via Flikr
If you have been thinking about having a LASIK consultation, and you are a person who wears contact lenses, then here is a quick tip for you when you go in for your consult. When you wear lenses for an extended period of time whether they are hard or soft lenses, they can warp the shape of your corneas. For this reason it is important when considering LASIK and going for your consultation that you abide by the standard “lenses out” time frame. This will ensure that you have an accurate measurement for procedure day (the measurements which will be programmed into the laser that are custom to your vision and prescription). The time frame is roughly as follows:
- If you wear soft lenses they should be out for about 7-10 days
- If you wear hard lenses it will take approx. 4 weeks for every 10 years you have been wearing them
- If you use extended wear it will take approx. 14-20 days
A consultation to determine whether or not you are a candidate can still be completed if you have not taken a break from your lenses, however your procedure day may be cancelled or postponed pending your measurement results. If you have any questions about your lenses or anything else to do with your procedure or consultation, don’t hesitate to ask upon booking to make sure that you are fully prepared.
Categories: Considering LASIK, LASIK Procedures, LASIK Technology
Tags: contacts, contacts and LASIK, laser eye surgery, laser vision correction, LASIK, LASIK procedure
I wear soft lenses during the day – do I go without them for a wk before making my app’t
Hi Lynne!
Soft contacts usually only need to be out for a few days. The best option would be to ask the surgeon when you book your consult. They will be able to let you know for sure, and book your consult around that time frame. Hope that helps!
I am interested in this procedure. And yes, I will set up an appointment soon. But my question, if I want to have both eyes done, how long do i have to wait between procedures? I wear glasses, no contacts for 20 some years.
Typically, Lasik and PRK procedures are performed on both eyes on the same day.
I have been wearing soft contact lenses for 25 years. I use the “daily” type. However, I don’t change them daily. I leave them in for literally months at a time. I have never had a problem with this rountine. I do go for semi-annnual eye exams, again without any problems. Now, I’m thinking about Lasik and have been reading about going without lenses for a period of time, and wondering if my “routine” will have any negative effect on being a candidate for the surgery.
The recommendation may vary from Center to Center or surgeon to surgeon, the average time you would want to be out of the lenses based on the way you wear them prior to the procedure is 3 weeks. You could start changing your wearing schedule to “daily wear only”, no sleep in, and then only have to be out before final scans on average, 2 weeks.