Surgery Day

Check-In On your surgery day, you should arrive with your designated driver at your scheduled time. It's common and normal to feel some anxiety before any surgical procedure, however you should try to arrive for your surgery as rested and relaxed as possible. Upon checking in at the front desk you will be given forms to read and sign before your surgery. You will also be asked to make your payment for surgery at this time. Because we perform all LASIK in a cerified, ambulatory surgerycneter, we are able to give you sedation medication and have RNs on the premises. One of our Registered Nurses will meet with you and a significant other to complete your surgical teaching, give you medications for surgery, and answer any questions you may still have. The oral medications will help you relax and control any discomfort you might experience. If you have a history of fainting or lightheadedness associated with medical procedures, we have a special medication that blunts this response. Pre-Op One of our staff Optometrists will take you to an exam room for a final vision test, examination of your cornea, and to answers any remaining questions you may have. Temporary (collagen) plugs will be inserted into the tear ducts of your eyes. These will dissolve, on their own, in a few days and will help to keep your eyes moist during the initial healing process. The doctor will then escort you back to the surgery suite and instruct you on face washing with an antibacterial soap. Another Registered Nurse will provide you with a surgical bonnet and booties. She will take your vital signs and instill antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops to your eyes. Dr. Dishler will greet you, go over your chart with you and answer any final questions you may have. Surgery LASIK is a two step process. Step 1 is the creation of the corneal flap. Step 2 is the reshaping of the cornea. For step 1, a RN will escort you to the Intralase laser, and prepare you for the procedure and make sure you are comfortable. She will gently cleanse around your eye with a betadine solution. She will then position your head correctly under the microscope and show you the circle of white lights you will be asked to look at only at the beginning of the procedure. After several minutes the betadine solution is removed. Dr. Dishler will anesthetize the eye using topical eye drops. He will then gently open your eyelids and insert a retainer (lid speculum) that will hold your eyelids open during the procedure. The retainer will not hurt and it will make it impossible for you to blink during the laser surgery. The total time you will spend in the laser suite is usually about 10-15 minutes. For further details on the laser treatment please see View the Procedure. Intralase takes 15 seconds to create the flap. It is a quiet laser emitting no noise. During the process, Dr. Dishler will ask you to hold still, keeping the opposite eye either open or gently closed. After 60 seconds, he will bring the laser back up and go to the other eye to complete the same process. Post-Op After the laser treatment Dr. Dishler will administer additional antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops and place protective sunglasses over your eyes for protection and comfort. Once your laser treatment is complete, you will be escorted into our recovery room by a Registered Nurse where she will monitor your post-operative recovery. You will be asked to keep your eyes closed and to rest during this time. After approximately 15 minutes (this varies between patients) your designated driver will be called to sign you out. You will be given a post-op kit containing sunglasses, night-time protective eyewear, medications and instructions for your post-operative healing period. You will be instructed that it is best to rest and keep your eyes closed as much as possible for the first 12 hours.