Getting LASIK or other laser vision correction procedure like SMILE or PRK is a big decision. You need to think it through carefully to make sure you are doing the right thing for your health and vision. To help, here we offer some tips and information on the first important steps to take on the path to making a good decision about getting LASIK: Choosing your surgeon and having a productive laser vision consultation to determine if and what procedure is recommended for you and your vision.
Choosing an eye surgeon
If you are seriously considering a laser vision correction procedure and don’t have a relationship with an eye surgeon, finding one to act as your trusted partner in achieving your vision goals is the first step. Surgeons who specialize in laser vision correction are ophthalmologists (they have an M.D. after their name) who have gone through extensive, additional training. They are known as refractive surgeons.
Not all eye doctors are refractive surgeons. Your regular eye doctor may not have refractive training, so it will be important to talk with your eye doctor about your desire to look into getting LASIK. He or she may refer you to a surgeon they know and respect. You can also talk to friends and family who have had the procedure for their recommendations to a surgeon in your area.
Here are a few suggestions for choosing a LASIK surgeon:
Be comfortable with your surgeon. He or she should answer all your questions thoroughly and thoughtfully. The point is to help you make an informed decision. The discussion should cover the risks and benefits of any laser vision correction procedure. LASIK is a safe and effective procedure, but it is surgery, and there are limits to what it can achieve. Beware of over promises on results or dismissals of potential risks.
What is your surgeon’s experience? The more experience a surgeon has, the better. A qualified surgeon will welcome questions about his training and expertise. A highly experienced surgeon has often performed more than 25,000 LASIK procedures.
Are you a candidate? Not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK – in fact, 15-25 percent of patients don’t meet the qualification standards. Patient selection is essential to a good outcome, so understanding your surgeon’s process is important. Certain medical issues, such as diabetes or thin or damaged corneas, may rule out LASIK as a good option for some people. However, there are other vision correction procedures, such as SMILE or PRK, that may be suitable for a given patient’s needs.
Price shouldn’t be the priority. It’s natural to want to get a good deal, but this is an investment in the quality of vision and life – prioritize expertise and experience over price. A consultation shouldn’t feel like a sales process, you shouldn’t feel pressured to commit to the procedure right away. A LASIK consult should be a thorough evaluation of your eye health and vision to gather all the needed to make a solid recommendation about vision correction.
LASIK is among the most studied, and thus safest, elective procedures. More than 7,000 clinical studies have been conducted and published about LASIK. Bottom line: there is a tremendous amount of data supporting the safety and effectiveness of laser vision correction. This information is provided by the Refractive Surgery Council.
Dr. Neil B. Griffin is one of the leading ophthalmologists in the region and specializes in cataract, cornea and LASIK surgery in Myrtle Beach. He has been committed to providing world class surgical technology and the most advanced vision diagnostics to the Carolina’s for over 20 years. Griffin Eye Center offers the latest in cataract surgery with the most advanced Intra-Ocular Lenses available and offers the only state-of-the-art on-site LASIK suite in the local area for the best Laser Vision Correction possible.
To learn more about Laser Vision Correction or make an appointment for a free LASIK screening visit us at griffineyecenter.com.