Presurgery-Examination

After your initial consultation with the eye surgeon and the decision has been made to have LASIK Eye Surgery, your eye surgeon will perform a presurgery-examination. The presurgery-examination can last anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. The following is an overview of what will most likely be asked of you or performed during the presuregery-examination.

  • You will be asked to fill out a patient information form
  • The eye surgeon will do diagnostic testing – with Orbscan, TNS2, and auto-refractor
  • Your eyes will be dialated to measure your refraction – this is to ensure your eyes are healthy

Presurgery-Examination in Detail

The following is a list of more detailed information you should know about the presurgery-examination.

  • Your medical history shall be reviewed
  • Your eye surgeon may view your eye prescription records
  • The eye surgeon will need to know which medications you are currently taking including over-the-counter and herbal medicines
  • The eye surgeon will examine your eyes after using drops to dilate your pupils
  • The presurgery-examination will include: a test for glaucoma, retinal examination, test to see how well you can see
  • Precise measurements of your eye will be taken which are sued during the Lasik eye surgery, measurements include: shape of cornea, thickness of cornea
  • You should arrange for alternative transportation home as your vision may be blurred – your eyes will be dialated for 2 to 4 hours

Cases with Contact Lenses and LASIK Eye Surgery

If you wear contact lenses you will have to switch to glasses prior to the presurgery-examination. The length of time that you should stop wearing your contacts depends on the type of contact lens you use and how long you have used them. You are required to remove your contact lens prior to the presurgery-examination because contact lenses can warp the corneal surface which changes the corneal curvature possibly leading to an incorrect refraction measurement. The following covers the type of contact lens and the amount of time you should stop wearing them:

  • Soft Contact Lenses – should not be worn for at least one week prior to the presurgery-examination. The LASIK Eye Surgery has the same requirement.
  • Soft Toric Lenses - should not worn for at least four weeks prior to the presurgery-examination. The LASIK Eye Surgery has the same requirement.
  • Gas Permeable lenses (worn for less than 20 years) – should not be worn for at least four weeks prior to the presurgery-examination.
  • Gas Permeable lenses (worn for more than 20 years but less than 39 years) – should not be worn for at least eight weeks prior to the presurgery-examination.
  • Gas Permeable lenses (worn for more than 39) – should not be worn for at least twelve weeks prior to the presurgery-examination.
  • Gas permeable lenses – should not be worn for at least six weeks prior to the presurgery-examination.
  • True hard lenses (PMMA) – should not be worn for at least twelve weeks prior to the presurgery-examination. The LASIK Eye Surgery has the same requirement.

Other terms can also be used for a Presurgery-Examination such as pre-operative exams, pre-operative assessments, and pre-operative eye exam.