How to Choose a LASIK Surgeon
For people who wear corrective lenses, Lasik surgery seems like a dream come true, allowing them to exchange uncomfortable and expensive eyeglasses or contact lenses for perfect, unaided vision. However, with the wrong surgeon, Lasik surgery can quickly become a nightmare. Your vision can be permanently damaged without the hope of correction, or even lost altogether. We’ll show you how to choose a Lasik surgeon to ensure that your operation is a success.
Step One: Collect Recommendations
Ask friends, family members, and acquaintances whether they have had Lasik surgery themselves, or if they know anyone who has. Find out where they had the surgery done, and how pleased they were with the experience. Personal recommendations are a far better starting point than the Yellow Pages!
Step Two: Check Experience
Once you have a list of potential doctors from your acquaintances, research them thoroughly to narrow down your list. You want a surgeon who has performed a large number of successful Lasik operations – a thousand or more is a good place to start. You should also check your surgeon’s education, how long he or she has been in practice, and whether Lasik surgery is a prime focus of that practice. Do a Google search to find out if any warnings or glowing recommendations have been posted online.
Step Three: Meet with the Doctor
Your gut instinct tells you a lot about a person. Meeting with your short list of doctors will help you find one that makes you comfortable and who seems professional and capable. Make sure that the surgeon you pick answers all of your questions and does not make you feel pressured or dismissed. Also ensure that the surgeon you meet is the one who will actually perform your operation from beginning to end.
It is much more important to find a competent, proactive, and experienced Lasik surgeon than to find one that is close to your home or has the lowest rates. By following these three simple steps, you can vastly improve your chances of having a successful, problem-free operation and do away with your glasses or contact lenses forever.
