The big day is finally here! You’ve done your research, had your laser eye surgery consultation, and decided to say goodbye to glasses and contacts.

It is completely normal to feel a mix of excitement and nervousness on the morning of your procedure. At Infinity Vision Laser, we find that knowing exactly what happens—step by step—is the best way to calm those nerves.

Here is a walkthrough of your transformative day at our eye laser clinic in Regina.

1. The Morning Preparation (Keep it Simple) ☕🚫

Your preparation starts at home.

• No Caffeine: Skip the morning coffee. Caffeine can make you jittery and dry out your eyes, which isn’t ideal for surgery.
• No Makeup or Perfume: Please arrive with a strictly clean face. Makeup debris, lotions, and perfumes can interfere with the laser energy or increase the risk of infection.
• Eat a Light Meal: You don’t need to fast! Have a normal, light breakfast so you don’t feel lightheaded.
• Dress Comfortably: Wear warm, comfortable clothes (like a hoodie or layers). Operating rooms are kept cool for the lasers.

2. Arrival & Final Checks (Welcome to Infinity) 🏥

When you arrive at our clinic, you will be greeted by our friendly team. We know you might be anxious, so we aim to make this part as relaxing as possible.

• Final Measurements: We will do a quick confirmational scan of your eyes to ensure the data programmed into our Schwind Amaris and Ziemer Z8 lasers is 100% accurate to your eyes today.
• Meet Your Surgeon: You will have a moment to chat with Dr. Ahmed Hamroush or your surgeon to ask any last-minute questions.

3. The Pre-Op Suite (Getting Comfortable) 🛋️

Before entering the laser suite, a nurse will take you to a quiet preparation area.

• Numbing Drops: We will apply anesthetic eye drops. These are powerful—within seconds, your eyes will be completely numb. You will feel no pain during the surgery.
• Relaxation: If you are feeling particularly anxious, we can offer a mild sedative to help you relax.

4. The Procedure: Faster Than You Think ⏱️

This is the part everyone worries about, but it is actually the easiest part of the day!

• Duration: The actual laser treatment often takes less than 60 seconds per eye. The whole time in the room is usually under 15 minutes.
• The Experience: You will lie down on a comfortable bed. The surgeon will ask you to stare at a green light. You won’t see any “tools” coming at your eye.
• Sensation: You might feel a slight pressure or a sensation of “cool water” on your eye, but laser eye surgery is not painful. Our advanced eye-tracking technology follows your eye movements, so you don’t have to worry about blinking or looking away—the laser adjusts automatically.

5. Immediately After (The First Look) 👀

Once the procedure is done, the surgeon will help you sit up.

• The “Foggy” Vision: When you open your eyes, you will be able to see, but it will look like you are looking through a foggy shower door or underwater. This is normal and temporary.
• Shields: We will tape clear protective shields over your eyes to prevent you from rubbing them while you sleep.

6. The Trip Home (Especially for Saskatoon Patients) 🚗

You are not allowed to drive immediately after surgery.

• The Ride Home: You must have a friend or family member drive you.
• Traveling from Saskatoon? Many of our patients come from out of town seeking the best eye doctor in Saskatoon or the surrounding area. We recommend having a driver for the trip back on Highway 11. Alternatively, many patients choose to stay in a hotel in Regina for one night to attend their next-morning follow-up before driving themselves home the next day.

7. The Rest of the Day 😴

Your only job for the rest of the day is to go home and sleep. A long nap (4+ hours) is the secret to a fast recovery. When you wake up, the “fog” will have lifted significantly, and your new life with corrective eye surgery begins!

Ready for Your Big Day?

The anticipation is often scarier than the procedure itself. Join the thousands of patients who say, “I wish I had done this sooner!”

One of the biggest myths stopping people from getting LASIK eye surgery is the fear of a long, painful recovery.
“Will I be out of work for weeks?”
“Will I be in pain?”
“Can I drive back to Saskatoon after my surgery?”

The answer to all of these is usually a pleasant surprise. Unlike other surgeries, laser eye surgery recovery is measured in hours, not weeks. Most of our patients at Infinity Vision Laser are back to their normal lives—with better vision than they’ve ever had—by the very next day.

Here is the hour-by-hour breakdown of what you can expect during your corrective eye surgery recovery.

1. Immediately After Surgery (The “Foggy” Phase) 🌫️

Your time in the operating suite is incredibly short (often under 15 minutes). Immediately after the procedure, your vision will be foggy, like looking through a dirty window or underwater. This is normal.

• Sensation: Your eyes may feel gritty, watery, or like there is an eyelash in them as the numbing drops wear off.
• Action: You cannot drive. You will need a friend or family member to drive you home. (For our patients traveling from Saskatoon, we recommend having a driver for the trip back to Regina or staying locally for the night).

2. The First 4–6 Hours (The “Magic Nap”) 😴

Once you get home, the best thing you can do is sleep. We strongly recommend taking a long nap for at least 4 hours.

• Why? Closing your eyes facilitates the initial healing of the corneal flap created by our advanced Ziemer Z8 laser.
• Protection: You will wear clear protective shields to prevent you from accidentally rubbing your eyes while you sleep.

3. The Next Morning (The “Wow” Moment) 😲

This is the moment our patients live for. Most people wake up the morning after LASIK eye surgery with functional, clear vision.

