Your vision is of extreme importance, and as such it is very important that are perfectly comfortable with the surgeon performing your laser eye surgery. Just as your surgeon will be asking you a number of questions to assess you as a candidate for laser eye surgery, you also should have the opportunity to ask any questions regarding your surgeons qualifications. Do not be afraid that any question is "too stupid" or might offend someone. Again, this is your vision, and you have every right to know the qualifications of the individual performing your surgery. Below are a few sample questions you may consider, (as well as a few suggested answers), during your consultation:
- In the past year (12 months) how many refractive surgeries have you performed? (250+)
- How long have you been practicing laser eye surgery? (3 years +)
- Are you certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, American Board of Eye Surgery, and the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance? (ABO does not provide procedure specific certification, ABES has peer reviewed certification for LASIK and RK, and CRSQA is a non-profit group that evaluates doctors on actual patient outcomes)
- What will my vision be like for the first few weeks after surgery? (if your surgeon says "perfect" or anything of that nature, it may be time to head for the door). The reality is that its not unusual for minor fluctuations in your eyesight for months following your surgery. Your surgeon should be fully prepared to explain these to you.
- What is your percentage of successful malpractice claims? (This can be a tough one to ask. Most surgeons will have some either settled or pending litigation. Your interest is in the percentages - you are looking for not more than 1 in every 500 surgeries resulting in malpractice claims. If you are wary of asking, this information is usually available through an internet search)
- What percentage of your patients continue to experience complications six months after surgery? (A response of "very few', or "not many" may be cause fro alarm - look for specifics)
- What is involved in the post surgical care?
Also consider asking questions regarding your lifestyle after surgery. When will I be able to use the computer? Will this affect my participation in certain sports? Any concerns, no matter how seemingly trivial, should be addressed.
This page is a jumping of point to get you thinking about questions you might ask. A few days before your consultation with your surgeon write down your questions and concerns, and be sure and take them with you on your appointment.