Do you have an upcoming LASIK surgery? You’re well on your way to clear vision and visual freedom.
Before you can undergo LASIK surgery, you will have to meet with your eye doctor. This is something called a LASIK consultation.
This is a 2-3 hour discovery appointment during which your eye doctor will run a series of tests on your eyes. These tests are a barometer that’s used to determine if you are a LASIK candidate.
If you are, your eye doctor will provide you with information for the procedure. They will use the test data to prepare you for the LASIK.
The LASIK consultation is a vital part of the LASIK surgery process. The in-depth nature of the consultation ensures that it is safe for you to undergo the surgery.
Keep reading for a better understanding of what you can expect during your LASIK consultation!
Refraction Exam
If you’ve gone to an eye exam before, then you’ve had many eye focusing exams. It’s routine testing that is part of the process of determining the prescription for your glasses or contact lenses.
This exam is the traditional refraction testing where your eye doctor shows you two different slides. They will then ask you which one is clearer.
This is how the quality of your vision is tested. Testing the focusing capabilities of your eyes requires testing how your eye distributes light in your eye.
The results of these tests are used to determine the best vision correction method for you. This may or may not include LASIK.
Dilated Eye Exam
Your LASIK consultation also includes a dilated eye exam. This is another routine exam that you may be familiar with.
It involves dilating eye drops that enlarge your pupil. This allows your eye doctor a closer look at the lens of your eye and your retina.
They will measure both the lens and your retina. These measurements help to confirm the accuracy of how your eyes focus.
The dilated eye exam and the refraction exam are then used to determine if your vision is within the corrective range of LASIK.
Digital Eye Scans
After testing your vision levels and confirming them, your eye doctor will take digital scans of your eye. The scans are taken of the front, inside, and the surface of your eye. These areas must be in good health to undergo LASIK.
Front of Eye Scan
The scan taken of the front of your eye gives your eye doctor an in-depth look at your cornea, tear films, and the inside of your eyelids. Your eye doctor will examine these areas for emerging or existing eye conditions.
This includes dry eye, macular degeneration, and cataracts.
Inside Eye Scan
Next, your doctor will take digital images of the inside of your eye. This allows for an in-depth examination of your retina.
This is the part of your eye that reflects light as it passes through the eye, and lets you see what you are looking at clearly. Your eye doctor will examine your retina to make sure it is healthy.
Your retina must be healthy and disease-free to undergo LASIK.
Eye Surface Scan
Your eye doctor will need to take a scan of the surface of your eye. This ensures that your tears are properly lubricating your eyes.
Proper lubrication is vital during LASIK recovery. By examining the tear film on the surface of your eye, your eye doctor can determine the volume and quality of your tears.
Want clearer vision and visual freedom? The first step is a LASIK consultation. Schedule yours today with South Texas Eye Institute in San Antonio, TX!
