If you have decided to undertake laser eye surgery or are still in the early stages of planning then this article can help. There are a few different ways you need to prepare for laser eye treatment.

First and foremost you will need to stop wearing your contact lenses and instead use your glasses in the run up to surgery. At least a few weeks your eyes should be clear of contact lenses as they can affect or distort even the shape of the cornea. Although laser eye surgery is a very safe and very effective form of treatment, the results could be affected if the cornea is not in its natural state during the procedure. Your eye doctor will be able to tell you for how long you need to be free of your contacts before surgery and it will depend on how long you have worn them and other individual circumstances too.

Another important preparation is to go without eye makeup altogether for at least a few days before and after surgery. Any type of cosmetic product including eye creams, facial cleaners and eye makeup itself should not be worn immediately preceding and following laser eye surgery. You may also be required to clean your eyes and eyelashes thoroughly before surgery so that you can keep them clear of dust and debris that might cause them to become infected.

Something that is often overlooked by patients until the very last minute is organising a lift home following the surgery. Eyesight will be blurry and there will be residual anesthetic in your system so driving a car or even catching the bus is impossible. If you cannot arrange for a friend or family to come and collect you then a taxi should be booked in advance and the driver should be aware of the situation so they can assist you.

Before the surgery itself you will undertake a very thorough eye examination. During this time the eye doctor will take a medical history from you and obtain measurements of the different parts of the eye. Any irregularities will be noted down and the cornea will be examined thoroughly. If you are having your cornea reshaped to correct a refractive lens problem then during this examination the doctor will determine how much corneal tissue needs removing or what areas of the cornea need reshaping.

Laser eye surgery is a very short procedure. Just a few minutes is all that is required to reshape a person's cornea. The surgery is usually carried out on an out patient basis. The patient lies back in a reclining chair and anesthetic is given in the form of eye drops usually. An instrument will be used to keep the eyelids open as the natural reaction is to blink. The procedure itself involves moving back part of the corneal flap. A small amount of pressure will be felt and eyesight may become dim but there is no pain during the procedure. A laser is used to reshape the necessary part of the cornea and the flap is then folded back into place. There are no stitches required as the area heals on its own.

You will likely be asked to focus on a bright light during surgery. this helps keep the eye and cornea very still which makes the surgery easier and more precise. Sometimes a clicks may be heard when the laser is in use, but this is completely normal. After surgery your eyes may be blurry, watery or even burn a little. These symptoms will wear off after just a day or two however. Eye drops may be prescribed and you may even have to wear eye patches for one or two days although your doctor will determine whether this is necessary. Your new and improved vision will return slowly over the next couple of months although you may well notice an improvement after just a few days. Follow up appointments will be required so the doctor can check on progress and ensure the eye is healing well.

After a few weeks you will be able to start wearing makeup and using other cosmetics. It is a good idea however to wait for the go ahead from your doctor as you wouldn't want to risk infection. Laser eye surgery is a very effective way of correcting refractive problems as well as treating rarer conditions of the eye. It is a good glaucoma treatment and macular degeneration treatment too so if you or any member of your family is suffering from one of these conditions, there is medical treatment available.