Anyone who is considering the LASIK surgery in order to correct defective vision needs to gain the sufficient knowledge in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the procedure. Finding a good physician is also crucial. It is necessary that the eye doctor who will handle your case is caring and reputable. Employing an experienced and knowledgeable surgeon who has a track record of previous patients who are happy with the treatment they have acquired and the outcome that they got will prove to be vital in the success of your operation.
The Importance of Asking Questions
Here are some guidelines on a number of basic and essential questions to ask when making the decision and in choosing the right LASIK center for you. The convenience and success of your operation may depend on the answers you obtain during the interview process. Consult as many doctors as possible. You must realize each physician might give a different answer to your questions. The variation in responses will give you an idea of the physician’s knowledge and experience in this field. Through this, you will be guided in selecting the most suitable doctor for you.
Find out the Surgeon’s Experience
The first question that you should inquire about is regarding the doctor’s length of experience in this particular field. Ask how many years has he or she been in practice in LASIK correction operations. There are number of variations to the LASIK operation. A good doctor must have at least three years experience in conducting the LASIK procedures. The length of time is substantial and enough for a doctor to have watched his or her patients as well as the outcome and the long period of success after they have been subjected to LASIK.
The next thing to ask the physician is the number of LASIK operations performed in the last two years. A physician who carries out the procedure frequently will be knowledgeable of the procedure. However, don’t get caught in the numbers chase. The important thing to uncover is whether the surgeon exhibits excellent surgical ability. Quality is more important than quantity.
A surgeon who has been in the field for more than three years has most likely performed the requisite number of operations. Most of the time, after a doctor has completed at least 500 cases of established refractive procedures he is already considered to be proficient especially if he has executed cases that are similar in type. In cases where the physician only performs certain types of surgery, a greater number of cases will be necessary to note. Once a doctor thoroughly understands the principle behind the procedure, the succeeding surgeries will be redundant and establishing a routine will not be difficult.
Seek out the Physician’s Track Record
After being acquainted with the physician’s background, you must also find out what the percentage of success in his previous clients. Ask how many among the patients who have undergone the procedure had an outcome of 20/40 vision or better. Take note of the population since not every patient will achieve 20/20 vision. 90 percent of patients with an outcome of 20/40 corrected vision following the first LASIK procedure are imperative. As for the patients with an outcome of 20/20, the percentage should reach at least 50 percent.
If a physician claims that he or she has a turnout of more than the percentages mentioned above, this would be much better but try to ask for evidence that the number he or she has given is indeed accurate. This is noteworthy since some physicians’ claims are unfounded. In fact it would be better if you could conduct an interview from a previous patient. This would give a client’s perspective of the physician.
Gain Information of the Procedure
After establishing the physician’s surgical ability, ask about the procedure itself. You should ask for a detailed explanation of the operation from the physician, its advantages and disadvantages. Inquire about the number or instances when problems have been encountered. The acceptable number of instances with complications is 10 percent.
Also, include the possible alternatives if there are any for your case since not all with defective vision is required to undergo these types of surgeries. Do not leave the doctor’s office nor subject yourself to the procedure if you still have doubts.