877-891-2020The Helpful Walkthrough Guide to Your LASIK Procedure
Want to know about the actual LASIK (Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) procedure? What does that day look like?
We’ve put together a detailed walkthrough that covers everything you need to know about your upcoming surgery.
Haven’t Booked Your LASIK Procedure Yet?
Thinking about getting LASIK but haven’t taken the plunge? The Wichita, Kansas eye doctors of Grene Laser are here for you. Book a consultation with one of our refractive surgery specialists to find out if you’re a good candidate for LASIK. Schedule an appointment online, or give our office a call at 877.891.2020.
Meet Your LASIK Eye Doctors
Mark Wellemeyer, MD
Dr. Wellemeyer is our head surgeon at Grene Laser. He has performed more 10,000 LASIK surgeries since 1996. Combining his experience with the latest in refractive surgery technology, Dr. Wellemeyer can create and execute surgery plans fitted to your unique vision needs with stunning accuracy.
Martin de la Presa, MD
Dr. de la Presa is a board-certified ophthalmologist with a fellowship in Cornea and External Disease. He provides LASIK and PRK procedures here at Grene Laser. He also specializes in ocular surface and corneal disease diagnosis and management at Grene Vision Group.
Cassidy Kesler, OD
Dr. Kesler has been practicing at Grene Laser and Grene Vision Group since 2017. Dr. Kesler sees patients for their consultation prior to surgery and also for all of their post-op care following surgery.
Getting Prepped for Your LASIK Procedure
Make sure to arrive to the office on the day of your LASIK procedure a little early. The actual surgery suite must be kept cool to protect the surgery equipment, so if you get cold easily, dress accordingly. If you wear contact lenses, make sure you’ve taken them out before we begin to prepare you for surgery.
Many people are surprised by how little time their LASIK procedure takes. On the day of your scheduled surgery, you’ll be in our office for about an hour, but the actual LASIK procedure only takes about 15 minutes. Once we’ve officially checked you in, you’ll be given medicine to help with any anxiety you may experience. This is standard; even the most resolute patients have a little anxiety about the pending procedure. Next, we’ll place numbing drops into your eyes before using a pachymeter—a small handheld device that resembles an electronic baby thermometer—to measure the thickness of your cornea once more before the surgery. Each eye receives five separate measurements from the pachymeter, issuing a beep with each one.
Once the corneal measurements are taken, our patient coordinator and doctor’s assistant, will come into the room to go over medications, side effects, and post-operation instructions with you and your driver. (You won’t be able to drive for a day or so after your procedure, so make sure you arrange for someone to drive you home). At this time, we will have completed all preparatory steps and you’ll be allowed to relax in a recliner. Our patient coordinator will return to lead you into one of our exam rooms. Dr. Wellemeyer will examine your eyes and address any additional questions you have before the procedure begins.
Getting Comfortable Before Surgery
Once you’re ready, we will walk you across the hall, into the laser suite. You might notice the dimness of the lights. This allows the laser to track better and helps to create a relaxing environment. For those having procedures done to both eyes, you’ll be happy to know we perform the procedure one eye at a time. This means your other eye will be covered.
The LASIK Procedure
Prior to starting the procedure, drops will be put in your eyes to remove the sensation of pain while allowing you to continue to feel temperature and pressure. Depending on whether you’re having LASIK or PRK (our clinic performs both), your procedure will vary at this point.
Once we’ve completed the procedure on your right eye, we’ll repeat the same process on the left. Upon completion, your vision will be somewhat fuzzy—around 20/60. This is normal. The bed will rotate down and our laser technician will walk around the laser to help you sit up and stand. You’ll probably feel a little woozy. Our staff will escort you back across the hall to the exam room where the doctor will look at your eyes using a slit lamp. This ensures that the thin flap created during surgery is smooth and in the right place.
Lastly, as you wrap up, you’ll talk to our patient coordinator in the consult room. Here you will be given some final instructions for care and meet up with your driver. We’ll tape clear plastic shields over your eyes before you leave for home. The shields keep you from accidently rubbing your eyes. You will wear them all day and night on the day of surgery and then at night on the following two days.
Recovering from Your LASIK Surgery
You may experience slight discomfort with your eyes on the way home. You can open your eyes, but it will feel better if you keep them closed. If you’re a contact lens wearer, your eyes will feel like you’re wearing dried out lenses. When you get home, take a nap. As your eyes heal, you’ll continue to put drops in to keep them moist. In a few days, you’ll be as good as new! There are some activities you may want to hold off on while your eyes adjust. To learn more about what long-term recovery from LASIK look like and have your burning questions answered, check out our other guide Getting Back to Your Regular Life After LASIK Surgery.
Want to learn more about what your LASIK or PRK procedure will look like? If you have any questions about your procedure or want to find out if you’d be a good candidate for refractive eye surgery, contact the Wichita eye surgeons at Grene Laser.