What to Expect at a LASIK Consultation & Evaluation
Preparing for Your LASIK Consultation
Coming prepared helps us give you the most accurate evaluation possible. We recommend bringing your current glasses and a list of any medications you take regularly.
- Your current eyeglasses and your most recent eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions
- Sunglasses for after dilation
- Contact lens case and solution if you wear contacts
- A list of all medications, vitamins, and supplements
- Your medical insurance card and driver's license
- A list of questions you want to ask our eye doctor
Please wear your glasses to the visit and do not wear contact lenses if you were instructed to stop before the consultation.
Most LASIK consultations last between one and two hours. This gives us enough time to perform all necessary tests and discuss your results in detail.
We recommend planning for at least two hours so you don't feel rushed. You will also want to arrange a ride home since your vision may be blurry after pupil dilation.
Contact lenses can temporarily change the shape of your cornea, which may affect our measurements. We ask that you stop wearing contacts before your consultation to ensure accurate results.
- Soft daily wear lenses: stop 3 to 7 days before the appointment
- Soft toric or extended-wear lenses: stop 2 weeks before
- Rigid gas permeable lenses: stop 3 to 4 weeks; longer may be needed based on years of wear
- Scleral lenses: stop at least 4 weeks; we will confirm the exact timing
Follow the surgeon's instructions if they advise a longer timeline.
Certain medications and health conditions can affect your LASIK candidacy. Being open about your complete medical history helps us make the safest recommendations for your eyes.
- Let us know if you take medications for anxiety, depression, or pain management
- Share any history of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
- Tell us about diabetes, thyroid disorders, or hormonal conditions
- Mention if you are pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant soon
- Report any past eye surgeries, injuries, or infections
Your consultation is your opportunity to get answers about LASIK and how it might work for you. Writing down your questions ahead of time ensures you don't forget anything important.
Common questions include asking about recovery time, potential risks, long-term results, and what happens if your vision changes in the future. We encourage you to ask about anything that concerns you or that you don't understand.
Tests and Measurements During Your Evaluation
We begin by examining the overall health of your eyes using specialized instruments. This exam checks for signs of disease, damage, or conditions that might affect your surgery outcome.
We may use dilating drops to widen your pupils, allowing us to see the back of your eye more clearly. The drops take about 20 to 30 minutes to work fully, and the effects can last several hours. This is why we recommend you arrange a ride home.
We perform several additional measurements to assess your candidacy and personalize your treatment plan.
- Tonometry to check eye pressure and screen for glaucoma risk
- Scotopic pupil size measurement to assess night vision symptom risk
- Ocular dominance testing to help plan monovision or blended vision if appropriate
One of the most important tests measures the thickness and shape of your cornea. LASIK reshapes the cornea to correct your vision, so we need to ensure your corneas are thick enough and have a healthy shape.
- We use a device called a pachymeter, an instrument that measures corneal thickness in microns
- Corneal topography and tomography such as Scheimpflug imaging create detailed maps of your cornea and detect early keratoconus or ectasia risk
- Epithelial thickness mapping and corneal biomechanics assessments may be used to further refine ectasia risk
- These tests are painless and take only a few minutes
- The results help us determine if LASIK is safe for your eyes
We need to know your exact prescription to plan your LASIK treatment accurately. During refraction testing, you will look through a series of lenses and tell us which ones give you the clearest vision.
We also use automated instruments that measure how light enters your eye. These computerized measurements give us precise information about your nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. We may perform a cycloplegic refraction and wavefront aberrometry to reduce the effects of focusing effort and measure higher-order aberrations.
Healthy tears are essential for comfortable healing after LASIK. We evaluate the quality and quantity of your tear film to identify any dry eye issues before surgery.
- Tests may include tear breakup time, Schirmer, osmolarity, MMP-9, and meibography
- Pretreatment can include lubricants, lid hygiene and warm compresses, anti-inflammatory drops, punctal plugs, or meibomian gland therapies
- Optimizing the surface before surgery improves accuracy and comfort
If we detect dry eye, we may recommend treatment before proceeding with LASIK. Addressing dry eye first leads to better surgical outcomes and more comfortable recovery. In some cases, we might suggest waiting until your dry eye is under control.
We use advanced imaging technology to photograph the inside of your eye, including your retina and optic nerve. These images help us spot any problems that might not be visible during a standard eye exam. These scans are obtained when clinically indicated rather than for every patient.
- Optical coherence tomography provides detailed cross-sectional images
- Digital retinal photography creates a permanent record of your eye health
- These scans are quick, painless, and don't require any contact with your eye
Determining If You're a LASIK Candidate
LASIK can correct a wide range of prescriptions, but there are limits to what can be safely treated. Your prescription needs to fall within certain ranges for LASIK to be a good option.
