If you have used tretinoin or Retin-A prior to surgery, Retin-A should be fine a week after Lasik surgery. Just make sure that you do not apply near the upper cheeks, under eye areas to minimize excessive eye dryness.
Comedones, open and closed (blackheads and whiteheads) are best treated topically by either retin-A or differin gel. Both are effective at minimizing these though neither will completely eradicate them.
You are wise to consider medication cross-reactions; good question!
Retin-A has very little absorption into the body circulation, and is used together with Clindamycin (orally and topically) very commonly in the treatment of acne. Lidocaine (Xylocaine) has no known cross-reactivity with...