Booked your surgery date? Nervous about how to prepare? Here is your comprehensive pre-op surgery checklist! If you’d like to see an abridged version, check out our 1-minute Instagram recap.

Prepare for the Day

Gather All Your Supplies

Before surgery, you’ll want to gather everything you need for at least your first week of recovery. You’ll be given a list of prescriptions and supplies for your surgery. Order them from your local pharmacy. Depending on your insurance, most prescription drops will be covered. However, over-the-counter pain medications (like ibuprofen and Tylenol), vitamin C, and hydrating eye drops will need to be paid for out of pocket.

A note on pain management: The surgery itself isn’t painful thanks to numbing drops, but some patients experience discomfort for a few hours or days afterward as the cornea heals. Pain medication can help. I only needed 200mg of ibuprofen for the first two days. 

You’ll Need a Little Help

You will need someone to drive you home from surgery and bring you to your next appointment (or appointments) until your surgeon gives you the okay to drive again. You’ll also likely need help from a loved one during the first couple of days while your vision is still blurry and sensitive to light for things like walking pets outside and cooking.

Prepare Your Space

Make your space as easy to navigate and as clean as possible before surgery. Wipe down high-touch areas, change your sheets, and vacuum; especially if you have pets like me! Fill up hand soap containers too, since you’ll be washing your hands before applying drops at least 4 times per day during the first week.

Make your life easier by catching up on work and other errands as much as possible. While you’re able to return to computer work 48 hours to 6 days after surgery, you’ll want to ease your way back into it. Consider setting your font size settings higher, since you’ll regain most of your vision by the end of week 2, but small letters (like those on a laptop) might be difficult to read initially.

The Day Of

Take Care of Yourself!

Shower and wash your hair before surgery. You’ll only be able to take a bath 24 hours after surgery, and over the next week you’ll want to avoid getting soap and water in your eyes. Pro tip for people with curly hair like me: braiding or straightening your hair can help prevent tangles instead of dry brushing your curls.

Set up your bedside station with your eye drops, medications, water bottle, and other supplies you’ll need day to day. That way they’re easier to reach when you need them, and you won’t be scrambling to find your essentials after surgery.

Download podcasts or set up a music playlist for when you’re not able to use your phone comfortably. Personally, I just watched Grey’s Anatomy since it has so many seasons and I know most plot threads well enough to follow along without watching closely! Frankly, you’ll need less entertainment than you think— I spent my first 3 days mostly sleeping.

Make sure to eat and drink before your appointment. Food and water are important for a healthy body and proper healing! You won’t be under general anesthesia, so no fasting is required. A hydrated body means hydrated eyes, which is important for recovery.

Take your medications as prescribed. I was given something to help with my anxiety (can’t you tell from this overly-prepared guide?), so I set an alarm for an hour before my appointment so I would remember to take it. Take your medications as indicated by your doctor unless you’ve discussed otherwise with your eye surgeon.

Pick a comfortable outfit that’s easy to take on and off. I recommend something like a button-up shirt so there’s no chance of bumping your eyes as you remove it. Zip-up hoodies are your best friend if you get cold!

Let people know you’ll be off your phone. Don’t disappear on the people you care about. A welfare check is not conducive to recovery!

Final Note

Every patient’s recovery is unique. Always follow your surgeon’s specific instructions, and don’t hesitate to call their office if you have questions or concerns during your recovery.