For informed conversations with your healthcare team. This guide is not personalised medical advice and has not been individually reviewed by a clinician.
Tell the clinic exactly what you wear
Before choosing travel dates for laser vision correction, tell the clinic the type of contact lenses you use and your wearing pattern. Include rigid, soft, toric or any specialist lenses, rather than simply ticking 'contact lens wearer'. Ask the clinical team for preparation instructions specific to those lenses.
The FDA explains that contact lenses can temporarily alter corneal shape and affect surgical measurements. A period without lenses may therefore be needed before assessment, and some measurements may need repeating. The appropriate arrangement should come from your treating eye professional, rather than a generic itinerary.
Make glasses workable in advance
Check that you have glasses you can use for the required period and explain any difficulty functioning without lenses. If your current glasses are old or unsuitable, resolve that before departure. The clinic needs to know if its instructions will be hard to follow.
For example, a traveller who depends on rigid lenses for work may find an unexpected lens break much more disruptive than the operation date itself. Ask whether assessment can be scheduled separately or coordinated with a clinician near home. Avoid quietly shortening the preparation period in order to preserve a convenient flight booking.
Allow the examination to stay provisional
Ask what happens if the surgeon decides the measurements are not yet reliable. Clarify whether the procedure would be postponed, which checks would be repeated and what this means for the booking. A scan appointment is a chance to establish readiness, not a guarantee that surgery will follow immediately.
Keep a note of the last lens wear and report it accurately at the clinic. Bring the lens details and prescription history to the consultation. Preparing this part of the journey early can prevent a short overseas stay from creating pressure to proceed with a plan before the treating team is satisfied with the assessment.
Questions to take with you
- How long should I leave my particular lenses out?
- What if I cannot manage that period in glasses?
- What happens if the measurements need repeating?
Sources & further reading
Further reading from the medical, regulatory and specialist organisations cited in this article.
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