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Choosing a Lasik Surgeon Tips
Comparing LASIK Eye Surgeons
Comparing LASIK eye surgeons can be a difficult and complicated process, but it is also a very important part of selecting the best surgeon for you. For this reason, special care and consideration should be given to this portion of the decision-making process. Before a patient begins the process of comparing LASIK surgeons, he should first create a list of the elements he wishes to consider in selecting a surgeon and should then prioritize this list to determine which elements are most important to him.
Some of the elements a patient may wish to consider when selecting LASIK eye surgeons may include training, qualifications, experience, previous success rate, trustworthiness, equipment used, maintenance of the equipment, cleanliness of the facility, friendliness of the staff, price and any other factors which may be important to the patient. After creating this list, the patient should determine which factors are most important to him and rank these factors accordingly. It is recommended that patients rank skill level and qualifications above all other elements to ensure they are selecting the most skilled LASIK eye surgeon, but all other elements can be ranked according to personal preference.
Once a prioritized list of considerations is established, the patient can begin interviewing and researching potential LASIK eye surgeons to determine how highly each surgeon ranks in each category. This makes it easier to compare the surgeons and determine which one is the best choice for a particular patient.
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Tips for Choosing a LASIK Surgeon
The-Lasik-Directory.com Tip: Choosing a LASIK surgeon is a very important decision which should be given careful consideration. Patients who are considering undergoing LASIK should be sure to spend sufficient time researching local eye surgeons to be sure they are selecting the best surgeon for them. Many patients may be tempted to make this decision based on cost alone, but it is important to note a surgeon’s qualifications and experience should be considered to be more important in the decision making process than the fee associated with the procedure. Among equally qualified LASIK eye surgeons with the same level of experience, it is acceptable to factor price into the process of making the decision, but otherwise this is not a good idea.
Proper qualifications and experience performing LASIK procedures are critical to the success of any LASIK surgery. There is always the risk for complications but these risks are greatly reduced when you are working with a LASIK surgeon who has a great deal of experience as opposed to an eye surgeon who has relatively little experience. When interviewing prospective surgeons, ask questions about how many procedures they have performed in their lifetime, how many procedures they have performed in the last year, what types of procedures they have performed and the success rate of their patients. The answer to these questions should provide a good indication of how well qualified the surgeon is to perform the procedure. Additionally, it should also provide a great deal of insight that is useful for comparing several different surgeons.
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Selecting the Best LASIK Surgeons
Many surgeons may claim to be one of the best LASIK surgeons, but each patient must consider what is important to them when selecting a surgeon. This is important because there is no one surgeon who is the best for all patients. There may be some surgeons who are highly qualified with a great deal of experience, but if the patient is not comfortable with the surgeon, the patient may opt to select another surgeon instead.
Ideally the best LASIK surgeons are those surgeons who are not only highly skilled with a great deal of experience, but also help the patient feel comfortable and answer all of his questions accurately and honestly. In some cases, it may be necessary for a patient to choose between two surgeons who seem to have comparable qualifications and in this case the patient may use other factors, such as personality and price structure in making the decision.
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Questions to Ask Your Laser Eye Surgeon
The-Lasik-Directory.com Tip: When selecting a laser eye surgeon, it is important to ask questions about the eye surgeon’s experience and equipment. It is important to ask questions from both of these categories to ensure you are selecting the laser eye surgeon who is right for you. The surgeon you select should be well qualified and use state of the art equipment in the most safe and effective manner.
Some of the questions you should ask a laser eye surgeon related to his qualifications and level of experience include:
How many laser eye surgeries have you performed?
How long have you been performing laser eye surgeries?
What type of training do you have?
What is the success rate of your patients?
Can you provide references from previous patients?
Are the procedures you perform customized for each individual patient?
Some of the questions you should ask a laser eye surgeon related to his equipment include:
What kind of laser do you use?
How often is your laser calibrated?
Is your microkeratome incisor changed after each patient?
