Ah, the evolution of improved vision. First there were eyeglasses, followed by contact lenses. And finally, LASIK eye surgery came into existence. If you are making the transition from contact lenses to LASIK, you are probably wondering…Can I wear my contacts before my LASIK eye surgery?

Why Can’t I Wear Contacts Before LASIK?

Unfortunately, you can’t. Contact lenses change the shape of the corneas. Important measurements will be made to your eyes, and if you wear contact lenses just prior to your LASIK eye surgery procedure, it will result in inaccurate measurement to the corneas and the rest of your eyes, which then void the operation. Additionally, the wearing of contact lenses right before undergoing in LASIK eye surgery may cause dry eyes, which would negatively impact the healing process, post-op.

How long do I need to take a break from my contacts before LASIK surgery?

By avoiding contact lenses for the necessary period of time, your corneas will revert to its natural (i.e., without contacts) shape and the correct measurements will be taken and recorded for the surgery – and, there will be no risk of issues due to dry eye. 

There is no doubt the inconvenience of taking a break from your contacts before LASIK surgery is totally worth it in the long run.

With those probably inconvenient but important facts to keep in mind, you’re now wondering how long you will have to abstain from putting in your contact lenses. If you wear soft contact lenses, you must stop wearing them for at least two weeks before the LASIK procedure. And, if your contacts are toric or “soft rigid,” stop wearing them three weeks before.

We know. This is probably asking a lot of you or anyone else who has relied on contact lenses to help them see clearly. And it may be cliché to use that old expression: “Good things come to those who wait.” In moving from eyeglasses and contact lenses, however, to the great results that LASIK eye surgery will yield, isn’t it worth that wait?

If you have any further questions or concerns about preparing for LASIK eye surgery, contact SightMD for answers. A member of our eye care team will provide you with all the information about the pre-op procedure, and what to expect afterwards.