Asking friends and acquaintances

Asking your family doctor for a referral, or your regular eye doctor

Looking at advertisements or the phone book (but see under The First Principle!)

Contacting the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) (http://aao.org/)

The first principle

The thing we shouldnt compromise on is quality. How can we trust a doctor who puts his profit ahead of our eyesight? Some LASIK facilities advertise low prices and this may at first look attractive.

Caveat emptor – buyer beware!

A facility which charges low fees has to make up for those low fees by:

· Processing large numbers of patients as quickly as possible

· Purchasing cheap equipment

· Buying or leasing an old, cheaper laser

· Re-using things which should be fresh for each patient, such as latex gloves and microkeratome blades

· Autoclaving (sterilizing) equipment less often

· Paying lower salaries, which means hiring less skilled staff

· Giving you less surgeon time, since surgeon time is expensive, being so highly skilled

· Omitting parts of the initial examination of your eyes to determine if youre a good candidate for LASIK

So its best to resist those low prices and instead look among the facilities where surgeon time is given more freely and no corners are cut.

Some questions to ask your candidates

1. Is he actively associated with an academic medical center?

A LASIK surgeon who stays in touch with research and new developments will be up to date in his practice and aware of any downsides to new technology, as well as its advantages.

2. What professional organizations does he or she belong to?

Some examples are:

· The AAO – keeps LASIK surgeons in touch with each other, and offers further training, professional support, etc.

· The American College of Surgeons – has a stiff credentialing process and enables its members to stay current with surgical advancements.

3. How long has he been doing LASIK surgery?

You would want at least 3 years of experience. Dont believe any statements like Oh, over 20 years… because the FDA didnt approve LASIK in the U.S. until 1999.

4. How many times has the surgeon previously done the exact procedure recommended for you?

Expect about 100. You want a surgeon with extensive experience, both to do a premium job for you, and in case anything goes wrong. A novice might not be able to handle an emergency situation.

5. What percentage of your patients have gained 20/20 vision?

Youd be looking to hear About 50%. Thats the average. Any higher number would have to be backed-up.

6. Ask for the names and contact information of some previous patients who have had the exact same procedure youre planning to have. A good LASIK surgeon will have names ready to give you.

7. Has the surgeon ever had malpractice insurance coverage denied? If so, move on.

8. How many other eye surgeries has the LASIK surgeon performed?

Besides LASIK, some others are:

· LASEK

· PRK

· CK

· Lens replacement

Choose an eye surgeon who knows the whole field, not just one sliver of it. With thorough knowledge of all vision correction surgeries, the surgeon can recommend the best one for you.

Making the decision

When you interview your candidates, dont be shy about pressing for a clear answer. A good LASIK surgeon will take time to develop a good understanding with you and make sure youre clear on your options, and on the benefits and potential risks of your surgery.

After you interview everybody, if you still arent sure youve found the right surgeon, go ahead and interview some more. Dont feel you must go with the surgeon youve just talked with.

Good eye surgeons realize that many people are anxious about having someone work on their eyes and use a laser doing it. You can end the interview saying that you need to think some more. Your eyesight is far too important to put in the hands of anyone you mistrust, even slightly. So trust your intuition and keep looking until you feel fully confident with the LASIK surgeon you choose.

One of the most important things to consider before getting Lasik is the quality of the surgeon and how comfortable you feel with the doctor. Sure, you can save a few bucks by picking a doctor out of a free publication you found at a convenience store, but is that doctor really the best? Make sure to look at references and online Websites that compare Lasik surgeons. This will give you a good idea of who is available. A quick search of a doctor’s name on Google will reveal many things and often uncover and shady dealings.

Another thing to consider when selecting a surgeon or facility is the quality and age of equipment used. Lasers have come a long way in the last few years so make sure you are getting the best equipment. There are several new laser procedures that increase success and safety so ask about those. Your eyes are too important for a classic.

Depending on your eye condition one procedure may not be as suitable as another. This is one reason you should consider visiting different eye surgeons that perform laser eye correction with different equipment and techniques. If you’ve been denied laser eye corrective surgery in the past you may be eligible now as new technology has emerged or from a different doctor.

There are many things to learn and to consider before getting any laser or other eye corrective procedure. You should research as much as possible, but the only way you’ll learn what you need to know and feel comfortable is to set up consultations with various eye doctors and laser eye institutes that perform corrective procedures. Ask them many questions and use your common sense combined with your new knowledge to select the best laser eye surgeon for you.

