There is technically no right answer to how much time your clinician, patient care coordinator, or surgeon should spend with you before your treatment; however, for many patients, this is an important consideration when choosing the right clinic.
Patients should feel that they have been given enough time to ask any questions related to their treatment and to absorb the information given to them. Before your surgery, you will undergo a full eye health examination which will involve a number of tests. This pre-operative screening can take up to 2-3 hours and, generally, the more time taken for this step, the better.
In addition to this pre-operative appointment, you should also attend a one-to-one appointment with your surgeon. This appointment should take place on a different day to your treatment.
Your “Cooling-Off” Period
When considering Laser Eye Surgery, it is important to take all the time you need to digest the information you have been given. Guidelines from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists recommended a “cooling-off” period of at least a week between being found suitable for treatment and the procedure being performed.
In some cases, seven days may be impractical – such as for patients travelling from abroad for treatment. It is therefore possible to shorten the cooling-off period. This can be discussed during your initial appointment and noted in your medical records.
At London Vision Clinic, we require at least 24 hours for your cooling-off period. This allows you to fully consider your options and digest the information given during your initial consultation. Moreover, you will also have the opportunity to consider any questions you may wish to discuss with your surgeon before proceeding with your treatment.
You should always be given the opportunity to discuss your treatment with your surgeon before the procedure. Your surgeon is ultimately responsible for the outcome of your surgery, so meeting them before surgery day can help you to feel more comfortable with your treatment.