Question From A Recent Patient
Dr Chynn,
I know you are busy and I know these should probably wait till my appointment but if you could help, they would make my appointment go much smoother. I was reading over the website, and the pre/post op instructions… and there were 2 things that struck me as both odd and one annoyance.
First… 4 days of not opening the eyes is excessive. One day… no problem… I sleep… however I was under the impression that if I got it done on a Friday… did my one day post op on Saturday and my 3 day on Monday, I could then go into work. I have known others that have done this with great success. As I do not want to NOT follow instructions, can you guide me on why your instructions say 4 days and give me the reasoning behind that. (If the answer is too long… tell me to wait till my scheduled appointment on Saturday.) In my job… I just can’t go 4 days without reading my email and being at work… unless I schedule it a year in advance… or I am dying…
Second, do I have to bring someone? I live in Manhattan and was hoping I could just get out (even if my vision was blurry), take a cab home, and pass out. Is there really a $250 fine for not bringing someone?
Thanks again for all your help! It is really nice that you get back to people!
Answer from Dr. Chynn:
It’s not really 4 days, and it includes the weekend.
Therefore, if you get the procedure on a Friday afternoon, you will not miss work Friday (maybe just leave a couple of hours early so you get here on time), and come Saturday for your 1 day postop, then come back Monday for your bandage contact lens removal. You will then go back to work Tuesday (light day) and full work Wednesday
Really only missing 1 day (Monday), and so you can do this on any holiday/long weekend and not miss any work days.
We only do the safer, more advanced, noncutting procedures. However, they take 1-2 days longer to recover compared to the older, less safe LASIK (which I had done myself in 1999) because it is a surface ablation, so your surface has to recover. We will discuss this more when you come in.
Second, do I have to bring someone? I live in Manhattan and was hoping I could just get out (even if my vision was blurry), take a cab home, and pass out. Is there really a $250 fine for not bringing someone?
To help relax you in the OR, as having a familar face/voice/handholder we have found to be very helpful letting you relax so you have the best possible result, after 10,000 cases- To help you remember all your instructions, as you will be on Valium so a bit relaxed/sleepy/out of it (it feels like 2 drinks if you haven’t had it before)
- To run out and get you anything you forgot (like some patients forget to fill their meds)
- FINALLY, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, to help bring you home if you do not you will be charged $100 on your credit card
- Dr. Chynn will give this $100 to one of his staff to be your Companion, and do the following:
1. help get you comfortable for surgery (plug your favorite music on your iPod or CD into our stereo system so it is playing in the OR)
2. “hold your hand” in the OR
3. Help you remember all instructions
4. Accompany you home and help you instill your first set of drops