Are you just tired of wearing glasses or contacts? If you are, then you should consider going for LASIK. The best thing about LASIK co-management is that you will not be navigating it alone. The process is built around a team approach called co-management.

This means your own optometrist partners with a specialized surgeon. You get expert surgery, followed by convenient aftercare right in your neighborhood. Here is how the typical journey unfolds.

Phase 1: The Foundation – Your In-Depth Evaluation

Think of this first phase as your fact-finding mission. The comprehensive eye exam at your optometrist’s office will check your prescription and your eyes’ overall health.

Then, your doctor takes a much closer look. They use a special scanner to map your eye in detail. It measures the exact curve and thickness of your cornea. It even checks how moist your eyes stay. Think of it as drawing up a custom blueprint, just for your eyes.

You will also sit down for a good talk. Your doctor will ask about your routine, your work, and what you love to do. They will want to know what you are hoping LASIK will change for you. This chat helps them understand your needs, so they can guide you better.

If you are a good candidate, your optometrist will walk you through everything. They will give you clear pre-surgery instructions, like when to switch from contacts back to glasses.

Finally, they will coordinate the next step. Your optometrist sends all your records and measurements to a trusted LASIK surgeon. This handoff means your surgical consultation picks up right where your evaluation left off, with no gaps or repeated tests.

Phase 2: The Procedure – Precision and Care

On the day of the procedure, the surgeon will review all your measurements one last time and answer any final questions you have.

You will be awake for the whole thing. They will use numbing drops so you will not feel any pain. Here is how it works: first, the surgeon uses a laser to create a tiny, thin flap on the surface of your cornea. Then, a second laser reshapes the tissue underneath. This is what corrects your vision. Finally, the flap is gently put back in place. The amazing part? The entire process for each eye takes just a few minutes.

After surgery, your vision will be blurry. It is common for your eyes to feel a bit gritty, watery, or sensitive. You will need to rest, and it is absolutely required that you have someone drive you home. The number one rule for the first while is to avoid rubbing your eyes at all costs.

Phase 3: The Recovery – Support Close to Home

Your follow-up care will happen with your local optometrist. They will first check up on you the next day. Your optometrist makes sure the eye is healing well and checks your vision. You will then have a few brief visits over the next several months to monitor your progress.

Some dryness and light sensitivity are normal. Your key jobs are to use your medicated and lubricating eye drops as directed and to protect your eyes, avoid swimming, dust, and rubbing.

The process ends when your vision stays stable, which your optometrist confirms at a final visit. Remember, even after successful LASIK, yearly eye exams are still essential for your long-term eye health. This team approach is designed to give you seamless, clear support from start to finish.

For more on LASIC Co-Management, visit Patterson Eye Clinic. Our office is in Richmond, Virginia. To book an appointment, call (804) 285-7638 today.

https://stanfordhealthcare.org/content/dam/SHC/clinics/byers-eye-institute/docs/eye-laser-center-comanagement-manual.pdf

https://www.optometrists.org/general-practice-optometry/optical/guide-to-laser-refractive-surgery/laser-refractive-surgery/lasik-co-management/