Has the surgeon performed at least 3,000 LASIK procedures and does he/she maintain a database of results? Three thousand cases is a large enough number so that the surgeon will have the database that will yield statistically significant results. The surgeon should be able to provide you with an accurate assessment of what your vision will be after laser surgery based on your level of vision before surgery.
What is the surgeon’s enhancement or pre-operation rate? An experienced LASIK surgeon who tracks his data should be able to provide this information. Enhancement rates depend on your pre-operative vision and vary from 1 to 10 percent.
Will both eyes be done at the same time, and if so, has the surgeon evaluated results comparing one eye done at a time versus both eyes done together? Surgeons should not do both eyes at the same time routinely unless they have compared their unilateral and bilateral surgery results.
If both eyes are done at the same time, will different instruments be used for each eye? It is mandatory that a different set of sterile instruments be used for each eye to minimize the risk of infection.
Will the doctor performing the pre-operative evaluation be the surgeon performing the surgery? It is crucial that the operating surgeon evaluate you prior to the day of surgery. It is his/her responsibility to make certain that your eyes are healthy and that he/she understands your goals and expectations. This is the only way to develop the doctor-patient relationship. The pre-operative evaluation is as important as the actual surgery in acheieving an excellent visual result.
Laser vision correction is becoming more and more commonplace. However, the decision to have LASIK is an important one that ultimately only you can make. It is important that you have realistic expectations, and that your decision be based on facts and not hopes or misconceptions. Read as much as you can before your evaluation, take notes, and ask lots of questions. The final result is dependent upon the skill and judgment of your surgeon, so choose your surgeon carefully.