What is a Preoperative Exam?
The "preoperative exam" is the eye exam before surgery. It includes clinical tests to make sure you are a good candidate for refractive surgery and gives the surgeon the necessary information to perform surgery. A comprehensive preoperative exam will likely include these components:
- Case History - purpose of visit and expectations, eye health history, last eye exam and prescription, contact lens information, general health information, current medications, allergies, and eye and general health in the family
- Uncorrected visual acuity at distance and near
- Visual field analysis
- Eye alignment testing
- Pupil diameter in dim and bright light
- Eye dominance testing
- Refraction with and without pupil dilation
- Corneal thickness measurements
- Best spectacle corrected visual acuity
- Anterior segment biomicroscopy
- Corneal topography
- Eye pressure testing
- Discussion or indications, risks, benefits, and alternatives to refractive surgery
- Discussion of exam results and likely individual outcome
- Internal eye exam
- Confirmation of realistic expectations and refractive stability
- Informed consent
An optometrist performs most preoperative exams. Like your surgeon, your optometrist is important in giving you the best possible care. Each optometrist's formal training in providing pre- and postoperative care varies. While most attend continuing education courses on refractive surgery, some optometrists undergo specialty postgraduate training in managing refractive surgery.
For complete information on a refractive surgery preoperative exam, visit the Consumer Guide to LASIK & Laser Eye Surgery.