In evaluating the answers to these questions, it is important to determine which laser eye surgeon provides you with answers which are not only accurate and honest, but also match well with your expectations for the procedure.
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Intraocular Lens and Choosing a LASIK Surgeon
Your LASIK surgeon, or would-be LASIK surgeon, has just recommended an intraocular lens implant or a clear lens exchange over LASIK because you aren't a good candidate for LASER surgery. Do you seek a second opinion from another LASIK doctor?
Phakic intraocular lens implants (IOLs), which eliminate the need for cataract surgery when you're in your 60s, are a non-surgical alternative to LASIK, and are typically recommended for people with thin corneas and high degrees of myopia. Note that phakic IOLs carry the risk of:
* increased chance of retinal detachment
* loss of cells in the epithelium, the layer covering the covering the cornea
* inflammation
* infection
* cataracts (ironically)
In some cases you might still need LASIK after an IOL procedure--the good news is that IOLs aren't permanent.
You should note that if you want multifocal vision correction, research on multifocal intraocular lens implants continues.
A recommendation of lens implants will tell you one thing: your LASIK doctor has access to and is willing to use the latest technology, and that's a definite plus.
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Financial Questions to Ask before Choosing a LASIK Doctor
The-Lasik-Directory.com Tip: While a patient should consider qualifications and experience first when choosing a LASIK doctor, most patients must also carefully consider all of the costs associated with LASIK. For this reason, it is important to ask questions about the price structure associated with the procedure, what is included, as well as the policy for emergencies and follow up procedures.
Some of the questions you should ask a laser eye surgeon related to his price structure include:
What types of financing options are available?
What is included or excluded in the quoted cost of the procedure?
Are pre-operative and post-operative visits examinations included in the price of the procedure?
What are the fees for examinations required as a result of emergencies?
What are the costs associated with any follow up procedures which may be required?
Once a patient has narrowed his decision down to well-qualified LASIK doctors with a great deal of experience, it is time to consider the costs associated with these procedures. Asking pertinent questions about the price structure, inclusions and exclusions will help the patient select a doctor who is not only well-qualified, but also cost effective.
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LASIK Safety and LASIK Surgeons
You wouldn't approve of used needles in a hospital, or dirty medical equipment during an appendectomy, so why would you accept anything less for an eye procedure?
When you're choosing a LASIK doctor, remember that microkeratome versus femtosecond doesn't matter as much as the way your LASIK doctor uses that high-tech laser. Two important tips will help you evaluate medical practitioners when you're choosing a LASIK surgeon:
1) The laser should be recalibrated at least every fourth use for maximum accuracy.
2) A new microkeratome incisor should be used for each patient.
Ask your LASIK surgeon about laser maintenance--it doesn't matter how good the tools are if the workman doesn't take care of them properly.
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Choosing an Eye Surgeon You Trust
The-Lasik-Directory.com Tip: The skill level and experience of an eye surgeon is very important because it can help to diminish the potential for poor results from the procedure. However, in selecting an eye surgeon, the patient should also carefully consider his level of trust for the surgeon. This is just as important as the skill and experience of the surgeon because a patient who does not trust his eye surgeon is not likely to feel comfortable asking questions or expressing concerns.
Laser eye surgery should be a process which involves a great deal of interaction between the patient and the eye surgeon. Therefore, when interviewing potential surgeons it is important for the patient to note how comfortable he feels with the surgeon, as well as the effort the surgeon makes to help the patient feel well-informed and confident about the procedure. This may be largely a factor of personal preference, but it is still very important because trust in the eye surgeon will enable the patient to be confident about the potential for success in the procedure.
Gauging the amount of trust the patient has for the eye surgeon will likely be a gut reaction. The patient typically bases this level of trust on how honestly and accurately he feels the surgeon answers questions, as well as the surgeon’s demeanor and personality. If the surgeon seems knowledgeable and personable, as well as generally concerned about the patient it is likely the patient will view the surgeon as trustworthy.
