If you wear contact lenses, your LASIK surgeon will usually ask you to stop wearing them before your pre-operative exam. This gives your corneas time to return to their natural shape before the doctor takes measurements for surgery.
Contacts can temporarily change the shape of the cornea, even when they fit well and feel comfortable. If your cornea is still shifting from contact lens wear, your LASIK measurements may not be as accurate as they should be. That can affect the surgical plan and may increase the chance of a less predictable vision result.
Your exact timeline depends on the type of contacts you wear, how long you’ve worn them, and what your surgeon sees during your exam. Always follow the schedule given by your LASIK surgeon or co-managing eye doctor.
Why Do You Have To Stop Wearing Contacts Before LASIK?
LASIK is planned around detailed measurements of your eyes, including the shape and thickness of your cornea. Your surgeon uses those measurements to decide how much corneal tissue should be reshaped during the procedure.
Contact lenses sit directly on the eye, so they can temporarily affect the cornea’s surface. Soft lenses tend to cause fewer changes than rigid lenses, but any contact lens can affect the exam if you wear it too close to your evaluation.
That’s why your doctor may ask you to wear glasses only for a set period before your LASIK consultation, pre-operative exam, and surgery date.
How Long Before LASIK Should You Stop Wearing Different Types Of Contacts?
The amount of time you need to stop wearing contacts before LASIK depends on the type of lenses you use. Soft lenses, toric lenses, RGP lenses, and older hard lenses can affect the cornea in different ways, so your surgeon may give you a different timeline based on your lens type and exam results.
Soft Contact Lenses
Most people who wear regular soft contact lenses are asked to stop wearing them about 2 weeks before the initial LASIK evaluation. During that time, you’ll usually need to wear glasses instead.
Soft lenses include many common options, including daily wear contact lenses, one-day lenses, two-week lenses, and monthly lenses. Even if your lenses feel thin and comfortable, your surgeon still needs your cornea to settle before taking final measurements.
Toric Contact Lenses
If you wear contacts for astigmatism, your doctor may ask you to stop wearing them earlier than standard soft lenses. Many surgeons recommend stopping toric soft lenses for at least 3 weeks before the LASIK evaluation.
Toric lenses are designed to stay in a stable position on the eye so they can correct astigmatism. Because of their design, they may affect the cornea differently than regular soft lenses. Giving your eyes more time without them helps your doctor get a clearer reading of your natural corneal shape.
RGP Contact Lenses
Rigid gas permeable contact lenses usually require a longer break before LASIK because they can affect the cornea differently than soft lenses. Many surgeons recommend stopping RGP lenses for at least 3 weeks before the initial exam. Some patients may need more time, especially if they have worn RGP lenses for many years. Your doctor may repeat certain measurements to confirm that your cornea is stable before moving forward with surgery.
Hard Contact Lenses
Older hard contact lenses can affect the cornea more than soft lenses. If you wear traditional hard lenses, your surgeon may ask you to stop wearing them for at least 4 weeks before your LASIK evaluation.
In some cases, the break may be longer. If your corneal measurements are still changing, your surgery may be delayed until your doctor sees stable results.
What Happens If Your Cornea Is Not Stable Yet?
If your LASIK measurements are not stable, your doctor may ask you to stay out of contacts longer and return for another exam. This does not always mean you are not a candidate for LASIK. It usually means your surgeon wants more reliable measurements before making a surgical plan.
This step can feel inconvenient, especially if you rely on contacts every day. Still, it helps your doctor avoid planning surgery around measurements that may change after your eyes have more time away from lenses.
What Should You Wear Instead Of Contacts Before LASIK?
You’ll usually need to wear glasses during the contact lens break. Make sure your glasses are comfortable enough for daily use, especially if you drive, work on a computer, or need clear vision for school or work.
If your glasses prescription feels outdated, ask your eye doctor what to do before you stop wearing contacts. Don’t switch back into your lenses unless your LASIK team says it’s okay.
Give Your Corneas Time To Stabilize Before LASIK
You should stop wearing contact lenses before LASIK because your surgeon needs your corneas to be as natural and stable as possible before taking measurements.
As a general guide, regular soft contacts are usually stopped about 2 weeks before the LASIK evaluation. Toric soft lenses and RGP lenses are usually stopped for at least 3 weeks. Traditional hard lenses are usually stopped for at least 4 weeks, though some patients may need longer.
Your LASIK surgeon’s instructions should always come first. If your eyes need more time to stabilize, waiting a little longer can help your doctor plan the procedure more accurately.
