Before you undergo lasik surgery, you will have to set up an appointment for a pre-lasik exam. The primary purpose of this initial lasik surgery consultation is to determine whether you are a suitable candidate for lasik. I’ve seen statistics estimating that one out of every four people who go through the pre-lasik screening are not right for lasik for one reason or another. During this initial appointment, I also learned a lot about the procedure itself, the risks, the possible benefits and I was able to get my questions answered. I’ll describe it as I remember it in case anyone is wondering what the initial lasik exam is like.
When I made the appointment, I was told that my eyes would be dilated. Having your eyes dilated intensifies their light sensitivity. If you’ve ever had your eyes dilated before, you know it’s a good idea to bring sunglasses and arrange for a ride home. They told me as much and I made sure I took care of both. I also brought my eyeglasses and current prescription.
I got there a few minutes early to allow time to fill out paperwork. When I arrived, I was handed a couple of forms to fill out as expected. They consisted of some standard information about me as well as a questionnaire regarding my health, medical history and prescriptions. I would estimate it took ten to fifteen minutes to fill everything out.
With the paperwork out of the way, it was time for the exam. I underwent a series of tests, all of which were pain free, to determine things such as the extent of my eyesight problems and how well my eyes produced tears. There were measurements and readings taken and a “map” of my eye was generated. This was definitely unlike any standard or annual eye exam I ever had.
After all of the testing was completed, the doctor went over my results with me. We discussed my suitability, my risk factors, types of treatments available, possible side effects, post lasik care and I had the opportunity to ask questions. I asked a lot of questions!
Next, they had me meet with a “patient counselor” who was really more of a salesperson in my opinion. This was the person who spoke to me about price, financing, payment methods and post surgical care logistics.
All in all, the whole thing took right around an hour and a half. I would consider the experience mostly positive though I didn’t much care for the sales guy. I would guess my experience is pretty typical, but obviously I can’t say for sure. When you arrange for your appointment, you’ll get the particulars.