Simi Valley is known for its open hills and for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on the ridge above town, a favorite stop when relatives visit for the holidays. It is also a short drive over to our Westlake Village office, and every December I meet Simi Valley patients who want to know one thing: can I get this done before the new year?
Step one is a contact lens break
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains that contact lenses change the shape of the cornea for up to several weeks after you stop wearing them. If lenses are not left out long enough, measurements can be inaccurate and the surgical plan poor. The FDA’s guidance for LASIK candidates is to stop wearing:
- soft lenses for 2 weeks before the initial evaluation
- toric soft or rigid gas permeable lenses for at least 3 weeks
- hard lenses for at least 4 weeks
We give similar instructions before measurements for SMILE Pro and SMILE. If you want to be evaluated in December, plan your glasses-only weeks now.
What the evaluation should cover
The FDA says you should tell your doctor about all past and present medical and eye conditions and every medication you take. Your doctor should perform a thorough exam and discuss whether you are a good candidate, the risks, benefits and alternatives, and what to expect. The FDA also stresses that you should not feel pressured by anyone to decide.
Choosing a procedure
- SMILE Pro. A keyhole procedure without a flap, for nearsightedness with or without astigmatism, for patients 22 and older.
- SMILE. The same flapless approach on an earlier laser platform.
- LASIK. Still an excellent option for many prescriptions, including some that SMILE does not treat.
The day before and the ride home
The FDA advises stopping creams, lotions, makeup and perfumes the day before surgery, because they and debris along the lashes may raise infection risk. Arrange a ride to and from surgery and to your first follow-up visit. For a holiday schedule, that means lining up a driver before the family calendar fills.
How to start
Begin with a free VIP consult, which can be done by video. We review your prescription history and goals and tell you honestly whether an in-person evaluation makes sense. Call our Westlake Village office at (805) 230-2126.
Parents and grandparents in the family can find aging-eye articles on this vision-at-any-age blog.
The patients who are happiest with their timing are the ones who started the contact lens break early. A few weeks of glasses is the easiest part of the plan.
Source: What should I expect before, during, and after surgery? (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.