9. Feels and shows genuine concern for each patient

Eye surgery can be an alarming prospect. The best surgeons understand this, and take care to inform and reassure their patients, and answer all their questions. Some also offer relaxing medication such as Valium, if necessary.

Part of genuine concern is honesty. The best LASIK surgeons will not:

· Guarantee 20/20 vision -- because each person is unique and though many LASIK patients do achieve excellent vision, some still must wear glasses, and others run into some rare complication which can probably be remedied, but sometimes not

· Claim to have “special” technology – the LASIK technology is widely available, and if a new technique comes along it will have to be tested over time before it can be trusted

· Offer extraordinarily low prices – because LASIK procedures are best done using the best equipment and staff, which eliminates bargain basement prices. As with so many thi

1. Has quality training and keeps up with new developments

When LASIK first became available after being approved by the FDA in the late 1990s, there was a rush for it, and lots of LASIK centers suddenly opened and offered it. Not all these centers were well run, or hired properly qualified eye surgeons.

A great eye surgeon:

· Is a fully qualified ophthalmologist, certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology

· Has training beyond the original medical degree

· Belongs to at least one professional organization, such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology, or the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) – this keeps the eye surgeon in contact with his peers, which in turn apprises him of new ideas and better methods

· Has a clean record at the state Board

· Has never had malpractice insurance coverage denied

· Has never had their license revoked, restricted, or suspended

2. Has lots of experience

· Has been performing LASIK procedures for at least 3 years or so

· Has done at least 500 procedures

· Has done at least 100 of the same type of procedure recommended for you

3. Puts quality before cost-saving measures

Every person’s eyesight is precious. The best eye surgeons take extreme care of their patients’ eyes and provide the best in everything, rather than cut costs. For instance, they:

· Lease or purchase the best quality laser and microkeratome – these are both expensive items for the surgeon, but there’s a big difference between the quality of vision correction possible with cheaper tools and that possible with the best tools.

· Hire office support staff who are not only kind and sympathetic people but also highly trained in the techniques they perform

4. Does your pre-op and post-op visits himself

Some LASIK eye surgeons delegate important work to people who aren’t necessarily properly qualified. Besides doing the actual surgery, the best ones will:

· See you initially and determine if you’re a good LASIK candidate – an excellent outcome isn’t possible if you’re not a good candidate to begin with, and the best surgeons screen their patients carefully

· See you for all your post-op visits, to check on your healing progress and how you’re feeling about the results

5. Runs a very organized facility

Vision correction is meticulous work, and meticulousness should be evident throughout the facility. The surgeon sets the standards. If the staff misplaces your records, forgets your name, writes down the wrong appointment time, gets your phone number wrong, etc., then what is the surgeon doing with your eyesight? Most LASIK complications are the result of “human error”, which is a name for carelessness.

6. Keeps the surgical tools well-maintained

Some LASIK centers try to process as many patients as possible, cutting corners to keep costs down, and offering those “$499 per eye” deals. One of the corners that’s often cut is quality maintenance of the LASIK equipment.

A great LASIK surgeon will:

· Calibrate the laser before each procedure – this isn’t mandatory but it helps keep the laser at its peak level of accuracy

· Keep the laser in a room that has the correct temperature and humidity

· Have good battery backup in case of power outages

· Have professional preventive maintenance done on the microkeratome – this is the instrument used to cut the little corneal flap so that the laser can do its corrective work on the underlying corneal tissue. Many LASIK complications are related to faulty flaps.

7. Offers Custom Wavefront LASIK

This is an upgrade over traditional LASIK surgery, and uses a far more precise method of mapping your eyes, so that your treatment will be far more exact and customized for you. This type of LASIK treats the higher order aberrations (glare, starbursts, double vision etc.) as well as the lower order aberrations (near- and far-sightedness and astigmatism).

8. Will respond quickly to any complication or emergency situation

The sooner a problem in any surgery is addressed, the more likely it is to be well corrected. A great LASIK surgeon is equipped and staffed such that he can respond immediately to any problem, whether it occurs during surgery, or just afterwards, or in the recovery period. Follow-up visits are a part of a good LASIK treatment, so that if you do experience a problem in the period following your surgery, you can quickly see your surgeon and have it resolved.

9. Feels and shows genuine concern for each patient

Eye surgery can be an alarming prospect. The best surgeons understand this, and take care to inform and reassure their patients, and answer all their questions. Some also offer relaxing medication such as Valium, if necessary.

