LASIK itself takes only minutes per eye, but the preparation around it matters far more than most patients expect. Good preparation starts weeks before surgery day: confirming you are genuinely a candidate, letting your corneas return to their natural shape, and setting up your life so recovery is restful rather than stressful.
This checklist walks through each stage — the screening, the contact lens break, the weeks before, the day before, surgery day itself, and setting up your recovery space — plus the questions worth asking your surgeon. It is general guidance, not medical advice: your surgeon’s specific instructions always take precedence, so confirm every detail with their team.
Table of Contents
- Start With a Thorough Screening
- The Contact Lens Break
- In the Weeks Before: Habits to Adjust
- The Day Before Surgery
- On Surgery Day: What to Bring and Expect
- Setting Up Your Recovery Space
- Questions Worth Asking Your Surgeon
Start With a Thorough Screening
Everything begins with candidacy screening, and this is the step to take most seriously. A proper LASIK evaluation goes well beyond a routine vision check: corneal topography maps the curvature of your corneas, pachymetry measures their thickness, tear film analysis checks for dry eye, and a dilated exam rules out conditions like keratoconus or early cataract that would make surgery unsafe.
Expect the screening to take an hour or more, and expect the possibility of being told no. Reputable surgeons turn away a meaningful share of prospective patients — thin corneas, unstable prescriptions, significant dry eye, and certain medical conditions are all valid reasons. A “no” is the screening working as intended. If you are cleared, the measurements taken here also guide the laser treatment itself, so their accuracy matters.
The Contact Lens Break
If you wear contacts, you will need to stop wearing them for a period before both your screening and your surgery — because lenses temporarily reshape the cornea, and the laser must be programmed from your cornea’s natural shape. Soft lens wearers typically stop for one to two weeks; wearers of rigid gas-permeable lenses may need several weeks or longer, since those lenses mold the cornea more aggressively.
Your surgeon will give you an exact timeframe based on your lens type and corneal measurements. Switching to glasses during the break is the practical move — and a good reminder of what life with and without lenses feels like as you make your decision. This is also why a current pair of How Often Should You Replace Your Glasses?“>eyeglasses in your up-to-date prescription is worth having before you start the process.
In the Weeks Before: Habits to Adjust
Use the weeks before surgery to get your eyes in their best condition. If you have any dry eye tendency, your surgeon may start you on lubricating drops or other treatment in advance — a well-hydrated ocular surface heals better and gives more predictable results. Manage allergies proactively too, since rubbing itchy eyes and healing corneas do not mix.
On the practical side, arrange your schedule: most people take a day or two off work, more if their job is visually demanding or dusty. Line up your transportation now — you will not be driving yourself home after surgery. And if you take regular medications, confirm with the surgeon which to continue; most are unaffected, but the question is worth asking rather than assuming.
The Day Before Surgery
The day before is about simplicity. Most surgeons ask you to avoid eye makeup, creams, lotions, and perfumes around the eyes for 24 hours beforehand — residues can interfere with the sterile field and the laser. Get a good night’s sleep if you can; arriving rested makes the experience calmer.
Confirm your ride, lay out comfortable clothes (nothing you pull over your head, to avoid brushing the eyes afterward), and write down any last questions so you do not forget them in the moment. Eat normally unless your surgeon says otherwise — LASIK uses only numbing drops, not general anesthesia, so fasting is not required. A final Eye Pressure Test (Tonometry): What to Expect“>eye exam on the day itself will re-verify your measurements before the laser is programmed.
On Surgery Day: What to Bring and Expect
Bring your glasses (you will wear them home), your ride, and any paperwork the clinic requested. Leave valuables and strong fragrances at home. The procedure itself is brief: numbing drops, a reclined chair, gentle pressure as the laser works — most patients are surprised by how quick and uneventful it feels.
You will not feel pain during the procedure, though you may feel pressure and see lights and shadows. Afterward, your eyes will likely water and feel gritty for a few hours — this is normal. Your surgeon will check you before you leave, hand you protective shields and a drop schedule, and send you home to rest. That rest is not optional; keeping the eyes closed for the first several hours meaningfully aids healing.
Setting Up Your Recovery Space
Prepare your home before surgery day so you can truly rest afterward. Stock the prescribed and recommended lubricating drops, keep Prescription Sunglasses vs Clip-Ons“>sunglasses by the door for the light sensitivity of the first days, and set up a comfortable resting spot — many patients find audiobooks or podcasts ideal, since screens and reading strain healing eyes.
For the first week or two, follow the standard restrictions your surgeon sets: no eye rubbing, no swimming, no eye makeup, and caution in dusty or smoky environments. Keep follow-up appointments even if you feel great — the day-after and week-after checks confirm the corneas are healing as intended. Most people are back to desk work within a day or two, but let your eyes, not your calendar, set the pace.
Questions Worth Asking Your Surgeon
Go into your consultation with questions written down. How many LASIK procedures has the surgeon performed? What technology will be used on your eyes, and why? What is the clinic’s enhancement policy if a touch-up is ever needed? What are the realistic risks for someone with your prescription and corneal measurements?
Also ask about the less glamorous details: the full all-in cost, what follow-up care is included, who to call if something feels wrong after hours, and how long you should wait before swimming, exercising, or wearing eye makeup. A good surgeon welcomes these questions — thorough answers are a sign of a practice that takes informed consent seriously. For independent background reading beforehand, the FDA’s LASIK page and the National Eye Institute’s refractive error resources are excellent starting points.