5 Ways to Calm Down Before LASIK Surgery
Many people find medical procedures daunting and overwhelming. So it’s no surprise you may feel a little anxious before going into LASIK surgery. For many it may be the first surgery being awake, and the uncertainty can contribute to those nerve-racking feelings.
If you haven’t scheduled your procedure because of anxiety, you are not alone. Knowing LASIK is safe can bring calm. Find out 5 things you can do to calm yourself down before LASIK surgery.
How to Calm Down Before LASIK
#1 Deep Breathing
Sounds obvious but we often need a reminder. If you find yourself getting nervous on the day of your surgery, try taking deep breaths. Also known as abdominal breathing, or diaphragmatic breathing, it is simple and can be done anywhere. Deep abdominal breathing encourages full oxygen exchange by filling the lowest part of the lungs with air. This can slow your heart rate and lower blood pressure – perfect for combatting anxiety and staying calm.
How to Breathe Deeply
Breathe deeply through your nose until you fill your lungs full of air and your lower belly rises. Slowly breathe out through your nose or mouth. Some people like to practice deep breathing with their eyes closed and imagine a word/phrase that helps them relax. If deep breathing is new to you, practise for 10-20 minutes before the surgery so you have enough time to find the most effective method.
#2 Think About the Numbers
You can take comfort in knowing you aren’t one of the first to undergo LASIK laser eye surgery. No one knows the exact figure but between 20 and 30 million LASIK surgeries have been completed worldwide since it was invented in 1999. That’s a lot of people that have come before you. All that knowledge and experience with the technology has led to impressive patient satisfaction and success rates of well over 90%.
A 2016 review of 97 LASIK studies which included almost 68,000 LASIK-treated eyes found that more than 90% of patients had perfect results of 20/20 vision (known as 6/6 vision in Australia).
Almost 100% of patients achieved vision standards that meet the Australian legal driving requirements of 6/12 vision.
Less than 1% of patients lost clarity of vision of 2 or more lines on the eye chart.
Up to 99% of patients were extremely happy with the outcome of their surgery.
When preparing for surgery, think about all those millions of people who have gone before you and were thrilled with the results. And you too can enjoy the freedom of greatly improved eyesight. It will only be a couple of hours before everything is over.
#3 Remind Yourself There’s Very Little Risk With LASIK
It’s almost all positive when it comes to LASIK. You might have heard that all surgeries come with some risk but with LASIK it is minuscule. Some people will say that their biggest fear is going blind after surgery. However, this has never happened in Australia, and there are no documented cases anywhere in the world.
Serious complications are very rare. When your surgery is completed by a highly experienced surgeon using the latest technology, the risks are further reduced. Moreover, following simple post-op instructions may enhance positive outcomes.
#4 A Mild Sedative to Calm Your Nerves
To help keep you calm before surgery you will have oral sedation and analgesia. Local anaesthetic eye drops stop the feeling of needing to blink, so there’s no need to worry. You will be lying comfortably on a bed during the procedure. And all you will need is to stay as still as possible (even though the laser tracks your eye movements).
#5 Ask Questions
Fear of the unknown is an intense and common fear. Going into surgery fully informed about what you can expect during and after the procedure is one of the best ways to allay your fears.
Feel free to bring along a list of questions you want answered during your consultation before the procedure. If you don’t know what to ask or where to start, there’s plenty of information online, so you can always query Dr Google. If you have any queries after your appointment, contact our rooms.
Don’t forget your surgeon will be right next to you throughout the procedure and will walk you through each stage so you won’t be left wondering what’s happening next.
If you have any concerns about having LASIK surgery, don’t hesitate to contact us online or call (08) 9381 0758 for more information.
Contact Lions Laser Vision
Please call us at Lions Laser Vision and speak with one of our clinical coordinators who will be able to answer your questions and schedule an initial consultation with one of our refractive surgeons.
Alternatively, complete the form below and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
PHONE: 08 9381 0758
FAX: 08 9381 0700
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Lions Eye Institute
Lions Laser Vision
1st Floor,
2 Verdun Street
Nedlands WA 6009
St John of God Murdoch
Murdoch Medical Centre
Suite 4B,
Ground Floor,
100 Murdoch Dr
Murdoch WA 6150