How To Prepare For Laser Vision Correction Weeks before your procedure To achieve the best visual results, contact lens use must be discontinued well in advance of your procedure date. This allows the return of the natural curve of your cornea. Soft or disposable contacts must be removed at least 2-3 days prior to your procedure date and at least 1 week prior if you sleep with your contacts lenses overnight. Soft Toric contact lenses should be removed 1-2 weeks prior to surgery. Rigid gas permeable lenses must be discontinued at least 1 month before your LASIK procedure, and 2-3 months prior if you have used hard lenses for more than 20 years. All patients scheduled for Custom LASIK will need to have sophisticated Wavefront and 3D Elevation Mapping 1 week to 3 months prior to their planned procedure date. Special arrangements are made for U.S. patients to allow them to have their testing completed 2 days prior to their procedure. Wavefront technology is used to analyze the entire visual system and develop a customized treatment plan for each eye. The corneal analysis and the vision testing are also used in the sophisticated calculations to derive optimal laser treatment for each patient. Patients are at the BCE Place Center for 1-2 hours, as the equipment is presently only available at the TLC Custom LASIK vision center. Patients are advised that they will be dilated during their Custom LASIK consultation and testing. This examination is more accurate when a complete pre-operative evaluation is provided by your own doctor. 1. Registration 2.   Refractive Testing 3.   Elevation Map Testing 4.   Wavefront Analysis 5.   Repeat Refractive Testing 6.   Ocular Evaluation with Dr. Black 7.   Medical Consultation The day before your procedure Prepare comfortable clothing for the day of your surgery, avoiding any sweaters that shed lint. Women should avoid wearing any make-up the day of the procedure and should thoroughly clean their eye make-up off the night prior and then again the morning of their procedure. Perfume and cologne should also be avoided. Take all your usual medications and try to eat prior to arriving at the center. You will not be able to drive after your procedure and many patients from far distances spend the night at a local hotel, returning home after their check-up the following day. The day of your procedure Most patients find it very difficult to sleep the night before; however, sleeping after your procedure is far more important.You will be offered a mild sedative prior to your procedure to ease your anxiety and help you sleep afterwards. You will need to arrange for a driver and you can expect to be at the clinic for two hours on the day of your procedure. A typical surgery and day involves: 1. Registration 2.   Consultation with your Surgeon to review clinical findings and informed consent 3.   Preparation for procedure: Oral and topical medication 4.   Your LASIK procedure 5.   Post-operative recovery; (review of instructions and medications) 6.   Post-operative examination by Center Optometrist