SBK, LASIK, FS-LASIK, RELEX SMILE Surgery Day Instructions

Day of Surgery:

Report to the refractive laser center one hour prior to your schedule.

Things you will need to bring with you on the day of surgery:

1. Have a driver, other than yourself, as you will not be able to drive home following your surgery.
2. We do provide a free pair of goggles in your post operative kit but you can switch to wearing your tinted sunglasses if you are out during the day.
3. You should receive a “Consent Form for Surgery” on your surgery day. This must be signed and turned in before you proceed to the preparation room. Without this document, your surgery will be rescheduled.
4. If you are having surgery on one eye only, you can bring your contact lens or spectacles for the non-operative eye. If you bring your spectacles, you can remove the lens of the operative eye.

Other important information:

1. You need to pick up your post-operative medications at the refractive laser center reception area on your scheduled day of surgery.
2. Be prepared to be with us from two to four hours on the day of surgery. Usually, it will not be this long, but sometimes there may be delays. Your driver can drop you off and be contacted when you are ready for discharge or they can wait for you in our clinic waiting area. We cannot accommodate family members or friends in our surgical suites at this time.
3. If you want to eat or drink prior to surgery, there is a cafeteria near the refractive laser center.
4. On the day of your surgery please DO NOT WEAR facial piercings, necklaces, make up (especially around the eyes), facial lotions or cream, perfume, cologne or aftershave.
5. Prior to your date of surgery DO NOT WEAR:
   • Soft or Toric lens: 5 days prior to pre-op evaluation and day of surgery.
   • Gas Permeable or Hard lens: 10 days prior to pre-op evaluation and 1 month prior to day of surgery.
6. Bring something warm to wear because the temperature in the laser suite can be cold.
7. If you become ill, call our center prior to your surgery as you may need to be rescheduled.

What to expect:

1. Your paperwork will be reviewed while you are waiting. Any corrections or additions that are needed will be made.
2. Your identification will be confirmed at several stages along the process and we will ask if you have any allergies to any medications.
3. Our team will prepare you with several eye drops and sterile eye solution before you go to the laser suite. If the surgeon determines you have enough astigmatism, you may also have “markings” done on the surface of your eye(s).
4. When you are brought into the laser suite, you will sit on a “dentist-like” chair and have the non-operative eye patched (this is for the protection of that eye).
5. The surgeon and surgical team will also be clothed in protective wear (mask, hair cap, scrub suit, shoe cover).
6. For your comfort and to reduce any unnecessary head movement, a special pillow will be placed under your head.
7. The head of the chair will be lowered into position.
8. You will see a round ring and a flashing red light in the center. Focus on the flashing red light during surgery.
9. A lid speculum will be placed into the operative eye to prevent the eye from blinking.
10. A suction ring will be placed on the eye. Once it is centered, the surgeon will call for suction to be applied. The suction holds the eye still while the mikrokeratome creates a flap on the surface of the cornea. When the suction is on, it will be difficult for you to see, things may turn gray or dark. This is a temporary effect from the suction and is normal. Your vision will return when the suction is released. The suction device may be a bit uncomfortable, but will only last for a few minutes. No pain will be felt, the surgical team will instill anesthetics on your eye.
11. After the flap is created, suction will be turned off and the ring removed. This flap of tissue (Lasik flap) will be gently folded back so that your surgeon can apply the excimer laser.
12. You will be asked to focus on the flashing red light and the procedure will begin. The flashing red light may get a little blurry during the procedure, which only lasts a few seconds to minutes depending on your prescription. The procedure is painless. The excimer laser will apply a cool beam of light which gently reshapes the cornea.
13. You will hear a pulsating sound next to your right ear. This is just the sound of the laser at work. You may also smell a burning odor during your procedure. This is the tissue being removed from your cornea. A couple of eye drops (an anti-inflammatory, an antibiotic and a re-wetting drop) will be instilled into your eye following your procedure. For some patients, a bandage contact lens will be applied for temporary use only. Our staff at your follow-up visit will remove this lens.
14. Please note that your vision may be blurry immediately after the procedure, but will improve in time.
15. All patients will have a post operative exam performed prior to being released. As soon as you get home, you should begin taking your medications as directed and take a nap for 4 to 6 hours to allow the healing process to begin.

If you have any questions prior to your procedure please make sure you have them answered at your patient teaching session with the staff nurse or at the consent process with your surgeon.