Treatable ranges vary by laser platform and your corneal measurements. We can typically treat nearsightedness up to about negative 12.00 diopters, units of lens power that measure refractive error, farsightedness up to about positive 6.00 diopters, and astigmatism up to about 6.00 diopters. Hyperopic treatments above about positive 4.00 diopters tend to have lower predictability and more regression. Safety limits may narrow these ranges even if the laser's FDA label allows them. If your prescription falls outside these ranges, we may recommend a different procedure such as PRK or an implantable lens.
Your corneas must be thick enough to safely remove tissue during LASIK. If your corneas are too thin, the procedure could weaken the eye structure and cause problems later.
- We base safety on residual stromal bed thickness, typically targeting at least 250 to 300 microns after treatment
- We also monitor the percent tissue altered and aim to keep it below about 40 to 45 percent
- Tomography must show a regular corneal shape without ectasia risk signs
- The shape of your cornea must be regular without signs of keratoconus
- Any scarring or irregularities may affect your candidacy
- Thin or irregular corneas may make PRK a better choice than LASIK
We generally recommend that LASIK candidates be at least 18 years old, though waiting until age 21 or older is often better. Your eyes continue to change during your late teens and early twenties, so younger patients may see their results shift over time.
Your prescription should also be stable for at least one to two years before surgery. If your vision is still changing, we may recommend waiting until it stabilizes. This helps ensure your LASIK results last as long as possible. If you are pregnant or nursing, we recommend delaying LASIK until at least 3 months after delivery and after nursing has ended, when your prescription has stabilized.
Certain health conditions can interfere with healing or increase your risk of complications after LASIK. We carefully review your medical history to identify any concerns.
- Autoimmune diseases may slow healing or increase inflammation
- Uncontrolled diabetes can affect wound healing and infection risk
- Pregnancy and nursing cause hormone changes that can alter your prescription
- Medications that suppress your immune system may need to be discussed
- Isotretinoin or similar acne medications, amiodarone, topiramate, chemotherapy or systemic immunosuppressants
- History of keloid scarring or poorly controlled allergies that increase eye rubbing
Some eye conditions make LASIK less safe or less effective. If we find any of these issues during your evaluation, we will discuss alternative vision correction options with you.
Conditions such as keratoconus, severe dry eye, glaucoma, cataracts, certain retinal problems, epithelial basement membrane dystrophy, recurrent corneal erosions, significant blepharitis or ocular rosacea, prior herpetic keratitis, or very large pupils in dim light may rule out LASIK. However, you may still be a candidate for PRK, implantable contact lenses, or other procedures that can improve your vision safely.
Understanding Your LASIK Options and Recommendations
Traditional LASIK uses a surgical blade called a microkeratome to create the corneal flap. Bladeless LASIK, also called all-laser LASIK, uses a femtosecond laser to create the flap with great precision.
Bladeless LASIK has become the standard approach in 2025 because it offers more control and consistency. The laser creates a more uniform flap and may reduce flap-related complications. We will explain which technology we use and why we believe it provides the best results.
Custom wavefront-guided LASIK creates a personalized treatment based on the unique imperfections in your eye. This advanced technology measures how light travels through your eye and creates a detailed map of even subtle vision problems.
- Wavefront technology can address issues beyond basic nearsightedness and astigmatism
- Custom treatments may improve night vision and reduce glare or halos
- This approach is particularly helpful for people with higher-order aberrations, optical imperfections beyond standard nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism
- Topography-guided and wavefront-optimized treatments are also used to minimize induced aberrations and manage irregular corneal optics
- Not everyone needs custom treatment, and we will recommend it only if beneficial
SMILE is a newer laser vision correction option that may be appropriate for some patients with myopia and astigmatism.
- An all-laser, flapless procedure for myopia and astigmatism
- May be suitable for contact-sport athletes or patients concerned about flap trauma
- Dry eye symptoms may be less in some patients compared with LASIK
- Not currently available for hyperopia
If your evaluation shows that LASIK is not the best choice for you, we may recommend photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK. This procedure reshapes the cornea without creating a flap, making it safer for people with thinner corneas.
Other alternatives include implantable collamer lenses for very high prescriptions or refractive lens exchange for people over 40 who also have early cataracts. We will help you understand which option gives you the best chance of clear, stable vision.
Before you decide on LASIK, we will thoroughly review all potential risks and side effects so you can make an informed choice.
