightly different to laser vision correction and therefore is slightly different when it comes to post-operative care. 
   • Use the drops provided to you by the clinic and blink often to make sure the eye remains moist.
   • Do not rub, or put pressure on, the eye for at least 2 weeks. Also remember to wear plastic eye shields when you sleep to prevent you from rubbing your eyes, Do this for at least 1 week. 
   • Do not shake your head vigorously as this may cause displacement of the lens, intraocular bleeding or retinal detachment. 
   • Do not bend over too far or pick up heavy objects as this causes undue pressure on the eyes. So, in short, avoid that eye-popping feeling. 
   • Face wash, soap, makeup and skin care routines should only resume 3 days after the procedure. 
   • W.r.t exercise you are free to resume light exercise after 1 week and strenuous or heavy exercise after 1 month. 
   • It is also safe to start smoking again or consume alcohol 2 weeks after the procedure