Prepare For Your First Visit
Introduction
We are excited to meet you in person! Below are our recommendations to streamline the process. Great results are a team effort - proper preparation helps us achieve the best possible outcome as fast as possible and also are good long term habits for eye health.
Pre-First Visit Preparation Guidelines
1. Discontinue Use of Contact Lenses
Timeframe: To minimize need for repeat visits and testing and prior to our finalized procedure plan, you should discontinue wearing soft contact lenses for at least 3 days prior to your appointment. For rigid gas-permeable (RGP) or hard lenses, you should avoid wearing them for 3 weeks.
Reason: Contact lenses can alter the natural shape of the cornea. By not wearing contacts for the recommended time, the cornea returns to its natural state, ensuring accurate measurements during the consultation.
2. Current and Old Glasses/Contacts
Reason: Evaluating your old prescriptions will help us determine if it has stabilized enough to proceed. Additionally, knowing how happy you are with your prescriptions and your habits, hobbies and profession helps us discuss expectations and benefits or limitations of our procedures
**Everyone in Southern California has Dry Eyes! See below for general good habits**
3. Application of Hot Towel Compresses
Frequency: Apply a warm compress to closed eyelids twice a day for 5 minutes each time, starting 3 days before the appointment.
Reason: Warm compresses help reduce meibomian gland blockages and improve tear film quality, promoting clearer ocular surface conditions for testing.
4. Use of Artificial Tears
Frequency: Use preservative-free artificial tears 3-4 times daily starting 3 days before the consultation.
Reason: Artificial tears help maintain optimal moisture levels on the ocular surface, reducing dryness and providing more reliable test results.
5. Limit Screen Time and Take Frequent Breaks
Guideline: Take a break every 20 minutes when using a computer or phone (known as the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds).
Reason: Excessive screen time can cause digital eye strain and increase dryness, affecting the ocular surface and test results.
What to Expect
During your first visit, there will be several screening diagnostic tests and exams.
- Corneal Imaging - Specialized imaging technology will be used to map the surface and internal structures of the cornea. This information is crucial to determining your cornea’s suitability for a laser procedure
- Comprehensive Eye Screening - The screening will include visual acuity testing, refraction, pupil size and a detailed evaluation of the cornea and a picture of your central retina, and overall eye health. You will likely not be dilated during your initial screening so the peripheral retinal exam will be limited.
- Confirmatory Test Prior to Surgery - A confirmatory test will be required prior to your procedure. This test will typically be performed on a separate day and will verify the initial measurements and findings and your pupils will likely be dilated
