Three Tips To Prepare You For Eye Surgery

Posted on: 28 February 2022

The idea of a surgical procedure on the eyes is enough to heighten any person's anxiety. After all, the eyes are the most prominent of your five senses. Because your eyes register between 80% and 85% of all daily perceptions around you, they have a significant impact on your day-to-day living. Whether your planned eye surgery removes cataracts or reshapes your corneas, there are several steps you can take to prepare for a procedure on this body part. Here are three things you can do on or before surgery day.

Reduce Caffeine Intake

For eye surgery to be successful, your doctor must accurately see the current state of your eyes. Caffeine has an impact on your body in several ways. Firstly, a cup of coffee tells your adrenal glands to increase adrenaline in the body. The adrenaline spike also increases your blood pressure. High blood pressure is an obstacle to your surgery as your doctor needs you to remain in a calm, relaxed state. Secondly, too much caffeine may trigger eye spasms or blurred vision. Since these are both false indicators of eye issues, consider laying off the caffeine on surgery day. Of course, you can always indulge in a cup after your surgery.

Take A Contact Lens Break

Contact lenses are a useful daily tool to help you see the world around you. However, because they can change the cornea shape, your surgeon may require you to cease wearing them in the weeks or days before your surgery day. This reduction of lens wearing time allows the cornea to revert to its natural shape before surgery. Make sure to ask the question of your optometrist about when to stop wearing your contacts.

Clean Face On Surgery Day

Facial creams, perfumes and make-up are all discouraged on surgery day. The reason for this discouragement is the chemicals inside these substances. Often during eye surgery, the pupil is enlarged by special eyedrops. The pupil dilation is necessary so that your optometrist sees all issues occurring within the eye. However, the perfume's scent, for example, could irritate the pupil when at its most vulnerable state. Likewise, make-up and facial creams could accidentally enter the eye and annoy it. There is a reduced chance of eye irritation occurring when arriving at the surgery with clean, chemical-free skin.

Use these three tips as a foundation to prepare for eye surgery. Then, direct any further questions or concerns you have to your optometrist. 

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