Reviewed by Dr Nurul Aishah Jamaludin and Physician Brandon Yew

How to Prepare Before, During and After LASIK Eye Surgery

Published September 11, 2022| 7 min read

LASIK eye surgery is a long-term option for repairing vision focus. Taking the right steps before, during and after the procedure will ensure proper healing.

Woman lifting her eyeglasses to look at her laptop while sitting at a table

Any ophthalmologist will tell you that two commonly asked questions prior to LASIK eye surgery are, “What if the procedure doesn’t go as planned?” and, “How long does recovery take?” It’s understandable, as every procedure involves risks, including LASIK eye surgery.

Eyeglasses and contact lenses are solutions for refractive errors (imperfections that affect eye power), such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Myopia is difficulty seeing objects at a distance, while hyperopia is difficulty seeing nearby objects. Astigmatism describes a distortion of the image on the retina due to irregularities in the cornea or eye lens.

LASIK surgery is a long-term option for improving vision focus using laser technology to precisely remove corneal tissue. Does it already sound like the better alternative?

Here are a few precautions you’ll need to take before, during, and after the procedure to ensure complete recovery and clear vision.

Woman smiling as she places a glass of water on a bedside shelf with her left hand — Drinking enough water lubricates the eyes sufficiently and aids in post-procedure recovery.

What Do You Need to Do Before LASIK Eye Surgery?

Allow an ophthalmologist to perform a baseline evaluation of your eyes. It’ll establish if you’re a suitable candidate for the procedure. To ensure that it goes smoothly, stop wearing contact lenses for three days if you’re wearing soft lenses and two weeks for hard lenses. Instead, opt for glasses.

Contact lenses change the shape of your cornea. This can interfere with the measurement process, which helps determine the amount of corneal tissue to remove. If you’re wearing hard or rigid gas permeable lenses, the process will be repeated a week after the evaluation and before the surgery. In addition, not using contact lenses can prevent an infection.

An ophthalmologist may also require you to scrub your eyelashes to remove debris and residue. You will have to avoid facial care products.

Hydration plays an important role in the normal functioning of every cell, tissue, and organ in the body so stay hydrated. LASIK eye surgery can potentially dry eyes. Drinking enough water will lubricate the organs and promote healing.

It’s the Day of the Surgery! Now What?

Lean back into the reclining chair. Let the ophthalmologist drop a numbing agent in your eye before cleaning its surrounding area. The eyelid will be kept open with a lid speculum.

A mechanical microkeratome – a disposable blade device – attached to a suction ring cuts a flap in the cornea. The ophthalmologist will place this device directly on your eye. Pressure will be applied, dimming your vision and causing minor discomfort.

Laser keratomes can also have the same effect. First, a translucent plastic plate flattens the cornea. Next, laser energy is used to create thousands of gas and water bubbles inside the cornea tissue. These bubbles will expand and connect to separate tissues under the surface, creating a flap. The plastic plate is removed.

Treatment will begin when your eye is in the correct position. Information from the evaluation will be input into a computer that regulates the laser energy required to vaporise tissues. Once the corneal tissue vaporises, the ophthalmologist will reattach the flap. A shield will be placed over the eye to protect it from accidental poking, rubbing or being put under pressure when you sleep.

Woman taping a plastic shield on top of a woman’s right eye — A plastic shield protects the eye from post-procedure injury.

What Should You Expect After LASIK Eye Surgery?

Immediately after the procedure, your eye will likely hurt, itch, feel a burning sensation, or feel as if there’s a tiny object wedged in it. You’ll also have blur vision, experience a sensitivity toward light, and see a glare, starbursts, or haloes around lights. Worry not, as these symptoms will improve in a few days.

The ophthalmologist will remove the shield, examine your eye, and test your vision quality during the first post-procedure visit. Different eye drops will be given to lower the risk of infection and inflammation. Artificial tears may be prescribed to keep your eyes lubricated.

Kick your feet up and relax your eyes!

Wait a minimum of three days before beginning any type of non-contact sports. Contact sports like football, basketball, karate, or rugby shouldn’t be attempted until a month after surgery.

To keep infections away, refrain from using facial care products two weeks after surgery or unless the ophthalmologist gives you the go-ahead.

