vision without glasses - Choosing a LASIK Surgeon

So are you ready to get rid of their dependence on glasses or contacts. What's the next step? Call several LASIK Center franchises and see who offers the lowest price? Think again. 

It's your eyes we are talking about! Why would you want to shortchange? Center that performs Lasik but can not offer a procedure that is right for you. For some patients, fitting contacts, CK or refractive lens exchangemay be the best option. LASIK center just can not offer this option. What's worse, they May be tempted to offer LASIK when he was ill suited for you. And even if LASIK is the best procedure for a low cost can often mean corners are cut.

vision without glasses

Patients should seek surgeons who are experienced, qualified, use high quality equipment and can perform procedures other than LASIK. Do not just go for Lasik "franchise" as if you were getting oil changes for your car. LASIK is a surgical procedure, and surgeons have variable capacity. Talented golfers use the best and varied tools for achieving results, and the same goes for the surgeon. However, once a state-of-the-art equipment does not necessarily mean that a good surgeon. It is best to have confidence in the surgeon based on face-to-face meeting.

Make sure you have met with the surgeon before the day of your procedure

Part like elective surgery is to have confidence in your surgeon. Consider meeting and interviewing at least two different surgeons. Ask for recommendations from friends or family you know who have had LASIK. Do not accept the meeting with a surrogate or technician ahead of time. How can you be comfortable with your surgeon if you have never met him? Patients should have the opportunity to meet with the surgeon to discuss their individual situation before the day of surgery. If the patient does not meet the surgeon on the day of surgery, the meeting is expected to happen before you go into the surgery room. The patient may not meet the surgeon for the first time, and that, under the laser.

In elective surgery, such as LASIK, there should be enough time to read the informed consent document before surgery. All potential complications should be addressed by the surgeon before you are asked to sign it. The consent form should never be signed under duress. Ask about anything you do not understand or do not want to explain.

Make sure your surgeon is qualified.

Some LASIK surgeons can learn by taking a weekend course. Qualified completed a Fellowship in Refractive Surgery. Fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery involves training that occurs following the completion of a 3-year ophthalmology training program. This training includes strict didactic and hands-on work under the tutelage of an experienced surgeon. Fellows learn to recognize who are good candidates for LASIK, alternative vision correction procedures and how to handle post-operative complications.

Excellent surgeons often recognized through awards and special honors. Does the surgeon Literature list of such differences? Ask if they are involved in research, teaching or contributing scientific articles.

Ask how many Lasik procedures the surgeon has performed. After appropriate experience is important, but that most of the proceedings failed. How many LASIK procedures were complications, and how did they manage? What is the satisfaction level of patients?

Make surgeon medical license to see if there have been reports of disciplinary action or suspension of their surgeon looking at his / her State Medical Board Web site (which can be found on Internet search engines).

Choose a surgeon with quality equipment

Your surgeon should be able to offer that IntraLase blade-free LASIK procedure with a proven safety profile. Custom LASIK making use of wavefront analyzer is another important option. This technology provides more precise results and is much less likely to result in night driving difficulties. Make sure your surgeon wearing scrubs and gloves when performing your action. Ask what measures are in place to prevent infection.

When going through the Preoperative Evaluation, ensure specific testing is done.

In order to determine suitability for LASIK. Some tests must be performed. Your rating your surgeon should include surgeon thoroughness judging your suitability for LASIK. LASIK evaluation includes the following:

I tear film evaluation

It is normal for patients to experience temporary dryness after LASIK. Patients who have inadequate tears before surgery are at greater risk of long-term dry eye symptoms after LASIK and should increase lubrication before surgery. Some patients have a feeling of dryness while wearing contact lenses lenses absorb moisture from the tears. That is not to say that the eyes are dry when contact lenses are not worn. There are different methods to assess the tears: including special paint, tear collection or visual inspection.

II. Pupil size estimates

After LASIK, some patients experience glare and halos. Often this is due to a combination of larger pupil sizes, and larger amounts of nearsightedness or farsightedness, which was not recognized as a risk factor before surgery. With large pupils, rays of light from the peripheral cornea are more likely to cause symptoms of glare and halos after LASIK. Measuring your pupil size can be important in determining which procedure is best for you. The risk of nocturnal visual symptoms can be minimized by ensuring LASIK flap is the proper size and making use of Wavefront technology.

III. Corneal Topography

Corneal topography shows the surgeon whether or not the cornea is normal or abnormal astigmatism astigmatism. Some patients with an abnormal condition called astigmatism have corneas keratoconus.These often weaker than normal corneas, and thus can not be treated with LASIK.

IV. Pachymetry

Pachymetry is the medical term for the measurement of "corneal thickness." As you already know, the LASIK procedure involves creating a flap in the corneal surface and using a laser to reshape the cornea by removing tissue. It is possible that too much tissue can be removed by laser. This could destabilize the cornea and lead to corneal bulging. This condition is called ectasia and results in distorted vision.

Before surgery, the surgeon should calculate how deep the laser will penetrate and be sure not to penetrate through the safe level, which is why you measure the thickness of the cornea is imperative.

V. Evaluation epithelium

Attached to the surface of the cornea is a thin layer of clear "skin" or epithelium. In some patients, this layer of skin may not be firmly attached. If so, what is the cover in the LASIK procedure, the skin layer can be brushed off by a microkeratome, which leads to a higher risk of complications. It is important to identify in advance with microscopic examination of the cornea, if the "loose skin" condition exists.

By now it should be clear that not all LASIK procedures and surgeons are the same and your choice of surgeon should not be based on price alone. LASIK is a medical procedure. In providing services in the form of a surgical procedure, there are a number of factors that play a role in the compensation process.

As a general rule, lower fees, less the surgeon and patient interaction exists. This is because lower fees means that more patients to be treated, in order to generate the same level of income as fewer patients at a higher cost.

There are other factors that may account for the difference in fees even if they meet the surgeon at each visit before and after surgery. More experience of the surgeon, usually larger fees. In other words, the greater the expertise, the higher the fee. As with any profession, some surgeons are more skilled than others, which includes not only the surgical expertise, and diagnostic skills as well as LASIK is not always the best treatment for all. Some patients May be better suited for other procedures, and some patients should not have surgery at all.

Equipment and physical plant is another cost factor. 

There are several studies that show that environmentally controlled rooms is essential to good LASIK outcome. Surgical suites have a separate heating and cooling units from the rest of the clinic. Humidity should be strictly controlled. Air Filtration Systems May have some impact on outcomes. There are several different manufacturers of flap creation devices and lasers to perform the procedure all with different prices and related costs as there are different makes and models of cars. You would want a Ferrari or a Hyundai? Generally, all laser or blade-free LASIK procedure is safer and more accurate than standard LASIK, but costs more. Wave-front guided procedure costs more than wavefront-optimized procedure that costs more than conventional LASIK. Expensive techniques tend to provide better results and fewer side effects, such as night driving difficulties.

If nothing else, I hope this article gets you thinking that not all LASIK procedures are identical and that there are different degrees of surgeon skill and level of protection. Patients should not shortchange yourself by shopping for the lowest price. LASIK vision correction surgery is an investment that pays for itself many times over in the year compared to the cost glasses and contact lenses. Take the time to do your research. Dividends may mean lifetime of clear vision comfortable.