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Are there special precautions I have to take before the procedure? |
For those who wear spectacles, there are no special precautions that need to be taken before surgery.
For those who wear soft contact lenses it is necessary for them to remove their lenses at least 2 days prior to their LASIK.
For those who wear RGP (Rigid Gas Permeable) or ‘hard’ contact lenses, it is necessary to remove the lenses at least 2 weeks before surgery. These RGP lenses cause corneal distortion as they have a strong molding effect on the cornea. This molding effect may affect the outcome of the LASIK procedure.
In some instances, contact lenses may need to be avoided for a period longer than 2 weeks. This depends on the initial eye examination and test results.
Patients are advised to refrain from wearing any form of make-up, powder or perfume prior to surgery. Cosmetic debris from make-up and especially powder, may deposit under the LASIK flap.
The alcohol contained in perfumes may evaporate and deposit on the Excimer1 laser optics, reducing its power. This can lead to under-correction2.
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