Understanding LASIK Co-Management: How Our Optometrists Handle Your Care

LASIK can reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses, but the process involves more than the procedure itself. LASIK co-management brings your optometrist and refractive surgeon together to coordinate your evaluation, surgery, recovery, and long-term eye care.

At Central Illinois Family Eyecare, our optometrists provide pre-operative and post-operative care while working with an experienced LASIK surgeon. This approach gives you a familiar local point of contact before and after surgery.

What Is LASIK Co-Management?

LASIK co-management is a coordinated care arrangement between your optometrist and the ophthalmologist who performs the surgery. The surgeon handles the laser procedure, while our optometrists help evaluate your eyes, prepare you for the next steps, and monitor healing afterward.

Because we already understand your vision history, prescription, eye health, and daily visual needs, we can help make the process more personalized. We also communicate relevant findings to the surgeon so each provider has the information needed to guide your care.

Your Pre-Operative LASIK Evaluation

Before recommending a surgical consultation, we perform a detailed eye examination to determine whether LASIK may be appropriate. Not everyone is a candidate, and careful screening helps identify conditions that could affect safety, healing, or the expected result.

Your evaluation may include:
 

•          Reviewing your prescription stability, health history, medications, and vision goals
 

•          Examining the cornea, tear film, retina, and overall eye health
 

•          Checking for dry eye, infection, inflammation, or other concerns
 

•          Discussing realistic expectations, potential risks, and possible alternatives
 

•          Referring you to a qualified refractive surgeon for additional testing and final candidacy approval

Contact lens wear may need to stop before certain measurements because lenses can temporarily alter the shape of the cornea. We will explain how long to leave them out based on the type you wear and the surgeon’s instructions.

Coordinating Care With Your LASIK Surgeon

Once you are referred, the surgeon performs additional testing, confirms candidacy, reviews the procedure, and completes the surgery. Our office remains involved by sharing clinical information and helping you understand the care plan.

Co-management does not mean every patient follows an identical schedule. Your visits and instructions depend on your eyes, procedure, surgeon, and healing progress. Following the prescribed eye drop schedule and activity restrictions is important for protecting your eyes during recovery.

Post-Operative Visits and Recovery Monitoring

After LASIK, follow-up visits allow us to evaluate vision, examine the cornea, and look for signs of dryness, inflammation, infection, or delayed healing. Temporary blurred vision, glare, halos, light sensitivity, and dry eye symptoms can occur during recovery.

We will review your symptoms, reinforce post-surgical instructions, and communicate with the surgeon when needed. Contact us promptly if you develop severe pain, worsening vision, increasing redness, discharge, or symptoms that concern you rather than waiting for a scheduled appointment.

Ongoing Eye Care After LASIK

LASIK changes the shape of the cornea, but it does not prevent age-related vision changes or eye disease. Routine comprehensive eye exams remain important for monitoring eye health, updating your visual needs, and detecting concerns that may not cause early symptoms.

Schedule a LASIK co-management consultation with Central Illinois Family Eyecare to learn more about your options. Contact our office in Bloomington or Peoria, IL, by calling (309) 213-9200 or (309) 839-1614 to book an appointment.