THE FOUR STAGES OF LASIK SURGERY
INITIAL CONSULTATION
WITH A SURGEON
PREOPERATIVE
EYE EXAM
DAY OF
SURGERY
POSTOPERATIVE
FOLLOW-UP
LASIK CONSULTATION WITH SAN DIEGO SPECIALIST DR. NAHL
The consultation takes about an hour. Wear your glasses to your appointment if you own any, and bring your contact lens foils or prescription if possible.
Some scans and tests will determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK.
Ophthalmologist specialist Dr. Nahl will review the results of the scans along with your visual history to create your individualized treatment plan. We will then discuss cost, financing, available dates, and what you should expect pre- and post-op.
This is also your chance to ask any questions you have.
Dr. Nahl and her LASIK team are here to help make sure that you have all your questions answered and are comfortable with the LASIK process. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our San Diego office.
COME PREPARED 
3 THINGS WE WANT TO KNOW
- When did you first get glasses?
- Do you wear contacts? If so, what kind? Soft, toric, hard, or rigid gas permeable?
- What is your medical history? Tell us about any illnesses, surgeries, or medications.
PREOPERATIVE EYE EXAM
If you would like to have your consultation and pre-op exam on the same day, please be sure to let us know and follow these instructions prior to your consultation.
The preoperative eye exam involves dilating your eyes.
Prior to your pre-op exam, please start artificial tear drops four times a day leading up to your appointment, and remove your contact lenses.
Since contact lenses change the shape of the cornea, it is important to not wear them before your pre-op eye exam or procedure.
COME PREPARED
The type of contact lenses you wear will determine when you should discontinue use prior to your exam.
PLAIN, SOFT
(not astigmatism-correcting/toric)
Discontinue use
3 days ahead
of your appointment
RIGID GAS PERMEABLE
(or hard)
Discontinue use
1+ month ahead,
*depending on years of wear
ASTIGMATISM-
CORRECTING/TORIC
Discontinue use
2+ weeks ahead,
*depending on years of wear
LASIK EYE SURGERY PROCEDURE
QUICK
The LASIK procedure itself usually lasts about 30 minutes total.
PAINLESS
Eye drops will be applied to numb your eyes, and you won’t feel any pain throughout the entire procedure.
HASSLE-FREE
After the procedure is complete, Dr. Nahl will give your eyes one final checkup, and then you will be ready to go home.
Most patients only need one day of recovery and are back to work the next day.
COME PREPARED
Please be sure to arrange a ride to and from your surgical appointment as you will not be able to drive home after the procedure.
POSTOPERATIVE
Your post-op appointment is simply to make sure that you are recovering as you should be.
Your post-op exam is a fast and simple check-in.
At this point, your vision should be back to normal or even better than before. You won’t need to wear glasses or contacts and you’ll be able to see the second you wake up in the morning.