• The Alarm Clock Test: You will likely be able to see your alarm clock or phone notifications without reaching for your glasses.
• Driving: The vast majority of patients test 20/20 or better at their 1-day post-op check-up and are legally cleared to drive immediately. This makes the trip back to see your eye doctor in Saskatoon or Moose Jaw easy and safe.

4. The First Week: Managing Symptoms 💧

While your vision is clear, your eyes are still healing. It is normal to experience:

• Dry Eyes: We will provide you with lubricating drops. Use them frequently!
• Halos & Glare: You might see circles around streetlights at night. This is temporary and usually resolves as corneal swelling subsides.
• Fluctuating Vision: Your vision might be sharper in the morning and blurrier at night. This stabilizes quickly.

5. What You Can (and Can’t) Do 🚫

Recovery is fast, but you need to be smart for a few days to ensure the best laser eye surgery results:

• ✅ Work: Most people return to office jobs within 24–48 hours.
• ✅ Shower: Yes, but keep water and soap out of your eyes.
• ❌ Rubbing: Absolutely no eye rubbing for at least 2 weeks.
• ❌ Swimming/Hot Tubs: Avoid pools and lakes for 2 weeks to prevent infection.
• ❌ Eye Makeup: Pause the mascara and eyeliner for about a week.

6. Convenient for Traveling Patients (Saskatoon & Beyond) 🚗

Because the recovery is so rapid, Infinity Vision is a top choice for those searching for an eye laser clinic near them.

• Day 1: Have your surgery in Regina.
• Day 2: Have your quick follow-up check-up in the morning, then drive yourself home to Saskatoon, Yorkton, or Swift Current.
• Ongoing Care: We can often co-manage your post-op care with your local eye doctor in Saskatoon, saving you from multiple trips.

One of the most common questions we hear during a laser eye surgery consultation is: “Is it safe?”

It is completely normal to be nervous when it comes to your eyes. After all, your vision is your most precious sense. However, laser eye surgery is one of the most studied, performed, and successful elective procedures in modern medicine.

At Infinity Vision Laser, we believe that an informed patient is a confident patient. Let’s break down the safety facts, the technology, and what you need to know before making your decision.

1. The Statistics Speak for Themselves 📊

LASIK eye surgery has been performed on millions of patients worldwide over the last 30 years. The satisfaction rate for LASIK is incredibly high—hovering around 96% to 99%.
In fact, the procedure is so safe and effective that it is approved for use by NASA astronauts and US Air Force fighter pilots—professions where perfect vision is a matter of life and death. If it’s safe enough for them, it’s safe enough for you.

2. Technology Matters: The “Blade-Free” Advantage 🔬

Safety isn’t just about the surgeon; it’s about the tools they use. At Infinity Vision, we don’t use older mechanical blades. We invest in the world’s most advanced German and Swiss engineering:

• Ziemer Z8 (Femtosecond Laser): This laser uses ultra-short pulses to create the corneal flap (in LASIK) or lenticule (in CLEAR) with micron-level precision. It’s gentle, fast, and minimizes stress on the eye.
• Schwind Amaris (Excimer Laser): This laser tracks your eye movements in 7 dimensions during the procedure. If your eye moves even slightly, the laser adjusts instantly. This ensures the laser eye treatment is perfectly centered, even if you are nervous.

3. Beyond LASIK: CLEAR and PRK 🚀

Safety also means choosing the right procedure for your specific eyes. We don’t force LASIK on everyone.

• CLEAR (Lenticule Extraction): Often compared to SMILE eye surgery, CLEAR is a minimally invasive, flap-free option. Because there is no flap, the corneal structure remains stronger, making it arguably safer for athletes or those with physical jobs.
• PRK Eye Surgery: For patients with thinner corneas, we may recommend PRK. It offers the same visual results as LASIK but without creating a flap at all.

4. Risks vs. Side Effects: Knowing the Difference ⚖️

It is important to distinguish between temporary side effects and true complications.

• Common Side Effects: Dry eyes, glare, or halos around lights at night are common during the first few weeks of recovery. These typically resolve as your eyes heal.
• True Complications: Serious risks like infection or flap issues are extremely rare (less than 1%) and can usually be managed effectively by an experienced surgeon.

5. The “No” Factor: Your Safety Net 🛑

The biggest safety factor in corrective eye surgery is the screening process. Not everyone is a candidate. If you have unstable vision, severe dry eye, or certain corneal conditions, we will tell you “No.”
We would rather turn a patient away than risk their long-term eye health. This honest, ethical approach is why patients travel to us, often searching for the best eye doctor in Saskatoon or Regina, to get an honest opinion.

6. Worth the Trip for Peace of Mind 🚗

While we are located in Regina, a significant number of our patients come from Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and across Saskatchewan. When it comes to laser eye surgery, safety and technology should always outweigh convenience.
If you are looking for an eye laser clinic or eye doctor in Saskatoon, consider that Infinity Vision offers the continuity of care (from a corneal specialist) that ensures your safety from the first consultation to your final check-up.

The Verdict?

Laser eye surgery is safer today than it has ever been. With modern diagnostics, blade-free technology, and experienced surgeons, the risk is minimal, and the reward—life without lenses—is massive.