Take the herbal route to regulate body constitution

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help you recover holistically from LASIK eye surgery through acupuncture and the consumption of herbal formulas. Addressing the imbalances that stem from LASIK surgery is the primary function of traditional formulas.

“Qi Ju Di Huang (杞菊地黄) in pill or liquid form can improve vision by alleviating post-procedure Heat and nourishing the Kidney and Liver organ systems. Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao San (川芎茶调散), Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang (通窍活血汤), and Xiong Zhi Shi Gao Tang (芎芷石膏汤) encourage blood and qi (vital life force) circulation to the eyes. It does this by eliminating surgery-induced pathogens like blood clots, Dampness, inflammatory Heat, and Qi Stagnation,” explains Real Health Medical Senior TCM Physician Brandon Yew.

Activate acupuncture points to ease post-LASIK surgery symptoms

Applying pressure to localised and distal points can offer mild symptomatic relief. Localised acupuncture involves the needling of points, such as:

In a depression, one finger-breadth above the inner canthus of the eye.

TAI YANG — Tai yang (EX-HN5) is located in the region of the temples, in the depression about one finger-breadth posterior to the midpoint between the lateral end of the eyebrow and the outer canthus.

Yi ming — The acupoint Yi Ming is located on the neck, at the junction of the head and occiput.

Located above the left eye, on the left side of the forehead.

An illustration of feng chi as one of the acupressure points to heal symptoms of cold — Feng chi is located at the back of the neck, where you can feel a depression on the base of the hairline as shown above.

Located directly under the eye and centre to the eye area.

An illustration of si bai to relieve eye pain — With the eyes looking straight forward, the point is directly below the pupil, in the depression at the infraorbital foramen.

Jing ming (BL1, 睛明)

Tai yang (EX-HN5, 太阳)
Yi ming (EX-HN14, 翳明)
Yang bai (GB14, 阳白)
Feng chi (GB20, 风池)
Cheng qi (ST1, 承泣)

Si bai (ST2, 四白)

Distal acupuncture refers to placing needles away from an area of pain or discomfort. A few of the points that can be worked on are:

Located in a depression midway between the tip of the lateral malleolus (the external ankle bone) and the outer edge of the achilles tendon.

On the dorsal side of the thumb, in the center of the skin crease between the distal and middle phalanges.

On the dorsal side of the 5th finger, in the centre of the joint between the distal and middle phalanges

Located 5 finger-breadths directly above the tip of the ankle bone, on the anterior border of the calf bone.

3D illustration of the tai xi acupressure point — Located on the tibial aspect of the leg, posterior to the medial border of the tibia, three finger widths inferior to the Yin Ling Quan acupoint.

An illustration of a left hand, showing he gu (LI4) acupressure point — He gu is located on the back of the hand, between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones. It helps dispel pathogens and restores and enhances qi and blood circulation within the meridians.

On the dorsum of the foot between the 1st and 2nd toes, proximal to the margin of the web at the junction of the red and white skin.

On the dorsal ulnar aspect of the forearm, in the depression on the radial side of the styloid process of the ulna.

An illustration of zhong zhu (SJ3) acupoint. — Located n the dorsum of the hand, in the depression between the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones, proximal to the 4th metacarpophalangeal joint.

An illustration of a right foot, showing san yin jiao (SP6) acupressure point — On the inner lower leg, four fingers-breadth above the tip of the inner ankle bone, just behind the shin bone. It revitalises the functions of the Spleen, Liver and Kidneys.

Kun lun (BL60, 昆仑)

Da gu kong (EX-UE14, 大骨空)
Xiao gu kong (EX-UE15, 小骨空)
Guang ming (GB37, 光明)
Tai xi (KI3, 太谿)
He gu (LI4, 合谷)

Xing jian (LR2, 行间)
Yang lao (SI6, 养老)
Zhong zhu (SJ3, 中渚)
San yin jiao (SP6, 三阴交)

It may take up to six months for your vision to stabilise after a LASIK eye surgery. Seeing glare, haloes, and other symptoms may persist throughout this period.

Use herbal formulas prescribed by, or undergo treatments performed by licensed TCM practitioners. Avoid self-medicating, as it can worsen symptoms or increase the risk of complications.