You’ve got an appointment for a LASIK consultation, and it’s time to come up with the questions to ask your prospective surgeon to find out if they are the right fit for you. Read on for 7 questions to ask, and the answers you should receive.
1. How long have you been performing refractive surgery?
For a LASIK surgeon to have enough experience, they should have been performing the procedure for three years or longer.
2. What is the total number of refractive surgeries you have performed in the last year?
A good LASIK surgeon should have performed at least 250 surgeries in the past year, at the very minimum.
3. What percentage of your LASIK surgery patients obtain 20/20 vision or better post-op?
The average here is about 65%, so if your doctor gives you a higher number, ask for proof. If you have significant nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, your chances of obtaining perfect vision from LASIK are going to be lower. The point here is to find a surgeon who delivers but does not overpromise.
4. What percentage of patients do you turn away for LASIK?
A solid number may not be available but find a new doctor if they say none. LASIK is not right for everyone, and patients should be properly screened to ensure only patients in good health and have the recommended corneal thickness receive the procedure. LASIK should also not be performed on those under the age of 18, although some practitioners will recommend patients wait until about 25, as this is the age when their prescription tends to stabilize. When a doctor can show that patients are properly screened away from LASIK surgery, you can be assured that he or she is responsible in providing refractive surgery only to those who are deemed good candidates for the procedure. Patients being properly screened away from refractive surgery indicates a doctor who is conscientious about providing refractive surgery only when it would meet the patient’s needs.
5. Has the FDA approved the laser and equipment recommended for the procedure?
Both hardware and software used during LASIK should be FDA approved.
6. What percentage of your LASIK patients have reported complications after six months including halos, starbursts, and dry eyes?
The norm here is about three percent with only about .5 percent being serious complications that require invasive treatment. If your doctor says “zero”, find a new one. No doctor or surgical procedure is perfect.
7. How many refractive surgeries have you performed on other patients with the same refractive error as me using the same equipment?
This should be at least 100. Technology changes and advances all the time. Even a doctor with thousands of refractive surgeries behind him or her may be a rookie when it comes to new technology and equipment. You want to feel comfortable with your LASIK surgeons experience in similar situations when it comes to eye surgery.
Have additional questions before your LASIK consultation with Loden Vision? Contact us for more information!
