Health Issues Updates

LASIK eye surgery is one of today’s most commonly performed refractive surgery procedures. It is extremely popular not only in the United States but also in many other parts of the world. Why is LASIK the most popular procedure for eye sight correction? Studies and research has revealed some of the advantages of LASIK over other types of procedures, including a relative lack of pain after surgury. This is supported by the fact that good vision is usually attained almost immediately after the procedure and at the latest the next day following the LASIK operation.

However, just like any other surgical procedures, there are potential side effects for LASIK eye surgery to be aware of. You’ve probably read and researched several reports offering factual and clinical information to help you understand the complications that may occur with LASIK. Although there may be some complications, these issues can be easily resolved if guided by proper examination and other components that might affect the LASIK surgery outcome.

One of the most important factors to consider before having LASIK eye surgery is to search for and finding the right surgeon. There are a lot of different types of eye specialists available, but not all may or may not be competent or qualified to perform the LASIK procedure. Also be aware of knowing what type of eye specialist to look for. There are three distinct specialists available: an optometrist, an ophthalmologist, or an optician.

Knowing The Three Types of Eye Care Providers
There are varying degrees of educational backgrounds of eye care practitioners and specialists that fall into three distinct categories: ophthalmologists, opticians and optometrists. All of them may be involved and qualified in providing corrective lenses for vision and common eye problems such as myopia or hyperopia, but there are differences in qualifications when performing in their specific areas.

An ophthalmologist are physicians with medical degrees, which are designated with an M.D. after their names. They are eye care specialists providing surgeries and managing and diagnosing serious eye diseases.

Optometrists are specialist who have the O.D. designation after their names. Depending on state regulations where they are licensed, optometrists may also be able to diagnose and manage eye diseases as well as administer certain prescriptions. Optometrists often handle routine eye examinations and prescribe eye wear and contact lense prescriptions.

The opticians are qualified to prepare and provide corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses) according to the prescriptions as issued by the optometrists and ophthalmologists. They can only help you in attaining the proper fittings for your vision correction lenses and in most cases are not licensed or qualified to give the actual eye test or diagnosis.

So now that you are aware of the distinct differences between an ophthalmologist, optometrist or optician, this will help you in determining which eye care provider are certified to perform the LASIK eye correction procedure. Keep in mind that, LASIK, PRK or a corneal ring implantation is not a difficult surgical procedure. But if done wrong, the eye procedure can obviously affect your life almost as negatively as any other bad surgical procedure. It is vitally important you choose the best eye surgeon available for the procedure.

So, How Do You Find The Right LASIK Surgeon?
Here are a few tips on how you can find the right LASIK surgeon.

There are several ways to find good eye surgeons. The true test of a good eye doctor is how he or she responds when a prodedure goes wrong.

1. Do Diligent Research
Before undergoing a vision correction procedure like LASIK, find patients who has done the procedure with the doctor and find out if they had any problems following surgery and what the follow up was like. If you find any problems or potential problems were resolved and the patient as a result retained a favorable opinion towards the surgeon, then you know that you’ve probably found someone who provides good service.

2. Use The Internet
Research on the Internet to find out and read any reviews if your doctor is a recognized authority in the field or if he or she is quoted in medical journals or the news etc. You can even locate excellent eye clinics that are associated with medical directories that are recognized for superior eye care and research. If you find that your doctor is affiliated with one of these clinics, then you’ll likely be in good hands.

3. Consider The Advertisements, But Buyer Beware
There are always refractive LASIK surgery centers that advertise in various media such as newspapers, television or the radio. Although they are informative and some may offer extremely good pricing, advertisements or a certain price point should not be your only criterion in choosing the right LASIK surgeon.

LASIK surgery is a competitive field and like any industry, some organizations may provide advertisements that are misleading. There are a lot of companies out there that make LASIK procedures sound like an easy in and out process. But the truth is, it is a surgical prodedure. Therefore, it is very important that you are aware of misleading advertising claims.

4. Ask For A Referral
Always ask for a referral in finding the right surgeon. Ask for a referral from your regular eye care practitioner, whether an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. Tell him you are interested in LASIK surgery and if they know of any qualified LASIK surgeons in the area with the best reputation. They should be able to recommend and recommending the best surgeon.

5. Observe How the Doctor Responds to Your Questions And Needs
Have a series of questions to ask your eye surgeon. Observe to see if the doctor really listen to you and offer concern, or if the doctor seems hurried and distracted. There is a possibility that you can expect the same response if something goes wrong and you are in dire need of reassurance. Also find out if the doctor is honest and forthright regarding if anything happens to go wrong during or after the surgery.

6. Look for Surgeons Associated with a Reputable Organizations
Visit professional membership organizations that carry contact information for members who are LASIK surgeons in your area. Professional organizations may include: The Opticians Association of America, The American Academy of Ophthalmology, and The American Optometric Association. See if they are registered and in good standing.

