If you plan to have LASIK surgery, you’ll want a highly qualified eye surgeon (ophthalmologist) to perform the procedure. Ophthalmologists who practice LASIK surgery may also be known as LASIK surgeons. How do you find the best eye surgeon who is right for you?
Find an eye surgeon who:
Is board certified in ophthalmology and who specializes LASIK surgery
Has experience treating patients with your specific type of vision problem
Accepts your vision insurance or has a payment plan. Some vision plans offer a discount on LASIK.
You are comfortable talking with and who fully answers your questions
Here are four steps to finding the best LASIK surgeon to perform your surgery.
Start by creating a list of potential ophthalmologists. Ask your family, friends, and other healthcare providers for recommendations. If you’re starting without any referrals, or you’re looking for more options, search for ophthalmologists on Healthgrades.com.
Healthgrades.com shows patient satisfaction ratings, which give you insight into how your own experience might be with the doctor. Patients rate the doctor and the doctor’s medical practice, and say if they would recommend the doctor to family and friends.
Take time to research the doctors’ credentials and experience. Look for a doctor who is board certified in ophthalmology and performs LASIK surgery on a regular basis. The more experience a doctor has treating your condition or performing LASIK surgery, the better prepared he or she is to anticipate and prevent complications.
Also, confirm that the doctor is in good standing with state and federal agencies and that he or she has no history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions.
You’ll find all this information on Healthgrades.com.
As you narrow down your list of ophthalmologists, call each doctor’s office and ask for a consult appointment to meet and interview the doctor.
- Ask yourself if you are comfortable talking with the doctor.
- Does he or she respect your opinions and answer your questions in a way you understand?
Here are some questions to ask the doctor:
- Do you typically treat patients like me?
- How many LASIK procedures have you performed?
- What results do you usually see? Do you have outcomes data to share?
- How frequently do you encounter complications from the procedure?
- What do you do to avoid complications or correct them if they occur?
Unfortunately, most medical insurance plans don’t cover LASIK surgery. If you are fortunate enough to have vision insurance, they likely offer a discount on LASIK surgery. To receive the most insurance benefits and pay the least out-of-pocket for your procedure, you need to choose a doctor that participates in your vision plan.
But keep in mind, just because a doctor participates in your insurance plan doesn’t mean he or she is a high-quality doctor. You still need to consider the doctor’s experience and expertise.
