Surgery
Before your surgery
Please review the recommended instructions for your procedure type before arriving at LASIK MD.
Not sure which procedure applies to you? Check your personalized quote or browse our candidacy page.
Laser eye surgery
LASIK & PRK
How to prepare
- Consult the Contact Lens Policy to determine minimum removal time before surgery.
- Do not wear perfume, cologne or any product containing heavy fragrances on your surgery date.
- Avoid any product containing alcohol (hairspray, mousse, after-shave).
- Wear comfortable, lint-free clothing. Avoid wool or fleece.
- No restrictions on eating or medications, but advise us of any medications you take.
- No restrictions on having a pacemaker during laser eye surgery.
- Do not wear eye makeup for at least 24 hours before surgery. The procedure may be postponed if makeup is detected.
- Avoid alcohol on the day of surgery as it dehydrates tissues and can delay healing.
- Avoid smoking on the day of your surgery.
- Please do not bring children. Your visit will last approximately 90 minutes.
- Be aware that your eyes will be irritated and light-sensitive following the procedure. This usually diminishes within 24 hours after the laser eye surgery.
- Do not drive for at least 24 hours and long distances for approximately 3 days after LASIK, and 7 days after PRK. Arrange alternative transportation.
- If traveling from outside Canada, carry proper identification such as your passport.
- Depending upon your occupation, you may need to arrange to be away from work following your laser eye surgery. Consult our free starter kit for information on expected times for different occupations.
- If you choose to have post-operative care with your own eye care professional at your expense, please book your appointments prior to your laser eye surgery date, and be prepared to give our center the name of the eye care professional responsible for your follow-up care. Your follow-up visits should take place at one to two weeks, and one month following LASIK, with additional visits required for PRK.
Lens replacement surgery
RLE & IOL
Prepare for surgery
- Remove contact lenses before surgery. Consult the Contact Lens Policy for minimum removal time.
- If you have surgery scheduled on your second eye at a later date, you may wear a contact lens in the non-operated eye up until two days prior to surgery.
- Avoid eye makeup on the day of surgery.
Day of your surgery
Your surgery day involves a few simple steps before the procedure itself. Expect to be at the clinic for approximately 90 minutes.
Arriving at the clinic
What to expect
When you arrive, a clinical counsellor will:
- Explain each step of your procedure and what to expect during surgery.
- Review and provide important post-operative instructions, including how to use your prescribed eye drops.
- Ask you to review and sign a consent form.
- Confirm that payment has been completed.
- Schedule your mandatory 24-hour post-operative assessment.
Before you come: avoid alcohol and makeup, wear comfortable lint-free clothing, and arrange for someone to drive you home (as you won’t be able to drive yourself after surgery).
Feeling nervous?
We can help you
You can expect to feel nervous or anxious prior to your procedure; this is a completely natural response. You may eat normally before your appointment.
To help you relax before your surgery, you will also be given the option of taking a mild sedative, such as Ativan.
After the procedure
Your recovery
You will be escorted to a waiting area to relax. Wear the provided sunglasses from your LASIK MD bag. Regular sunglasses do not provide adequate protection.
Following your LASIK procedure
- We will verify your cornea and ensure the flap has begun to heal.
- Recommended days off work after laser eye surgery:
- Low risk (office work, no dust): 0-2 days
- Medium risk (mild dust or irritants): 4 days
- High risk (moderate dust or trauma risk): 1 week
- Some patients return to work as early as the next day. These are recommended guidelines only.
- Temporary dry eye symptoms may occur during recovery.
- Attending your recommended post-operative appointments is important to monitor healing and reduce the risk of complications.
Following your lens replacement (RLE/IOL)
- You'll receive a 24-hour follow-up phone call after surgery. During this call, we'll provide the details of your mandatory 24-hour post-operative appointment.
- Two additional follow-up appointments are typically required 1-2 weeks after surgery, followed by a 6-8 week phone call.
- Additional follow-up appointments may be recommended depending on your healing progress.
- Post-operative appointments typically last 15-30 minutes and are included in the price of your surgery.
- If you choose to continue your follow-up care with your own eye care professional, LASIK MD will provide or fax your post-operative report to your optometrist.
Procedure step by step
Curious to know what a procedure looks like? Explore each technique below.
You will be escorted to the operating room where you and your surgeon will discuss the procedure.
Have questions about your procedure? Our team will make sure you feel informed, confident, and ready for your surgery.
LASIK procedure
Standard & Custom
Procedure overview
The LASIK procedure involves two steps: the creation of a corneal flap and the reshaping of the cornea with an excimer laser. The procedure generally takes about 10 minutes, with the laser used for less than a minute on each eye.
- Eye drops are used to numb your eyes.
- Your eyelids are gently held open while a precision flap-making instrument is positioned.
- You focus on a fixation light while the surgeon creates and folds back the corneal flap.
- The cornea is reshaped by an excimer laser to correct myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism.
- The corneal flap is repositioned and naturally heals in place.
Most patients resume day-to-day activities within 24 hours after surgery. Eye drops are prescribed for five days post-op, and protective eyewear should be worn at night for the first night.
PRK procedure
Standard & Custom
Procedure overview
PRK is used when the cornea may be too thin or soft to allow for a LASIK flap. During the procedure, a small area on the corneal surface is gently removed before the laser reshapes the eye in the same way as LASIK.
The PRK procedure generally takes about 10 to 15 minutes for both eyes, with the laser used for less than a minute on each eye.
Recovery: a soft contact lens is placed on the eye after surgery and is usually removed after about five days. Mild discomfort, blurry vision, and vision fluctuations are common during the first days of healing.
Vision gradually improves over the first few weeks and typically stabilizes between 4 to 8 weeks after surgery. The final outcomes of PRK and LASIK are very similar; the main difference is healing time.
Lens implant procedure
IOL/RLE
Procedure overview
The IOL procedure replaces the natural lens of the eye with an artificial lens customized for your vision needs. It is performed on an outpatient basis and generally takes about 20 minutes per eye.
- Eye drops are used to dilate your pupil and numb your eye.
- A tiny incision is made in the cornea, and the natural lens is gently softened and removed.
- An intraocular lens (IOL) is inserted into the space where the natural lens was.
- The lens membrane (capsular bag) is left intact to support the new lens.
Most patients resume day-to-day activities within 24 hours after surgery. Eye drops may be prescribed for 1-2 weeks, and protective eye shields may be required at night for the first week.
Important for drivers: You must have someone drive you home after your procedure. Do not drive for at least 24 hours, and never until your vision is fully clear.
Informed consent
The patient consent form indicates that you have been made aware of the nature of the procedure, its risks, benefits, and alternatives, and that you are making an informed decision to proceed.
You have the right to consent to or refuse any treatment at any time prior to its performance.
Understanding the consent process
Read more
- Eye exam
During your pre-operative consultation, we examine your eyes to determine candidacy and explain the procedure, risks, complications, expected benefits, and alternatives. - Surgical counselling
Before surgery, we ensure you have received a surgical information package and consent form, reviewed with an eye care professional present to answer your questions. - Surgeon review
Your surgeon covers risks and complications specific to your needs and provides your post-operative plan. Please notify your surgeon if you have unanswered questions. - Patient consent form
You sign the consent form before your procedure. You may request a copy of your consent form at any time.
Ready for the next step?
Meet with a LASIK MD eye care professional to discuss your vision, procedure options, and recovery timeline.
Recovery and eye care