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In the last decade, advancements in LASIK eye surgery have made it one of the safest and most common eye surgeries. However, that doesn’t mean you should leave the care of your eyes to just any provider and any practice. Because you’re choosing to invest in better vision through LASIK treatment, you should pick a surgeon that has experience correcting problems similar to yours and years of experience performing LASIK eye surgery. So, now that you’ve decided to get LASIK, the next step is to carefully vet and select your LASIK surgeon! When going through the process, be sure to consider the following 10 key components.
1. Surgeon and Staff Experience
One of the most important elements to keep in mind when selecting a surgeon is their experience and the experience of the pre- and post-operative care staff. At the very least, your surgeon should be board certified and LASIK certified! To be certain, you can verify their credentials and licenses online. Ideally, your surgeon has performed over 10,000 LASIK treatments and continues to regularly perform them. Another key thing to know about your surgeon is if they have experience with other refractive procedures, such as LASEK, epiLASIK, PRK, CK, and ICL, to ensure they can customize the laser eye surgery to meet your exact needs. Finally, make sure you meet the staff and ask about their experience with eye surgery care as well, as you will most likely be interacting with them as much or more than with the surgeon. You want to feel comfortable that you are in good hands. Most surgeons and staff will be very open to addressing your concerns and making you feel at ease. If they aren’t, you may need to find a new practice.
2. Innovations
This is related to your surgeon’s expertise. Consider asking your surgeon about the innovative procedures, research studies, or patents they have been a part of or that the clinic has promoted. For example, many of the providers at OCLI Vision are actively working on advancements in the LASIK surgery field and have pioneered the use of new methodologies and lasers. Knowing your surgeon’s commitment to advancing the field of eye care is a great differentiator and a testament to their dedication to their patients and profession.
3. Surgery Center
Where will the LASIK surgery take place? Depending on your surgeon, it may be in a corporate center, a clinic that many surgeons share, or a private, surgeon-owned facility. There are pros and cons to all of the above. You can ask to see the center where your surgery will be performed and the equipment the surgeon will use. The most important piece of equipment your surgeon will use is the excimer laser, so it’s important to know if they are using the latest versions and best brands on the market or an older laser that might not be as precise nor provide the highest quality vision.
Also, determine if it’s a full-service practice or a LASIK-specific center. It can make a difference in the type of care you receive and how knowledgeable the surgeon and staff are about your specific condition. If you have had LASIK before or have other risk factors, it might be best to visit a full-service eye care practice where they have experts available to consult on complex or challenging cases.
4. Bring up your questions and concerns about LASIK vision surgery
At the end of the day, you are the one that will have to deal with the successes and risks of LASIK eye surgery. So, it’s important that you advocate for yourself and get the best care possible. Be sure to put together a list of questions and concerns that you have for your surgeon and the team. There is no shame in asking questions, and your care team should be very transparent with you and willing to respond to you. If they are hesitant to answer questions or brush off your concerns, get a second opinion. You should feel comfortable and confident in your decision before you walk into the surgery center, so ask as many questions as you need.
5. Know your risks
While LASIK may be one of the most common surgeries, it still carries risks, and they can be serious. Be sure to know all of the possible risks when you walk into surgery, especially if you have a history of eye diseases in your family. Unfortunately, patients can lose vision, develop vision problems such as glares and halos, have trouble seeing at night, or face other complications. Ultimately, you must decide if the surgery and results are worth the risk. By vetting your surgeon, surgery team, and practice, you can certainly avoid some risk which can add peace of mind.
6. Surgery results
Most practices will keep close track of LASIK surgery results, including patients that achieve 20/25 or 20/20 or better vision after surgery, the number of patients treated that have the same condition and prescription as you, and enhancement rate, among other things. This can be incredibly useful information when you are deciding between two providers and vetting practices.
7. Testimonials from other patients
You may have plenty of friends and family members that have had LASIK that will be quick to tell you their story. However, when choosing a surgeon, you should ask for references and testimonials from their patients, and even better if they can put you in touch with a patient that has the same prescription as you so you can learn from their firsthand experience with that surgeon. Keep in mind that while it is useful to speak to other patients, your situation is 100% unique and may vary from a previous patient’s experience, no matter the similarities.
8. Pre- and post-op care
There are many things to consider when going into laser eye surgery, such as the fact that you won’t be able to wear makeup or contact lenses for a predetermined about of time before surgery. It’s in your best interests to figure out as much as you can about the pre-surgery care requirements so you don’t jeopardize the success of the surgery. The same goes for after care instructions and guidelines. Take time to learn all you can about proper healing techniques and stick to them. You may also have to make adjustments to your schedule after surgery as you will not be able to see clearly for a few days.
9. Talk about your candidacy
A small percentage of patients are not eligible for LASIK surgery. Depending on their risk factors and vision, patients unable to receive LASIK may be candidates for other vision correction surgeries, such as PRK. You’ll need to have a transparent conversation with your surgeon about your options and risks when thinking about other surgeries. The right surgeon will help you outline different options and what they might mean for your vision long term. Consider consulting with your primary eye care doctor as well to see if they have recommendations for alternative surgeries or knowledgeable surgeons in the area, such as those at OCLI Vision. Remember, it’s your vision and your choice.
10. So, Where Can I Get Laser Eye Surgery?
The good news is that OCLI Vision providers are experienced innovators in the field of LASIK eye surgery and you can use our website to find an eye care specialist near you. We’d be delighted to walk you through the process for getting LASIK eye surgery and ensure you get the best quality care we can provide. Don’t hesitate to reach out to an OCLI Vision practice near you today!