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Celebrity LASIK Patients
Your doctor has a photo and testimonial from Tiger Woods or Rodney Peete or Troy Aikman. That's well and good, you think, but what about complications that don't make it into the news, such as comedienne Kathy Griffin's continuing education about the perils of LASIK? In that case, a celebrity client can backfire on your LASIK surgeon. Beware of a LASIK eye surgeon who constantly brags about famous people he or she has treated.
Celebrity clientele shouldn't be your only criterion in choosing a LASIK doctor--although Tiger Woods' visual acuity in a sport that demands better than 20/20 uncorrected vision is a strong signal that your LASIK doctor is skilled.
Still star-struck, or skeptical? You can't call up a celebrity and ask about the procedure, but you can do research on the Internet and, if your celebrity is vocal about the procedure, read about the experience on, say, Tiger's official Web site. You should also ask to talk to the LASIK surgeon's non-celebrity patients.
Don't let star power dazzle you--the LASIK surgeon herself should be the main attraction, second, of course, to your vision.
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Seeking Recommendations for a Qualified LASIK Surgeon
The-Lasik-Directory.com Tip: There are many different ways to find a LASIK surgeon in your area including searching the yellow pages, visiting websites and asking your ophthalmologist for recommendations. However, many prospective LASIK patients begin their search for a LASIK surgeon by consulting with friends and family members who have previously undergone the procedure.
All patients who are considering LASIK surgery should thoroughly research and interview the qualified surgeons in their area before selecting an eye surgeon. However, it is worthwhile for a patient to begin his search for a LASIK surgeon based on recommendations from friends and family members who have had success with a particular surgeon. This is worthwhile because the friends and family members will likely only recommend a particular surgeon if they were pleased with the results of the surgery and feel as though the surgeon was trustworthy. This is important because these are very important factors to consider when selecting a LASIK surgeon.
However, it is important to note a patient should not select a LASIK surgeon based solely on the recommendation of a friend or family member. This is because the friend or family member may have had a great deal of success, but if the surgeon is not well-qualified with a great deal of experience the patient may wish to select a more qualified surgeon with a more favorable level of success.
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Second Opinions and Microkeratome
Many people opt for LASEK over LASIK because they are wary of
microkeratome blades. In choosing a LASIK surgeon, ask whether you are a good candidate for LASEK, or if LASIK will give you better vision.
If your doctor recommends LASIK, you may get a second opinion, or you may ask about the femtosecond laser of IntraLase, the bladeless eye surgery.
If your second-opinion LASIK doctor recommends IntraLase, weigh the risks and benefits of both procedures. Ask your regular doctor whether you should have IntraLase.
You're not obligated to choose your regular ophthalmologist if you think that a second ophthalmologist may produce the results you want. You have to consider your relationship with your LASIK doctor, whether you trust and like your doctor, and whether a certain procedure is in your best interests. When choosing a LASIK surgeon, don't knock someone who's familiar with your medical history and interested in helping you see well.
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Researching a LASIK Doctor
The-Lasik-Directory.com Tip: It is very important for all patients who are considering vision correction surgery to thoroughly research each LASIK doctor they are considering. This is important because simply relying on the doctor’s advertising can be misleading and deceptive. Therefore, it is necessary to do independent research to ensure you are selecting a well-qualified doctor with a great deal of experience and a high level of success. Some of the methods for researching a LASIK doctor should include conducting in-person interviews with doctors you are considering, consulting the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and asking for testimonials from previous patients.
The in-person interview is one of a patient’s most effective ways to research a LASIK doctor. This is important because this interview gives the patient the opportunity to ask questions about the doctor’s qualifications, as well as to formulate opinions about the doctor’s trustworthiness.
Consulting the BBB should also be part of the process of researching a LASIK doctor. Patients should verify any doctor they are considering has favorable status with the BBB and should be leery of any doctor who has had an unusually high amount of complaints against him.
Finally, a patient should ask potential LASIK doctors for testimonials from previous patients before selecting a doctor. This step in the research process is important because it will provide insight into the level of satisfaction experienced by previous patients. However, the caveat to this type of research is it is important to realize most LASIK doctors will only provide testimonials from previous patients who were satisfied with the results of the procedure and the service provided by the doctor. Therefore, this type of research should be combined with other research methods to formulate an accurate opinion of the doctor’s skill level.
