LASIK surgery can give people perfected vision, even if they currently rely on glasses or contact lenses in order to help them see. There are many steps to the LASIK process. Here are the appointments you can expect to have with your ophthalmologist in the weeks before and after your LASIK surgery:

1. Vision Screening 

The first step in your LASIK treatment is a vision screening exam. This exam is also known as a LASIK consultation. During this appointment, your doctor will perform a basic eye exam. They will also review your vision history to ensure that your vision prescription hasn't changed recently. People whose prescriptions have stabilized are good candidates for LASIK. Your eye doctor will also dilate your pupils to examine your optic nerve during this appointment.

2. Refractive Comprehensive Eye Exam

If your ophthalmologist decides that you're a suitable candidate for LASIK, they will schedule a refractive comprehensive eye exam. This exam is similar to other eye exams you've had in the past, but it is much more comprehensive. In fact, patients can expect this appointment to take up to two hours. During a refractive comprehensive eye exam, your visual acuity is measured with precision. You will need to stop wearing contacts a few days before your appointment to allow the shape of your cornea to assume its natural state.

3. Surgery

Finally, you're ready to undergo LASIK. On the day of your procedure, you'll be instructed to arrive at your doctor's office wearing glasses and no makeup. If you wear contact lenses, you should forgo them for the day. Your vision will be checked a final time before your procedure begins. You will be awake during LASIK, and your surgeon will administer numbing eye drops to keep you comfortable during your surgery. LASIK surgery typically takes only a few minutes. After your surgery is finished, you will be instructed to rest for the remainder of the day.

4. Follow-Up Appointments

You will return to your ophthalmologist's office shortly after your surgery appointment. During your initial follow-up appointment, your eye doctor will test your visual acuity and examine your eyes to ensure that they are healing as expected. Your eye doctor will tell you if you should continue using eye drops or if you need to modify your post-op routine in any way. You may be asked to return for an additional follow-up appointment in a few more weeks.