How Long After My Consultation Can I Have Laser Eye Surgery?

So, you’ve finally made the decision to go ahead and check your suitability for Laser Eye Surgery? Well, we can’t say we’re surprised. After all, this life-changing procedure is now more accessible and suitable for more people than ever before. But while everyone’s journey will be different, there are five fundamental steps in the Laser Eye Surgery process that every patient will go through.

In this article, we’re taking a closer look at these fundamental steps and answering the question: How long after my initial consultation will I be able to have my Laser Eye Surgery treatment?

The Five Steps of Laser Eye Surgery

Initial contact with your chosen clinic

While this might sound like a fairly simple step, choosing the right clinic can be a long and confusing process. Thankfully, we have put together a guide to help make sure you make the right choice! During your initial conversation with the clinic, a knowledgeable member of the clinic staff should be able to answer any questions you may have.

The exact waiting time for your consultation varies among clinics, but it could be anything from 1-6 weeks. In most cases, your clinic will dispatch an information pack to your home address, allowing you to digest the important information before visiting the clinic.

The initial consultation and assessment

Your consultation and assessment at the clinic is when you will find out if you are suitable for Laser Eye Surgery. This will be determined with a number of tests and examinations to test your eye health and prescription. This will likely be the longest and most important step in your Laser Eye Surgery journey.

Every clinic’s assessment process is different from the next. At a high street Laser Eye Surgery provider it may be brief and limited in terms of quality and detail, while at a private hospital or independent clinic it’s often lengthy and composed of a multitude of tests. The longer and more thorough this process, the lower the risk and better the results.

At the London Vision Clinic, we pride ourselves on offering the most comprehensive screening consultations. The initial assessment is crucial in accurately determining your suitability for Laser Eye Surgery. Following this, and considering you decide to go ahead, the optometrist will conduct a complete ophthalmic exam, analysing your eyes in even finer detail. This allows us to identify the best procedure for you, and create your personalised treatment plan. The whole process typically takes around 2-3 hours.

The day of your Laser Eye surgery treatment

You’ve decided to go ahead with Laser Eye Surgery, you’ve been walked through the procedure and your personalised treatment plan, and now you’re at the clinic on the day of your treatment. You might be nervous or even excited about what’s to come – but it will be over before you know it.

Following a few minutes in the treatment room and a period to recover in one of our relaxing recovery rooms, it will be time to head home! But this just means it’s nearly time for the best part of your Laser Eye Surgery journey!

The aftercare regime

Immediately following your treatment, there will be a number of requirements you will need to follow as part of your aftercare regime. Don’t worry, though – all of this will have been explained to you at the clinic and you will be sent home with everything you need to ensure a smooth recovery (even your surgeon’s mobile number!).

Common side effects of Laser Eye Surgery, such as dry eyes and night vision disturbances, are usually temporary and nothing to worry about. Lubricating eye drops and temporary glasses (provided by the clinic) are often enough to keep these potential problems in check.

Enjoying your new vision!

Finally, we reach the final step of Laser Eye Surgery: Taking the time to enjoy your new and improved vision! Your full recovery from treatment will likely take a few months (during which time you might continue to experience post-operative side effects); however, most people are able to return to work the next day and return to other normal activities in as little as three days!

How long will I have to wait to have Laser Eye Surgery?

Now that we’ve covered the whole journey, let’s get back to the matter at hand: How long will you have to wait between your consultation and your treatment?

Your eyes and vision have been analysed, measured, and mapped in incredibly accurate detail, you’ve been proven suitable for treatment, and you’ve made the decision to go ahead with the surgery. Well, the good news, as Mr Glenn Carp explains in the video below, is that your procedure could be scheduled for as soon as 24 hours after your final assessment.

Of course, this depends on your specific circumstances and your and your clinic’s availability. Furthermore, we generally advise our patients to take a little more time to digest all the information they have been given so far to allow them to make a more informed decision about their treatment.

You can learn more about what to expect before, during and after PRK/LASEK, LASIK, and ReLEx SMILE on our website.

If you’d like to Book your Consultation to discover your suitability for Laser Eye Surgery, then kickstart your own journey by getting in touch with one of our friendly and knowledgeable clinic coordinators.