How to Choose an Eye Doctor

Choosing the right surgeon to perform LASIK surgery is in the best interest of all patients contemplating the procedure. Not only does he or she have to be qualified, the patient must feel a sense of trust and comfort with the surgeon.

In evaluating a number of possible laser eye surgeons, the patient may want to consider surgeons who are affiliated with a teaching hospital or medical associations. Surgeons who are affiliated with a teaching hospital are more likely to have access to the most advanced LASIK technology because they are in a research environment. On the other hand, many surgeons who are not affiliated with a teaching hospital are updated on the most recent research and information regarding LASIK.

Once you have narrowed it down to several eye doctor, you should set up a consultation appointment with each surgeon. During the consultation, you should ask questions that will reveal the laser eye surgeon’s qualifications and experience with LASIK and try to get a feel for how you and other patients will be treated. The following are some questions that you should ask during the consultation appointment:

How long have you been performing LASIK?
How many LASIK surgeries have you performed?
How do you define a successful outcome and what is the success rate of your patients?
What percentage of your patients achieve 20/40 vision or better after LASIK?
What percentage of your patients achieve 20/20 vision or better after LASIK?
What percentage of your patients require an enhancement procedure?
What type of laser will you be using and does it use wavefront-guided technology?
Have you ever been subject to a malpractice suit?
Has your medical license ever been suspended or revoked for any reason?
In addition to these questions that help you get a sense of the laser eye surgeon’s competency, other factors should also be observed during the consultation. One of the most important factors in choosing a laser eye surgeon is the element of trust. During the consultation appointment, you should try to get a sense of whether the surgeon is trustworthy. If you feel at all uncomfortable with the surgeon for any reason, you should look for a different laser eye surgeon.