The preoperative consultation usually takes roughly two hours. When you call to make an appointment, you will be asked about the type of contact lenses you wear, if any. You’ll also be given instructions about your contacts in preparation for the consultation.
If you wear soft spherical lenses, you should stop wearing them 48 hours to 1 week before your consultation.
If you wear soft toric contact lenses (corrects for astigmatism), you should stop wearing them 72 hours to 2 weeks before your consultation, depending on Dr. Kornmehl’s preference. Toric lenses are soft lenses designed for astigmatism. They are slightly oval-shaped and are weighted so they will not rotate on the eye.
If you wear hard contact lenses or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, you may need to stop wearing them for several weeks before your consultation. RGP lenses are made of a porous substance that permits oxygen to permeate the lenses so the eyes can “breathe”
Why discontinue wearing contact lenses prior to the consultation? Contact lenses can alter the shape of your cornea for up to several weeks after you have stopped wearing them, depending on the type of lens. For Dr. Kornmehl to take accurate measurements, the cornea must assume its natural shape. Your surgeon may need to repeat these measurements after your initial consultation and before surgery to make sure the shape of your cornea has stabilized. If you wear your contacts to the consultation appointment, Dr. Kornmehl can usually tell you whether you are a candidate, but he or she can’t take accurate measurements of your eyes until after you discontinue lens wear.