With the popularity of LASIK procedures, there are some unscrupulous doctors who take advantage of this and perform procedures poorly. If you care for your eyes, you should not trust just any doctor with them. Good LASIK doctors are not at all hard to find. Here are some tips to remember in searching for the right surgeon.
You will know as early as your first visit whether the doctor is qualified to perform the procedure or not. This cannot be gauged by the number of certificates that he or she has displayed on the wall. What matters is how he or she talks to you and assesses your situation. An excellent LASIK doctor will be able to correctly evaluate whether you’re fit for the operation. If LASIK eye surgery is not appropriate for your eyes or your lifestyle, a good doctor will try his or her best to dissuade you. Compare this with a LASIK surgeon who claims to have extensive experience in the procedure, who will try his or her best to persuade you to have the procedure, even if you’re not right for it. A good LASIK MD will discuss with you your situation, medical history, and physical condition.
A good LASIK physician will also have a solid reputation. This is a natural consequence of taking good care of his or her patients. Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor about his or her track record or experiences. A doctor who advertises in the newspaper or other forms of media may not always have the competency that you deserve. As soon as you’ve found the doctor that seems right, conduct a thorough background investigation first before you schedule your surgery date. Some LASIK centers spend so much on advertising because they can’t get their patients to spread the word for them. Be wary of these LASIK clinics.
A quality LASIK doctor will commonly be very hands-on during the entire process, including doing most of the pre-operative preparation for the procedure. Whenever you make an appointment, a competent LASIK surgeon should welcome you and discuss extensively whatever concerns you may have. Listen closely to experiences of other LASIK patients if they have encountered clinics that seem to refuse to meet with patients after the surgery. This may indicate that they are not willing to be accountable for the mistakes they made.
During consultation with your prospective doctor, ask for instances when he or she discouraged the patient from having the procedure. This information is helpful in establishing the competency of the doctor when it comes to assessing which candidates are right for LASIK eye surgery. Your doctor should also have extensive experience. Look for one who has done approximately 1000 surgeries over their career, with about half of those being done over the last few years.
Finding a good LASIK doctor is the first step towards successful vision correction. Your eyes deserve all the attention and time you’re taking to ensure that you get only the best treatment.