LASIK is truly a life-changing procedure, and it’s important to choose a surgeon who is well qualified and experienced. So before you decide to commit to LASIK eye surgery, take some time to research the right eye surgeon. We’ve put together a list of eight questions you should ask your LASIK eye surgeon to determine if they’re right for you:
1. What is your background experience in LASIK eye surgery?
Talk to your eye surgeon about their background in LASIK eye surgery. Where did they complete their training? How long have they been performing refractive (LASIK) eye surgery? Knowing your surgeon’s background experience will provide you with comfort that you are in the hands of a well-qualified surgeon.
2. Are you a fellowship-trained eye surgeon?
Fellowship training is a form of medical training that a doctor can undergo after completing their residency. Having a fellowship-trained eye surgeon ensures that they are highly specialized and well qualified to perform your LASIK eye surgery.
and Dr. Evan Pike are refractive (LASIK) surgeons at Illinois Eye Center:
- Dr. Yannis Kolettis is an ophthalmologist who is fellowship-trained in refractive surgery. Dr. Kolettis completed his fellowship training at the University of Crete in Greece with Dr. Ioannis Pallikaris, the surgeon credited with pioneering the LASIK procedure.
- Dr. Evan Pike is fellowship-trained in cornea and external disease treatment and specializes in refractive surgery.
3. How many LASIK surgeries have you performed?
It is important to know how many LASIK procedures your eye surgeon has performed. It will help you understand their knowledge and expertise.
4. Do you conduct all pre- and post-operative exams?
The last thing you want is to be passed from doctor to doctor. It is important that your eye surgeon is the one you meet with from beginning to end so they clearly understand your needs and your medical history. Also, find out if you can meet the entire team that will be working together to complete your LASIK procedure. This will provide a sense of comfort to you during your LASIK eye surgery.
5. Do you use the latest in blade-free, LASIK technology?
Make sure your eye surgeon uses the latest laser technology. This will ensure that you will get the best results out of your procedure. Illinois Eye Center uses the WaveLight® Refractive Suite, the latest, most advanced form of blade-free LASIK treatment available today.
6. What can I expect before, during and after my procedure?
Walk through the entire LASIK process with your eye surgeon to ensure that you know and understand what will happen before, during and after your procedure. Your eye surgeon should provide you with all the information you need in order to make you feel comfortable and well informed throughout the process.
7. How do you know LASIK is right for me?
Your eye surgeon should be able to tell you exactly why you are a good candidate for LASIK. Some criteria include: being between 18 and 60 years of age, needing eye glasses or contacts to see clearly, having relatively stable vision over the last 18 months, and no other major eye diseases. Make sure your eye surgeon has thoroughly checked that LASIK is right for you.
8. What results can I reasonably expect?
Talk with your eye surgeon about different scenarios and what kind of vision you can realistically expect once the procedure is completed.
LASIK eye surgery is a big decision to make, and it will have a big impact on the way you live your life. Ensure that you have chosen an eye surgeon that you trust and one who is well qualified to perform your procedure. These questions will help you determine if your eye surgeon is the right one for you. For more information on LASIK, visit our website today and sign up for one of our free LASIK seminars.