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PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR LASEK

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Chloramphenicol (antibiotic drops / ointment to prevent infection)

Use the drops 4 times a day for 4 days. Each "minim" will last for one day and you have 4 of these. (You can put chloramphenicol ointment in the eye whilst the contact lens is in place if you find this more comfortable, although it will make the vision more misty). You can also put the drops or ointment in more often if you find this makes the eyes more comfortable. When the contact lens has been taken out, use the ointment 4 times a day for one day and then just at night, before going to bed, for a few more days.

Proxymetacaine (diluted anaesthetic drops for pain relief).

Use as needed for any breakthrough pain. Do not use more often than hourly. The proxymetacaine is in the minim marked "saline" - (one drop of full strength anaesthetic is added to the saline solution to be effective without being toxic)

Ibuprofen ("Nurafen") Pain relief tablets

1 tablet 3 times a day as needed. Take with food. You may also take tablets containing Paracetamol and / or codeine at the same time as the ibuprofen. Do not take medicines containing aspirin at the same time as ibuprofen or you may suffer dyspepsia.

Lormetazepam Sleeping tablets

Take 1 or 2 if needed at night

NOTES: LASEK patients usually experience little pain apart from some grittiness and you may well not need tablets for pain or sleeping. There is often some photophobia (light hurting the eye) in the first few days. The only drops that you have to use are the chloramphenicol, which you may use more often if you feel that the eye is dry with the contact lens in place. The eye often feels very dry first thing in the morning on waking. It can happen that one or both eyes can be more painful at some stage during the first few days. This does not mean that things are going wrong so be patient. It is usually a mistake to take out the contact lens too early. If the contact lens does come out spontaneously, which is unusual, then the eye will become more painful. This is not dangerous and is due to the bare area of the cornea being exposed. If this happens, do not try and replace the lens, just use plenty of chloramphenicol ointment and see us for your 4-day appointment as planned. This is "normal" PRK pain without a lens and will not affect your final result. If you are very worried, then the clinic is open every day apart from Sundays and we will be very happy to see you at any time for emergencies

If you are taking out the contact lenses yourself, then do it last thing at night and put in a drop of full strength proxymetacaine anaesthetic before. Take it off the white of the eye, then put in lots of chloramphenicol ointment and go to bed.

Manchester October 2002