Aside from that, ask a particular surgeon if he or she is associated with an academic medical center, like a teaching hospital or one that is well-known for advanced technology. Those who work in or are at least associated with academic medical centers are more likely to keep up with current information. These doctors are more likely to have more constant exposure to new advancements as well as awareness of issues related to new procedures.

Ask A Refractive Surgeon
When you are visiting with an eye doctor about possibly undergoing a LASIK vision correction procedure, do not hesitate to ask tough questions. Ask the surgeon what type of follow up you will need, what you can expect if something goes wrong etc.

Ask Yourself
Be satisfied and confident that you have fully exhausted and questioned all your concerns and make sure that you actually are a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery.

7. Other Resources
Call refractive surgery centers in your area located in the Yellow Pages. Most of them have websites that explain their specialties as well as prices and the doctors credentials along with patient testimonials. Some sites may even allow you to search for particular surgeons on their sites.

Questions To Ask A LASIK Surgeon
You’ve learnt that asking a LASIK surgeon certain questions is necessary when considering LASIK vision correction surgery. After you find a surgeon, set an appointment with him for consultation. The initial consultation will make or break if you are going to proceed or not. So take full advantage of it, write down every single question and concern you can think of and don’t hesitate to ask every single one.

Some Important Questions And Concerns To Ask A LASIK Refractive Surgeon:
• How long have you been conducting refractive surgery procedures? (Please note his answer: As LASIK surgery in particular has only been around only for a few years. If he say longer than that, that is a red flag as this procedure has not been around that long. So the right answer is less than 3 years.)

• How many total procedures has the doctor performed? (Look for doctors who have performed more than 500.)

• What percentage of his refractive surgery patients receive Snellen Uncorrected Visual Acuity (UCVA) of 20/40 or better? (Most of the experts suggest that you should be suspicious of any number that is greater than 90 percent, which is the norm.)

• What percentage of your patients attained 20/20 vision or better? (Note that the norm here is around 50 percent. So, ask for proof if the number is higher than that.)

• What percent of your refractive surgery patient report unresolved complications six months after the surgery? This includes complications such as: starburst, halos, glare, dry eye syndrome, and others. (Note that less than 3 percent is the norm according to the Quality Standards Advisory Committee (QSAC). So, if the surgeon gives a lower number than 3 percent, ask for written proof. Zero or “almost never” is not the right answer and should be cause for concern. Remember that no surgeon is perfect, thus no surgical procedure is perfect.)

• Ask for names and contact information of at least ten previous patients that the surgeon has performed the exact same refractive procedure with the same refractive error? (See if he or she can provide you the names.)

• Has the surgeon ever had malpractice insurance coverage denied?

• Has the surgeon ever had his license to conduct a refractive surgery revoked, restricted or suspended?

• Is the laser and equipment you will use approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the recommended procedure and intended parameters? If no, explain why it is not FDA approved.

• If an enhancement surgery is required, what is the charge for the additional procedure? (The correct answer should be no charge for an enhancement within a specified period of time, usually about a year after surgery. However, if there is a charge, consider the cost if needed.)

As you may have noticed, all of these recommended questions are tough questions that some may be consider difficult or even rude to ask. So, do not just expect that your prospective surgeon will respond with the correct suggested answers. Ask these questions to measure the doctor’s willingness to respond as much as the response. Always remember that your precious vision depends on your surgeon’s competency. Thus, you need to be confident that you have picked the right doctor. If you are not happy with the answers or feel uncomfortable with some of the answers, look and consult another eye surgeon.

In addition to the above mentioned concerns, you should also consider the surgeon’s competency as well as your options in other refractive procedures. Note that LASIK is not your only option and this procedure may not suit everyone. Choose an eye surgeon who is comfortable with and experienced with several other procedures, like LASEK, PRK, CK and clean lens replacement amongst others. If you find out that your prospective doctor is knowledgeable enough about these different procedures and is confident that the LASIK procedure is the best suited to correct your vision problems. Also if you are considering a surgeon who doesn’t perform a particular procedure that you are interested in, he should be able to explain why not beyond “I don’t do that.”

Should You Obtain A Second Opinion?
One important thing to remember after a consultation is never feel that you are obligated to use that surgeon. As a patient, you are completely free to talk to other surgeons as well, especially if you have concerns. In the medical field related to surgeries, it has been common practice and recommended to seek a second opinion. In fact, most doctors urge their patients to do so.

Building Rapport
Many experts often say that as with any relationship you have with someone in the medical profession, you have to bond a trust. You must feel that you trust the doctor and that he or she is personally interested in you.

So if you are really seriously considering LASIK surgery or any other type of refractive procedure, first get tho know your doctor. Consider his or her qualifications and experience in the field of refractive surgery, how many procedures etc. Note that the surgeon is more important than the medical devices used and no amount of technology can compensate for a surgeon who is not qualified.

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