- Dry eye symptoms, usually temporary but can persist
- Night glare, halos, and starbursts that typically improve over weeks to months
- Infection or inflammation requiring prompt treatment
- Flap-related issues in LASIK such as displacement, striae, or epithelial ingrowth
- Corneal ectasia risk in predisposed corneas
- Undercorrection, overcorrection, or regression that may need enhancement
- Rare vision-threatening complications
During your consultation, we will talk honestly about what LASIK can and cannot do for your vision. Most people achieve 20/20 or 20/25 vision after LASIK, but results vary based on your prescription and eye health.
We want you to have realistic expectations so you feel satisfied with your results. Enhancement rates are typically a few percent; not everyone achieves 20/20 without glasses. Some people may still need reading glasses after age 40, and a small percentage may need an enhancement procedure later. Understanding these possibilities helps you make an informed choice.
After Your Consultation: Next Steps
Once we complete all your tests, we will sit down with you to review the results. We will explain whether you are a good candidate for LASIK and answer any questions that come up during this discussion.
If you are a candidate, we will describe the procedure in detail and outline what you can expect during recovery. If you are a candidate, we will review the informed consent, including risks, benefits, alternatives, and your personalized plan. If you are not a candidate, we will explain why and discuss alternative options that might work better for your eyes.
If you decide to move forward with LASIK, our team will help you choose a surgery date that works with your schedule. We recommend choosing a time when you can take a day or two off work to rest afterward.
- Most people schedule surgery within a few weeks of their consultation
- You will need someone to drive you home on surgery day
- Plan your first post-op visit within 24 hours of surgery
- Avoid scheduling surgery right before important events or travel
- Let us know if you have any scheduling constraints or concerns
LASIK is often considered an elective procedure, so most insurance plans do not cover it. However, we offer several payment options to make LASIK more affordable.
Many of our patients use health savings accounts or flexible spending accounts to pay for surgery with pre-tax dollars. We also work with financing companies that offer payment plans with low or no interest. Our staff will review all your options and help you find a payment solution that fits your budget.
Before your surgery, we will give you detailed instructions to help you prepare. Following these instructions carefully helps ensure the best possible outcome and reduces your risk of complications.
- Stop wearing contact lenses for the required time before surgery
- Avoid wearing eye makeup, lotions, or perfumes on surgery day and for one week after surgery
- Arrange for transportation to and from the surgical center
- Plan to rest at home for the remainder of surgery day
- Fill any prescribed eye drop prescriptions ahead of time
- Do not rub your eyes and use protective shields while sleeping for the first week
- Avoid getting water directly in your eyes for one week
- No swimming or hot tubs for two weeks
- Limit heavy exercise for 24 to 48 hours as advised
While LASIK is very safe, you should contact our office immediately if you experience any of these warning signs after your consultation or surgery.
- Severe or worsening eye pain
- Sudden drop in vision or increasing redness
- New light sensitivity with discharge
- Trauma to the eye or suspect you displaced the flap
- Any sudden flashes, floaters, or a dark curtain in vision
Frequently Asked Questions
If we dilate your pupils during your consultation, your vision will be blurry and you will be sensitive to light for several hours. We strongly recommend arranging a ride home. If dilation is not needed, you should be able to drive yourself, but confirm this with our staff when you schedule your appointment.
No. If you were instructed to stop contact lenses, please wear glasses to your visit. Wearing contacts can distort measurements.
Not being a candidate for LASIK does not mean you have no options for vision correction. We will discuss alternative procedures such as PRK, implantable lenses, or updated glasses and contact lenses. Our goal is to help you find the safest and most effective solution for your individual needs.
The timing depends on your schedule and our surgical calendar. Some patients schedule surgery within one to two weeks of their consultation, while others prefer to wait longer. We recommend taking enough time to feel completely ready and to arrange time off work or other responsibilities.
You will likely need to take at least a half day off work, especially if your pupils will be dilated. Your vision may remain blurry for several hours, making it difficult to read or use a computer. Plan for a full afternoon off to be safe, and avoid scheduling important work tasks immediately after your appointment.
Common side effects in the first few days to weeks include dryness, mild irritation, light sensitivity, and night glare or halos around lights. Most of these symptoms improve significantly within the first few weeks to months as your eyes heal. Using prescribed lubricating drops and following all post-operative instructions helps manage these symptoms. If you experience severe pain, sudden vision loss, or worsening symptoms, call us immediately.
Getting Help for What to Expect at a LASIK Consultation & Evaluation
Our eye care team is committed to providing thorough, personalized consultations that give you confidence in your vision correction decision. If you are considering LASIK and want to learn whether you are a candidate, we invite you to schedule a comprehensive evaluation. We look forward to helping you explore your options and achieve clearer vision.