Policyholder Services

How soon after a refractive surgery procedure can the first post-operative exam occur?

OMIC has no underwriting requirements that specify the minimum time interval after surgery that an insured must wait before performing the first postoperative exam. From a risk management perspective, the first postoperative exam should take place at a time interval designed to rule out the most serious postoperative complications. This interval will vary depending upon the patient and the type of procedure performed. For a LASIK procedure, for example, the first examination is designed to confirm placement and integrity of the flap. Therefore, the first exam should not occur until the flap is deemed by the surgeon to be relatively stable. Waiting a minimum of one hour (or, ideally, several hours) after the refractive surgery procedure will allow the eye time to stabilize and will give the insured the opportunity to confirm that the flap has not slipped (LASIK), the contact lens has not been displaced (PRK), and the patient is not suffering from a problem related to severe dry eyes or experiencing other clinically relevant complications or side effects.

Updated 10/2/2019