I have been wearing contact lenses for many years. I am short-sighted, with -6 dioptres in one eye and -7 in the other. I put on contact lenses in the morning and take them off for the night. I would like to know whether I can undergo the laser vision correction procedure and how much time before the preliminary qualifying examination I should stop wearing the lenses. I have heard that the required period is approximately one to two weeks. I must admit that I do not feel comfortably wearing glasses and it makes a significant difference to me whether I have to wear them for a week or longer. Another question that I would like to ask is whether I can wear artificial eyelashes during the qualifying examination. They are quite short and look as if they were natural, but I do not know if they are allowed during the examination. I know that they are forbidden during the surgery.

In order to undergo the preliminary qualifying examination you have to stop wearing soft contact lenses one day before the scheduled appointment, and in case of a one-day procedure (the preliminary qualifying examination and surgery both conducted on the same day) you are not allowed to wear your lenses for at least 7 days prior to the procedure. Artificial eyelashes are allowed both during the examination and the surgery. It is not necessary to take them off before the appointment.