BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

• There are no restrictions on eating, drinking or medications before the procedure
• Wear comfortable clothing
• On the day of your procedure, all traces of make-up should be removed prior to your arrival at the Jans Eye Care Centre
• Contact lenses must be removed from the operative eye prior to the day of your procedure as follows: 
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        Hard Lenses or Gas Permeable Rigid Lenses: 3-4 Weeks
        Soft or Disposable Lenses: 1-2 weeks
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• You will need to arrange transportation on the day of your procedure, private automobile or taxi is recommended
• You should allow yourself approximately 2 hours at the Centre for preparation time, treatment and post treatment time.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE FOR THE PROCEDURE

• Check in with the receptionist
• You will be asked to read and sign a consent form
• Should you have any further questions, Dr. Jans will be happy to speak with you prior to your procedure.

IN THE PRE-OPERATIVE PATIENT PREPARATION AREA 

• Several drops will be administered to the operative eye prior to your surgery 

INSIDE THE LASER ROOM

• The laser is calibrated and programmed with your prescription before you even enter the Laser Room
• Your fellow eye will be covered during the procedure
• Eye drops will be placed in the operative eye prior to the procedure
• These include drops to numb the eye (anaesthetic), drops to prevent infections (antibiotic) and drops to reduce pain (anti-inflammatory).
• In order to prevent you from blinking a simple device known as an eyelid speculum is used. It creates a slight feeling of pressure against your eyelids. You will be instructed to look at a flashing red target light. There will be two parts to your treatment. During the first part you will feel a slight sensation of pressure and your vision will go quite dark for a few moments - this is normal and to be expected. Dr. Jans will monitor your eye through the microscope at all times. You will experience no pain the during the LASIK procedure. In the second part, you will hear a "clicking" sound as the laser alters the refractive curvature of your eye. The actual laser time is usually less than 60 seconds. 

ONCE THE LASIK PROCEDURE IS COMPLETED

• Immediately after the laser treatment, a soft bandage contact lens is placed on your eye. It will be removed during your 1 day post operative visit. Dr. Jans will decide when to remove the bandage lens and will do it for you.
• You will be given a post operative kit containing drops and medications to use for the next few days. Follow Dr. Jans instructions.
• You will be asked to remain at the Centre for approximately ½ hour after your procedure is complete for a post-operative check up.
• Your driver will then be able to take you home to rest. 

If you are from out-of-town, please let us know where you are staying and leave any in-town phone numbers where you may be reached.

FOLLOWING YOUR LASIK PROCEDURE

• Follow up care is extremely important
• A series of post-operative appointments will have been arranged for you prior to your surgery. 

SYMPTOMS DURING YOUR RECOVERY PROCESS

Irritations: It is not unusual to feel as if there is an eyelash in your eye. You will be given medication to take if you experience any discomfort

Blurry Vision: Your vision will be blurry for the first few hours after your LASIK treatment. Within several hours you will notice a significant improvement. If is very common to have driving vision in less than 24 hours.

Night Glare: This symptom is most apparent during the first several weeks of your recover. Night glare usually resolves returns to pre-procedure levels once both eyes have healed.

Reading Vision: You may be slightly farsighted immediately following your LASIK procedure. This will temporarily affect your reading vision especially if you are over 40.

Light Sensitivity: You may experience increased sensitivity to light for the first few hours after your LASIK procedure. A good pair of sunglasses will help.

A FEW "DO'S AND DONT'S"

• Please go directly home after your LASIK treatment. You will probably feel best if you rest for a few hours.
• Avoid swimming, hot tubs and gardening for one week.
• Do not wear make-up for the first 2-3 days following your LASIK procedure.
• It is important not to rub your eye at all, just dab gently underneath the eye with the eye closed
• Showers and baths are fine, but avoid getting water into your eye
• You may go back to work and return to your usual experience routine the day after your treatment
• At your first post-operative visit, Dr. Jans will tell you when you may resume driving, Most patients are able to see well enough to drive 24 hours after the procedure.
  
  Please call Dr. Jans or the technician if you have any symptoms that concern your. Most concerns can be resolved with a simple telephone call. 

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