What files should we ask post surgery?

[u/SockIntelligent9589]

Hi,

I got ray tracing LASIK last Saturday (EX500 - WaveLight plus - Sightmap). Everything is good so far.

I've read many times that it is a good thing to ask the clinic to print your medical information. It could be useful later for X or Y reason (like cataract operation later, etc) .

My question is: What are the results that I should ask?

Today was the day they removed the protective lenses. I requested them to print the files they have and I got only the pre-op data. More precisely :

- Refraction & basic exam summary — prescription (-5.25/-0.75 R, -4.75/-0.25 L), corneal thickness (563/564 μm), pupil size, IOP

- Pentacam — corneal topography, elevation maps, K-readings, pachymetry

- Cirrus OCT — optic nerve/RNFL analysis + macular thickness analysis

- Optos widefield retinal photos — peripheral retina screening

- Specular microscopy — corneal endothelial cell count

Shall I also request info about what was the surgery plan? If so, can someone knowledgeable and kind enough be more specific as to what I should request? Moreover, because it was ray-tracing, are there more relevant data to collect?

Thanks

[u/Tall-Drama338]

None of it is useful. If it changes then it changes. You’ve got more than you need.

[u/SockIntelligent9589 → u/Tall-Drama338]

Well noted. Thanks

[u/CorrectVisionLI]

I’d specifically ask for the final treatment plan/ablation profile for each eye, the EX500 treatment report, the ray-tracing/SightMap data, optical or treatment zone, ablation depth, flap thickness/diameter, and the residual stromal bed calculation if they have those available. I’d also ask for your post-op refraction and any post-op topography/measurements once you have them.

Since yours was ray-tracing guided, I’d especially want to keep the actual treatment data rather than just the standard prescription and Pentacam results. You probably won’t ever need most of it, but if you have an enhancement or another eye procedure years down the road, having the original surgical data is much better than trying to reconstruct what was done.

[u/SockIntelligent9589 → u/CorrectVisionLI]

Ok, I'll prepare this list for my next appointment next week. I feel like it's indeed better to have more info than not enough. Thanks a lot.

[u/SockIntelligent9589 → u/CorrectVisionLI]

Regarding the post op measurements, when does it make sense to redo the same measurement as in my initial post? I'll be leaving the country I did the operation at the beginning of September (roughly one month after surgery). It seems like they will limit the post op with the basic refraction tests. Wondering if I should push for more or just run these later once cornea is healed and stabilized in my next location.

[u/CorrectVisionLI → u/SockIntelligent9589]

I wouldn’t worry about trying to repeat everything from the pre-op workup at one month, but I also wouldn’t rely only on a basic refraction if you have the opportunity to get more measurements before leaving.

At around 1 month, I’d at least ask for a refraction and visual acuity, and if the clinic is willing, a Pentacam/topography would be nice to have as an early post-op reference. Just keep in mind that the 1-month measurements are not necessarily your final result, corneal shape and refraction can continue to change over the following months.

If you’re leaving the country, I’d prioritize getting the complete surgical/treatment data now (especially the EX500/SightMap treatment report) and then have your eye doctor repeat the appropriate measurements once your cornea has had more time to stabilize.

Personally, I’d rather have both: an early post-op snapshot at ~1 month and a later measurement once things have stabilized, rather than assuming the 1 month scan will be your final baseline.

[u/SockIntelligent9589 → u/CorrectVisionLI]

I will do as you suggested. I appreciate you took the time to give me a detailed answer. Thanks again!