Pre & Post Operative Instructions for Refractive Surgery
Instructions Prior to Refractive Surgery
1. Ideally remove soft contact lenses at least one week prior to and semisoft contact lenses 2 weeks prior to lasik / Custom lasik / Intralase surgery or the day of measurements for ICL procedure Your Eye surgeon will decide the duration for removal of contact lens after studying your topography.
2. Do not use any facial cosmetics, after shaves, deodorants or perfumes and hair oil on the day of the surgery.
3. Wash your face with mild soap before coming for the procedure.
4. You can have your breakfast or lunch before coming for the procedure.
5. Please bring one attendant for the surgery. You will not be able to drive / ride vehicles immediately after the procedure.
6. Remove flowers, hair clips, ornaments, bindis etc., before entering the laser room.
7. Patients with pacemakers should not enter the Lasik center Children are not permitted in the O.T. complex.
8. Please put off mobile phone & hand it over to your attendant before entering the Lasik center.
9. Please report at the specified time.
General Instructions for Post Operative Patients After Refractive Surgery
- Protective Eye Wear: Please wear protective glasses continuously even while sleeping for first 48 hours. After 48 hours, the protective glasses are no longer required in a dust free environment (House/ Office). You will have to use the protective glasses during outdoor activities for a period of one week to protect your eye from physical injury.
- Preventive Eye Care: Do not touch, rub, or put any pressure on the operated eye for one week. Gentle wiping of the eye is allowed after one week.
- Washing the Face: Cleaning of the operated eye will be as per the instructions given by the doctor/nurse. The rest of the face can be cleaned with a clean & wet cloth. Avoid putting/splashing water into the operated eye. This must be followed for one week.
- Shaving: Shaving is permitted.
- Bathing: You can take bath below neck from the first post operative day itself. But avoid soap & water into the eye.
- Use of Facial Cosmetics: Avoid cosmetics to the eye such as mascara, eye liners etc. For 15 days.
- Physical Activity: Activities such as walking, talking can be resumed immediately after surgery. TV viewing, reading, working on computer can be resumed from the first post operative day. However, swimming, contact sports, etc. May have to be avoided until 4-6 weeks after surgery.
- Driving: Driving four wheelers is allowed from the first postoperative day. If you wear a full-face helmet & take care to prevent the dust from entering the eye, you may ride two wheelers from the first post operative day.
- Joining Back Duties: You may join your duties as early as 24 hours after the surgery. But remember to blink your eyes normally (15-20) time in minutes a) You may resume your sexual life 2 – 3 days after the surgery.
b) The following symptoms may be expected after the surgery. Some amount of redness, watering, foreign body sensation, sensitivity to light are common. The severity differs among individuals. These symptoms will subside within 4 – 6 hours.
c) If you have any worsening of the symptoms and specifically if there is increasing redness, pain, or decreased vision (From the first post operative day) please report as emergency to Dr Rajan Eye Care Hospital & Institute. Emergency services are available round the clock. (Emergency No. )
- Procedure for Cleaning the Eye:
a) The operated eye needs to be cleaned at least twice a day from the second post operative day.
b) The attendant performing this task should wash the hands with soap & water.
c) You may use the disposable tissue supplied at the hospital for this purpose. Alternately you may place cotton balls in a clean vessel containing water, cover it with a lid and boil for 10 minutes. Once it cools down, take the cotton out, squeeze the excess water and use the same to clean.
d) Cleaning the lower lid is done by asking the patient to look up and wiping all the secretions sticking to the lower lid margin.
e) The outer & inner corners of the eye are cleaned.
f) Cleaning the upper lid: This must be done extremely carefully. The eyes needs to be closed & then with the index finger & the thumb, gently remove the mucus sticking to the eye lashes. Do not wipe or rub on the upper eyelid. Better avoid touching the upper lid for a week.
g) Once the margins and corners are cleaned, the eye drops can be instilled and hen the surrounding areas can also be cleaned.
h) Cleaning of the eyes needs to be done till one week. You can stop this procedure once the head bath is resumed.14. Opening of Eye Drops: Most of the eye drops available today are preponed. Once you remove the seal, you can instill the drops without making a hole in the dropper. However, some eye drops need to be opened before use. This may be done by first opening the seal and then fully tightening the cap. Please do not use unsterile needles / pins to make holes in the dropper.
15. Instillation of the Eye Drops:
a) The attendant should wash his/her hands with soap and water.
b) The cap of the eye dropper bottle is opened carefully without contaminating the tip of the nozzle.
c) Pull the lower lid and place the drop between the eyeball and the lid by squeezing the bottle. Please note that the upper eyelid should not be touched for any reason.
d) Ask the patient to gentle close the eye, wipe away the excess medicine that may trickle out near the cheek.
e) The eyes should be kept closed for a period of 2 – 5 minutes after the drop is instilled.
f) You may press the area near the inner corner of the eye for 2 – 5 minutes to prevent the drops from getting into the throat.
g) Leave a gap of 5 – 10 minutes between two medications.
a) Avoid too many visitors for fear of contacting infection-especially avoid visitors with conjunctivitis, cold etc.
b) Do not play or sleep with children since there is possibility of getting hurt in the eye.
c) Avoid use of snuff.
d) Cigarette smoking should be avoided. Alcoholic beverages are best avoided.
e) Avoid steam, frying, cutting onions and fumes for a period of one week after the operation.
f) After the operation, come for periodic checkup as instructed by the doctor.
g) Patients can continue their normal diet after surgery.
h) Any existing systemic medications can be continued after the surgery.
i) Avoid using handkerchief to clean the eye. Use sterile tissue only. [The duration for which you may have to follow
all the above instructions may slightly vary depending on the type of Surgery you have undergone. You Doctor/ Nurse will let you know about the same].
Have an uneventful & speedy recovery
