What to Know Before Getting Lasik Surgery: Tips from One Who's Undergone the Process

This Thanksgiving weekend marked the two-year anniversary of my Lasik surgery. Interestingly enough, I received an e-mail from a friend whose friend was asking about Lasik. His e-mail accounted for the basics - cost, procedure and recovery time, various risks, etc. But what he really wanted to know was what to expect before, during and after procedure that the docs don't cover in the initial meeting.

I had my Lasik at LasikPlus in Oak Brook. These folks are great, and I highly recommend them. So let me share with you some tidbits from my experience that may help you get through this very serious surgery.

The whole procedure takes about 5-10 minutes per eye. This is the least scary part actually - you just don't get to realize that until you have gone through all other parts of the process. If you get easily freaked out, try not to watch the procedures of other patients. Personally, watching the procedure on the monitor was so much more anxiety-inducing than the actual surgery.

The doctor will offer you Tylenol PM before the procedure. Take it! I don't know about you, but it is virtually impossible for me to be completely awake and keep my eyes shut for 6 hours. There is a reason that doctors recommend some (over the counter) sleeping aids - you should try to sleep for about four to six hours after the surgery to help your eyes rest from the trauma. Plus, you will have the most amazing feeling after you wake up and are able to see the alarm clock from across the room for the first time ever. Very few things can replace that feeling.

Know what to expect about your post-surgery vision. My vision was horrible before the surgery and it's now close to 20/20 but not perfect. Every doctor that I had a consultation with (and the numbers were in double digits because I didn't opt for this surgery lightly) told me Lasik would not actually result in 20/20 vision. I don't need glasses or anything right now.

Get ready for some serious eye drops. You will need to use eye drops a ton after your surgery. Personally, I used eye drops almost every hour for the first few weeks and then several times a day for several months. Since you will not be able to rub your eyes if they itch for several months, the drops will come in handy. Also, the first week or so you will have to shower with these goofy goggles because the water can hurt your eyes. Don't be a wise guy and think you can go without these. Yes, it's sort of awkward and funny at the same time, but keep your eyes safe and your sense of humor intact.

Get good sunglasses and wear them. For the first several months, driving at night was kind of weird for me. I saw a much more exaggerated glare from the lights then I ever had in the past. This is pretty typical, I am told. You should get a really good pair of sunglasses and wear them during the day, even when it's not particularly sunny. I wore my sunglasses while driving at night for almost the full year after my surgery (although if your glasses are too dark, this may not be a good idea). This will help with some of the light sensitivity which is typical during the healing process.

Good luck!