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Before the surgery day, there are careful pre-op procedures & tests to check if your eyes are ready and to plan the safest treatment. This guide walks you through LASIK pre-op steps, why they matter, and what to expect.
What is LASIK Surgery?
LASIK surgery reshapes the cornea to correct refractive errors, allowing you to see clearly without glasses or contacts. Before anyone is scheduled, doctors do a full baseline evaluation to confirm you’re a good candidate and to discuss risks, benefits, and alternatives.
Why the LASIK Pre-op Procedures are So Important
The pre-op evaluation is one of the most structured eye exams in practice today. It confirms candidacy (eye health, stable refraction, safe corneal shape/thickness), reduces surprises (like undiagnosed dry eye), and helps match surgery to your visual goals.
Medical & Social History
Your clinician will document a detailed history to personalize care and spot red flags.
- Past Medical History / Past Ocular History
Doctors look for diabetes, autoimmune/connective-tissue disease, keloid tendency, ocular herpes/keratitis, prior strabismus, cataract, or retinal issues in high myopia. These can change risk or require extra steps (e.g., retinal review).
- Medications
Share prescription and OTC meds. Examples that can impact healing or dryness include isotretinoin (Accutane), some migraine drugs, and antihistamines. Management may involve pausing or timing around surgery, as advised by your surgeon.
- Past Surgical History
Even childhood eye surgery (e.g., strabismus) matters; it can influence postoperative alignment or diplopia risk.
- Social History
Smoking/alcohol, contact sports, work and hobbies shape counseling (e.g., flap-safety in contact sports) and visual goals (distance-only vs monovision).
- Family History
Family history suggestive of keratoconus (e.g., corneal transplant in relatives) triggers extra screening for corneal ectasia risk.
Physical Examination
Below are the different physical LASIK pre-op procedures:
- Visual Acuity – Uncorrected and corrected vision are recorded as your baseline.
- Refraction – Both manifest and cycloplegic refractions are measured to uncover latent hyperopia and avoid over-minusing. Stability of prescription over time is also assessed.
- Complete Eye Examination – Includes slit-lamp exam (lids/meibomian glands, conjunctiva, cornea with fluorescein/lissamine staining), intraocular pressure, dilated lens and retinal exam (especially peripheral retina in high myopes). Findings like anterior basement membrane dystrophy, corneal scarring, signs of old uveitis, or early cataract may shift recommendations.
LASIK Testing
LASIK testing adds objective data to confirm safety and plan treatment:
Dry Eye Testing
Tear film quality (TBUT/NIBUT) and quantity (Schirmer) are checked; osmolarity and MMP-9 (Inflammation marker) may be used. Treating dryness first improves outcomes.
Examples:
- TBUT/NIBUT, meibography, lipid layer assessment (device-assisted)
- MMP-9 positivity is seen in a substantial subset of dry-eye patients, supporting targeted anti-inflammatory therapy before LASIK.
Contrast Sensitivity Testing
Beyond the high-contrast Snellen chart, tests like Mars Letter or Hamilton-Veale assess functional vision and can guide expectations.
Pupil Testing
Dark-room pupil size is measured (with infrared pupillometry).
Larger pupils can correlate with more glare/halos in some studies, though evidence is mixed; this is addressed in informed consent and optical zone planning.
Topography, Tomography & Corneal Biomechanics
- Topography maps the front corneal surface.
- Tomography (e.g., Scheimpflug/AS-OCT) analyzes front + back surfaces and pachymetry in 3D.
- Together, they screen for keratoconus/ectasia risk and ensure adequate residual stromal bed. Surgeons increasingly consider biomechanical susceptibility, not just classic keratoconus signs.
Wavefront Analysis
Detects higher-order aberrations (HOAs). If HOAs are high, wavefront-guided ablation may be chosen; if not, a standard profile may suffice.
Pre-LASIK Test Costs in India
Hospitals price tests individually or bundle them into the LASIK package.
Examples of per-test ranges reported by Indian providers are:
- Corneal topography: ~₹1,500–₹2,500 (some centers list ~₹3,500 per eye)
- Pachymetry: ~₹800–₹1,500 (some list ₹2,000–₹3,500)
- Wavefront analysis: ~₹400–₹800
- Pupil measurement: ~₹250–₹1,000 (some list ₹1,000–₹2,500)
- Dry eye tests: ~₹200–₹400 (some lists ₹300–₹750 depending on panel)
Do clinics bundle tests? Many quote a per-eye LASIK price that may include pre-op tests and follow-ups; always ask your clinic what’s included and what’s not.
Conclusion
LASIK prerequisites exist to keep you safe and to tailor surgery to your eyes. Share a complete history, stop contacts on schedule, and expect tests for dryness, pupil size, corneal maps, thickness, and HOAs.
If you’re in India, check whether your pre-LASIK test cost is bundled or billed per test. With the right prep and realistic goals, your eye surgeon can plan the best path for you.
FAQs
What are LASIK prerequisites?
LASIK prerequisites are a stable, healthy eye with adequate corneal thickness/shape, a stable prescription, and no uncontrolled ocular/systemic disease; plus a full baseline exam (history, refraction, slit-lamp/dilated exam) and key tests (dry eye panel, pupil size, topography/tomography, pachymetry, wavefront).
What are standard LASIK pre-op instructions?
Standard LASIK pre-op instructions are to stop contacts before the baseline exam (Soft 2 weeks; Toric soft/RGP ≥3 weeks; Hard ≥4 weeks). Avoid makeup/lotions the day before surgery, practice lash hygiene if advised, bring your meds list, and arrange transport for surgery day and early follow-ups.
What is the pre-LASIK test cost?
In India, many centers bundle tests into the LASIK package; when itemized, published examples show: topography ~₹1,500–₹2,500 (some ₹3,500), pachymetry ~₹800–₹1,500 (some ₹2,000–₹3,500), wavefront ~₹400–₹800, pupil measurement ~₹250–₹1,000, dry eye tests ~₹200–₹400/₹300–₹750. Always confirm your clinic’s bill.