If you are wondering at what point in your schedule to get lasik eye surgery, you should consider what you have going on in your life when you are thinking about getting it done. If you have a major sporting event, or a demanding physical activity coming up, you will want to wait until after the event to schedule your eye surgery. You cannot participate in any disruptive physical activities for up to six months after you receive the corrective surgery, so you will want to take that into account when discussing the schedule with your doctor. You cannot hardly even touch your eyes for several weeks immediately after the lasik procedure, and you must sleep with an eye guard at night for the first week at least. This can have a serious effect on any major activities you have planned, besides even physical activities. You may lose sleep dealing with the eye guard, and suffer from fatigue at first while adjusting to sleeping with it on.

Throughout the years, there really haven’t been any studies showing that it is better or worse to get the surgery in winter or summer, and this really shouldn’t be a factor in deciding when to get lasik surgery. However, in the winter or summer, depending on your location, you may have less humidity than in the other seasons. For example, in the northern states, it is very dry in the winter, but relatively wet in the summer. This can affect your surgery because you need to keep your eyes very moist for several weeks after having the procedure done.

LASIK cost is a factor that you should carefully consider prior to getting this surgery. Also, keep in mind that LASIK cost is priced per one eye, and not both eyes; hence, if you are considering getting both eyes done (as most people do) you must remember to double the cost of the LASIK prices that are quoted to you.

Here is a list of the most common factors that affect the average cost of Lasik eye surgery:

1. Technologies used to test and screen the patient prior to the surgery, such as: technology used to measure the corneal thickness, tear film analysis, the topography of the cornea, and many other measurements which will be needed to determine the procedures undertaken during the surgery.

The precision of the measurements of the cornea, corneal thickness, and corneal topography also plays a major role in determining how exactly and precisely the surgeon can re-shape the cornea, and thus how many risks and side effects the patient will be at risk for. A precise surgery will greatly increase the risk that the exact vision level will be achieved and the amount of complications lessened, but also increase the cost associated with the procedure.

2. The type of laser and technology used during the surgery. The excimer laser is the most basic laser available for LASIK surgery and least costly. Although the excimer laser is considered to be quite reliable, recent advances in technology have produced a number of other lasers that may be more precise for your type of refractive surgery. These will cost more and increase the LASIK cost.

3. The skill level of the surgeon, any accreditations that he may have and memberships in national organizations, his experience level, and the difficulty of the surgeries which he can perform will all increase the cost of the surgery as well.

4. The instruments used during the LASIK surgery. Each surgical tool used during the surgical procedure must by law be used on the patient only once and then immediately discarded; hence the cost of these tools is always applied to each individual patient.

5. A royalty fee paid to the laser manufacturer, which typically ranges from $100 to $150 for an excimer laser manufacturer, and from $145 to $250 for other laser manufacturers.

6. Gowns, masks, and other items used for sterility during the surgery

7. Overhead for office and staff salaries and facilities

8.Advertisements and other patient outreach and acquisition fees, which generally increase in large cities and metropolitan areas. These areas tend to cost a little more than the overall US average price for LASIK surgery.

The above are what make up the cost of LASIK, and what ensure that you have a safe and effective surgery. It is important to find the most generous cost of LASIK that you can afford and to not scrimp on the cost, in order to be sure that you are receiving high quality care. Your vision is important, with any results possibly being permanent and irreparable, and the price of a successful surgery is never a loss.

Lasik Plus claims that their surgeons are high skilled and certified through many different medical boards such as the AMA, ABO and NCQA. They have a dedicated medical team that has been performing these surgeries for over 15 years and they have an excellent track record in the Lasik area.

Lasik Plus patients, are treated with sophisticated FDA-approved laser technology. Their centers are outfitted with new generation laser platforms, including Bausch & Lomb, VISX, and Alcon LADARVision. They understand the importance of having different lasers that can provide you with personalized results. This gives you with the ability to be an active participant in your vision correction plan.

They will offer you a choice of both the traditional and custom Lasik platforms. No one laser is suited for every patient or all conditions. There are differences in prescription, corneal thickness, and pupil size that may make the doctors choose with one laser over another with the goal of making your surgery successful.

They know that all Lasik providers are not the same and they tell you that their medical group is setting the standard for the entire industry. They have superior results because of the advance medical laser platforms, technical skills of their staff and their progressive training programs. All procedures are performed by lasers that are computer guided and have eye-tracking technology designed for your personalized treatment.

Lasik Plus facilities charge competitive rates and have promotional financing available to help everyone who wants to have this procedure performed.