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Ads for LASIK Surgeons
You see a great ad for a LASIK doctor in the newspaper, but buyer beware. Just as you shouldn't pick a used car out of the classifieds without doing research, you shouldn't rush to call a LASIK surgeon after seeing a slick ad in the newspaper.
If the ad makes the procedure sound easier than it is and promises perfect vision with no reading glasses required afterwards, ditch the paper and walk into your local surgical or medical center. An established LASIK center, where surgeons have refined their techniques with the latest technology, is better than a Johnny-come-lately clinic that opened its doors six months ago. When choosing a LASIK doctor, you should be willing to accept that you won't get perfect results overnight, and a respectable surgeon won't promise miracles.
Also, when choosing a LASIK surgeon, beware of someone who claims to have used EpiLASIK or LASEK for ten years--these technologies are more recent.
The same holds true for Wavefront-guided custom LASIK.
Referrals from your optometrist or ophthalmologist, or from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, are your best bet. You can listen to testimonials from your pals, but check to see that the LASIK surgeon has the best reputation in your area if not the country you live in.
Put on your glasses, put down the newspaper, and Google your prospective LASIK doctor.
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Types of Lasers and Your Surgeon: Is Type Important?
When choosing the LASIK surgeon that is right for you, it's a good idea to find out the types of lasers your doctor uses for the procedure. While many experts agree that it really comes down to doctor expertise and knowledge, knowing the type of laser that will be used in your eye surgery will help you feel more prepared.
It is essential to verify that the lasers used in the surgeon's office are FDA approved.
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How to Find an Experienced Eye Surgeon
Finding an experienced LASIK eye surgeon is one of the most important steps when considering this type of surgery. Do an Internet search for doctors in your area, and get recommendations from friends and colleagues who have opted to have the surgery. Often times, word of mouth can supply you with great information.
You should also talk to your own physician for recommendations. Doctors are great resources, and chances are he or she has a trusted friend in LASIK surgery that they may recommend.
Finding an experienced eye surgeon doesn't have to be difficult. It may be time consuming however. This is a good thing, because you are making a choice to trust someone with your vision. Research is important when looking for experience!
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Questions for the LASIK Surgeon
The success of LASIK, as with any other surgical procedure, starts with choosing the right LASIK surgeon. It's the same as shopping for a pair of eyeglasses--except, of course, that you want to scratch the specs.
When you're choosing a LASIK surgeon, bring a list of questions --this is good advice for any medical procedure. Some important questions for your LASIK surgeon:
* How long have you been performing LASIK surgery? * How many refractive and custom LASIK surgeries have you performed, especially procedures like mine? * What percent of your patients receive 20/20 vision or better? * Can I achieve 20/20 if I have myopia, astigmatism or hyperopia? * What's the margin for error in this procedure? * What kinds of complications, for example, dry eyes, starbursts, "haloes," fluctuations, blurring of distance vision, and so forth, occur and how soon do they disappear? * When do you decline a surgery procedure? How many procedures have you declined? * What kind of laser do you recommend for my eyes and what are the advantages? * Will you perform a wavefront technology diagnostic? (Hint: The answer should be yes.) * What was the worst surgery outcome you experienced and how was it handled? * What percentage of LASIK patients require enhancement or corrective procedures after surgery and what are the results? * What will my vision be like after surgery and how long will it take to recover? * When can I resume normal activities and what activities should I avoid? * Will my eyes be completely examined before and after the procedure? * What might prevent me from having the results I want? * What is the cost and does it include pre- and post-op visits/exams? * How many post-op visits does the cost include?
You may also ask to talk to patients who have had the procedure and have had complications similar to what the LASIK doctor predicts you might have. While there's the issue of doctor-patient confidentiality, it's worth a try. You have the right and the responsibility to ask questions before your LASIK procedure.
