Choosing the Right Lasik Surgeon

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:39 AM

If you like the idea of enjoying better vision but are frightened about the surgery, it can help to understand LASIK better.

SEATTLE, WA, June 28, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Throwing away your glasses or contact lenses forever sounds like an appealing opportunity. But the thought of undergoing surgery can stop many good LASIK candidates from improving their vision. Fear of having an operation on your eyes is one of the main reasons many people who want LASIK do not go forward with it.

If you like the idea of enjoying better vision but are frightened about the surgery, it can help to understand LASIK better. Choosing a highly experienced LASIK surgeon can also allay fears about the outcome of your surgery.

Where to Begin?
If you have never shopped for an eye surgeon before, it can be confusing. It seems every LASIK vision center claims to offer the best doctors, the best technology and the best prices. Some digging is required because what looks like a great deal in an advertisement may turn out to be not so good when you learn the details.

The Surgeon's Reputation
Recommendations from people you know and trust is one way to begin. In your community, there is probably an eye surgeon whom people speak well of. They may or may not have first-hand knowledge of the doctor's skill, but may have heard he is a good doctor.

Also use the internet to find local eye surgeons. Beyond each surgeon's own website, an Internet search may yield news stories, papers written and other information about the doctor that may be useful in assessing his or her reputation.

When you have a short list of names you can schedule a free consultation with each doctor. One thing you can ask at the consultation is to speak to the doctor's actual LASIK patients.

Board Certification
The American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) provides a painstaking two-part examination that assesses the ophthalmologist's skills, knowledge and experience in many areas. A doctor who passes that exam is then certified by the ABO. While laser vision correction is only a small part of the topics covered, board certification is still heralded as the gold standard measurement of overall competence.

Experience
The more experienced your surgeon is, the fewer complications are likely to occur with your surgery. Studies have proven this fact. So ask how many years the surgeon has been practicing in the field of laser vision correction, and how many surgeries he or she has performed - specifically in laser vision correction, not cataracts or some other surgery.

Keep in mind that some laser vision centers perform thousands of cases each week. The doctor who has worked in this type of setting may be able to claim a high number of surgeries, but may not be as skilled in candidate evaluation and postoperative care. LASIK performed on a poor candidate is an invitation to complications.

You want a surgeon who has performed thousands of LASIK procedures as well as the screening and comprehensive patient care that accompanies such a procedure. This is the doctor who is truly well-rounded and skilled and can more safely be relied on.

Personality
You may not have considered whether the eye surgeon's personality is important to your surgery, but it is. You must be able to speak frankly with your doctor, trust his or her opinions and recommendations, and believe that the procedures being recommended are right for you.

How you feel personally about your doctor's demeanor, attitude, level of compassion and personal interest in you as an individual can affect the outcome of your surgery. Do not dismiss the importance of finding a doctor with whom you can feel completely comfortable.

If you are seeking a board-certified, highly experienced LASIK surgeon, Dr. Kent Leavitt of Bellevue Lasik and Cornea in Seattle, Washington is available to consult with you.

Source: Bellevue Lasik and Cornea Website: http://www.bellevue-lasik.com

Related Topics: LASIK Eye Surgery | Dr. Kent Leavitt

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