If you think you want to have lasik plus performed on your eyes, you should check into the procedure. It is not for everyone and there are risks involved. You might want to read books, magazine articles, and newspapers to see what the latest developed are in this field. Medical procedures are constantly changing and being improved. Maybe you were not a good candidate 10 years ago when you first thought about having this done. But, with the advancements in technology, you may now be a good candidate.

You have made up your mind that you want to use Lasik Plus for your eye procedure. Work with them to ensure that you have all of the information you need and want, that all of your questions have been answered, and that you are ready to move ahead.

Schedule your procedure, following all of the instructions provided by the doctors and medical staff and relax. You are in good hands and soon you will be one of the many people who is able to talk about the wonderful freedom you now have since you do not wear glasses or contact lenses. Soon, friends and associations will be asking you for advice about Lasik Plus and what you thought about it.

Many patients prefer Lasik Surgery and think that they would rather undergo a Lasik Surgery than wear glasses or contact lenses. The Lasik Surgery takes a pretty short time because of the uniqueness of the surgery. The surgery never takes more than eight to ten minutes. Since Lasik Surgery is Laser Surgery, it involves the burning of tissues. The laser gets to the tissue by burning the stroma and it does not take long for the eye to “recover” because unlike other surgeries, here the tissue is not “hurt” in any way.

Lasik Surgery is a quick procedure, it only takes about an hour– but patients are asked to take rest for longer. One must avoid the urge to scratch the eye during this time. The patient may have the propensity to do so because the eye is exceedingly irritable at this juncture. The patient must avoid plunging into swimming pools and other water sports that he/she might be interested in for a month. Dry eyes and Halo may be caused because of this process.

When you compare the Lasik Surgery to other kinds of surgeries, you understand that it is free from most of the trouble that most other surgeries cause. Still, it is advisable to take all the precautions that are necessary to avoid any infection or complications later on. The patient must not use any lotions or any make-up for about two days after the surgery as that might hamper the patient’s speed of recovery. Also, sports like Karate, Kick Boxing, and Taekwondo should be played only after complete recovery.

For a laser Eye surgery, one must choose his/her doctor very carefully. For a sensitive operation like this, it is very important to realize that one’s eye is one’s asset and one cannot afford to take any chances. While some doctors may perform the surgery at a cheaper cost, it is always better to go with a doctor who has experience and who has performed these surgeries successfully before.

Who benefits from a Lasik Surgery?

Anyone with poor eyesight benefits from Lasik Surgery. Since this is a refractive laser eye surgery, ophthalmologists use it to cure myopia, astigmatism, and hypermetropia. However, if not performed carefully the patient can suffer from substantial loss of contrast sensitivity.

The decision for a Lasik Surgery should be taken after consulting one’s doctor. After all, this is a risk of sorts and comes with its fair share of side effects. If none of the doctors you know have ever done Lasik Surgery (and this is possible because it is a fairly new kind of surgery), then it is best to go to a large and reputed clinic before you decide to go in for a Lasik Surgery.

These things may help the LASIK surgery recovery process to be smooth and fast:

1. Do not rub your eyes, and avoid touching them. There is a small flap that was created during the surgery, and it is important that you allow that flap to heal in place without moving it around.

2. Your eyes will heal more quickly if you allow them to relax. Avoid watching tv, reading, working on the computer or playing video games during the first 24 hours.

3. Avoid taking a shower on the first day or allowing the eyes to get splashed with water. Also, you may not participate in water sports for a few weeks after the LASIK eye surgery.

4. Your LASIK doctor will prescribe antibiotic eyedrops for you to use. Make sure to diligently apply the eyedrops and also lubricating drops as needed to help keep your eyes moist.

5. Protect your eyes at night to prevent the eye from any irritation, damage, or unintentional rubbing while you are asleep. It is suggested that you place patches over your eyes every night for the first week during your LASIK surgery recovery time.

6. Do not use eye makeup, lotions, sunscreen, or any other product that might get in the eye. It is usually suggested to avoid these things for at least two weeks during your LASIK surgery recovery.

Following these instructions will help your eyes to quickly heal, and you will find that the LASIK surgery recovery time is easy and pain free. There may be other directions that you receive from your doctor, be sure to follow the doctors orders exactly in order to avoid any complications during your LASIK surgery recovery.

Do keep to your follow up schedule with your eye doctor. Generally, post-operative visits may be scheduled 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after LASIK. Occasionally the doctor may call you more often or less often, depending on your progress. It is important that you note the follow up visit dates and visit the doctor on the appointed date and time.

Do follow the schedule for medications (i.e., eye drops) prescribed to you by your eye doctor. If you sometimes miss or forget to put a drop on schedule, put it in as soon as you remember, and put in the next drop on schedule.

Do handle the medication with clean hands, and don’t inadvertently injure the eye in putting eye drops. If you find it difficult to put the drops, have a friend or relative put them for you. Keep the medication bottles in a clean, cool and dry place. Don’t share medication bottles with someone else. If you inadvertently touch the open nozzle of the bottle, or it falls down, replace the bottle. You must protect yourself from infection.

While bathing, make sure you are not allowing soap or water to enter the eyes. Don’t splash water into the eyes. If they feel dry, use artificial tears instead. Do however wash your face and area around the eyes (while keeping the eyes closed). Don’t allow all manner of muck to accumulate on or around the eye lids.

Avoid activities where water or smoke will get into the eyes for the first couple of months after LASIK. Avoid smoky bars, avoid swimming, and avoid Jacuzzi’s etc.

Do wear sunglasses while you go out into the sun, or in smoky and dusty areas.

Don’t use eye makeup (i.e., eye shadow, eye liner) for around 2 months after LASIK or till you are on medication. Similarly don’t wear cosmetic contact lenses for the time you are on medication.

For the first couple of months, avoid contact sports, or sports which may cause your eyes to get injured. Even after the first couple of months, please do take care that your eyes don’t get poked or injured during sports or holi and so on.

Start doing all your normal activities after the first day, on which you should be taking it easy. Don’t over strain your eyes post-LASIK, but don’t be too conscious of having undergone the surgery. Just start living your life normally, and the more you use your new vision, the more likely you will recover fast.

If your vision suddenly gets blurred, or you get sudden sharp pain or your eyes get very red and angry, please do schedule a visit to your eye doctor as soon as possible. Don’t overreact either; wait for a couple of hours for the symptoms to persist before raising the alarm.

For more information, you can visit LASIK India

• Perfect Vision, better than perfect vision in some cases
• Getting rid of your glasses or contacts
• Improving physical appearance
• You can now focus on things across the room
• You get to see the world in a whole new way

Cons of Lasik Eye Surgery:

• The cost, upwards of $3000+
• Some slight discomfort after the surgery
• Does not fix needing reading glasses after the age of 40

I can only think of those 3 cons of having Lasik eye surgery. The surgery is truly amazing, coming from someone that had 100% dependency on glasses since the age of 5, and now at the age of 29 I still have perfect vision after 7 years of having the surgery. You will however still need reading glasses after the age of 40, there is a natural deterioration of the eyes, that as of yet no technology is available to keep that from happening. So quit thinking about the surgery and go out there and get it done. The pros grossly out weigh the cons when thinking of Lasik eye surgery. Call the Lasik center and set up your first consultation to see if you are a good candidate for having the procedure.

Actually when you think of all benefits received LASIK surgery LASIK total cost is quite low. Just think, after LASIK you not, Äôll have to pay for contact lenses, saline solution or glasses ever again.

Just remember that costs can and do vary widely for LASIK. The price is determined by many things, like the doctor who performs LASIK, the problem is corrected, the place where it performs LASIK and LASIK technology is used. You, Äôll also found that the area of the country lives in fact is the cost of LASIK.

No doubt, dove ads seen that the promise of only $ 500 per eye for vision correction surgery laser. Don, Aot be fooled by these low low prices. In general, gift, Aot include pre-operative and post operative appointments and may not include proof that can make surgery safer. Lasik cost is much more realistic $ 1000 to $ 2000 per eye if it includes everything.

With all the advantages of LASIK, aos a shame that the high cost still puts it beyond the reach of many people. Insurance usually does not cover the cost of LASIK surgery, because it is considered elective surgery, and even if insurance coverage is often only pay a small amount of the total cost of LASIK.

Lasik Financing is another option used to pay for the surgery and this helps many people to pay for your LASIK procedure. If you can find a way to make LASIK surgery the possibility of yourself, Äôll love the freedom you get from your contact lenses and glasses. Many people think that this freedom justifies the cost of LASIK eye surgery and makes it completely worthwhile.

Even with the high cost of LASIK people are choosing to accept the price and LASIK have been increasing. Lasik surgery centers have never been so busy and competition, fortunately, is causing the price of LASIK surgery to decrease. Adding to this is the number of baby boomers who are beginning to have vision problems because of his age. This is a group that is huge in the U.S. and has the money to indulge themselves with LASIK.

Many people find that the benefits of LASIK surgery outweigh the cost of LASIK and this trend should continue in the future as prices continue to decline. In reality, any spending LASIK is very likely to be offset by the savings that, once you get all no longer have to buy glasses, contacts and saline solutions. Lasik is a very good investment for the future.