Part of genuine concern is honesty. The best LASIK surgeons will not:

· Guarantee 20/20 vision -- because each person is unique and though many LASIK patients do achieve excellent vision, some still must wear glasses, and others run into some rare complication which can probably be remedied, but sometimes not

· Claim to have “special” technology – the LASIK technology is widely available, and if a new technique comes along it will have to be tested over time before it can be trusted

· Offer extraordinarily low prices – because LASIK procedures are best done using the best equipment and staff, which eliminates bargain basement prices. As with so many thin

· Has done at least 500 procedures

· Has done at least 100 of the same type of procedure recommended for you

3. Puts quality before cost-saving measures

Every person’s eyesight is precious. The best eye surgeons take extreme care of their patients’ eyes and provide the best in everything, rather than cut costs. For instance, they:

· Lease or purchase the best quality laser and microkeratome – these are both expensive items for the surgeon, but there’s a big difference between the quality of vision correction possible with cheaper tools and that possible with the best tools.

· Hire office support staff who are not only kind and sympathetic people but also highly trained in the techniques they perform

4. Does your pre-op and post-op visits himself

Some LASIK eye surgeons delegate important work to people who aren’t necessarily properly qualified. Besides doing the actual surgery, the best ones will:

· See you initially and determine if you’re a good LASIK candidate – an excellent outcome isn’t possible if you’re not a good candidate to begin with, and the best surgeons screen their patients carefully

· See you for all your post-op visits, to check on your healing progress and how you’re feeling about the results

5. Runs a very organized facility

Vision correction is meticulous work, and meticulousness should be evident throughout the facility. The surgeon sets the standards. If the staff misplaces your records, forgets your name, writes down the wrong appointment time, gets your phone number wrong, etc., then what is the surgeon doing with your eyesight? Most LASIK complications are the result of “human error”, which is a name for carelessness.

6. Keeps the surgical tools well-maintained

Some LASIK centers try to process as many patients as possible, cutting corners to keep costs down, and offering those “$499 per eye” deals. One of the corners that’s often cut is quality maintenance of the LASIK equipment.

A great LASIK surgeon will:

· Calibrate the laser before each procedure – this isn’t mandatory but it helps keep the laser at its peak level of accuracy

· Keep the laser in a room that has the correct temperature and humidity

· Have good battery backup in case of power outages

· Have professional preventive maintenance done on the microkeratome – this is the instrument used to cut the little corneal flap so that the laser can do its corrective work on the underlying corneal tissue. Many LASIK complications are related to faulty flaps.

7. Offers Custom Wavefront LASIK

This is an upgrade over traditional LASIK surgery, and uses a far more precise method of mapping your eyes, so that your treatment will be far more exact and customized for you. This type of LASIK treats the higher order aberrations (glare, starbursts, double vision etc.) as well as the lower order aberrations (near- and far-sightedness and astigmatism).

8. Will respond quickly to any complication or emergency situation

The sooner a problem in any surgery is addressed, the more likely it is to be well corrected. A great LASIK surgeon is equipped and staffed such that he can respond immediately to any problem, whether it occurs during surgery, or just afterwards, or in the recovery period. Follow-up visits are a part of a good LASIK treatment, so that if you do experience a problem in the period following your surgery, you can quickly see your surgeon and have it resolved.

9. Feels and shows genuine concern for each patient

Eye surgery can be an alarming prospect. The best surgeons understand this, and take care to inform and reassure their patients, and answer all their questions. Some also offer relaxing medication such as Valium, if necessary.

Part of genuine concern is honesty. The best LASIK surgeons will not:

· Guarantee 20/20 vision -- because each person is unique and though many LASIK patients do achieve excellent vision, some still must wear glasses, and others run into some rare complication which can probably be remedied, but sometimes not

· Claim to have “special” technology – the LASIK technology is widely available, and if a new technique comes along it will have to be tested over time before it can be trusted

· Offer extraordinarily low prices – because LASIK procedures are best done using the best equipment and staff, which eliminates bargain basement prices. As with so many thi

· See you for all your post-op visits, to check on your healing progress and how you’re feeling about the results

5. Runs a very organized facility

Vision correction is meticulous work, and meticulousness should be evident throughout the facility. The surgeon sets the standards. If the staff misplaces your records, forgets your name, writes down the wrong appointment time, gets your phone number wrong, etc., then what is the surgeon doing with your eyesight? Most LASIK complications are the result of “human error”, which is a name for carelessness.

6. Keeps the surgical tools well-maintained

Some LASIK centers try to process as many patients as possible, cutting corners to keep costs down, and offering those “$499 per eye” deals. One of the corners that’s often cut is quality maintenance of the LASIK equipment.

A great LASIK surgeon will:

· Calibrate the laser before each procedure – this isn’t mandatory but it helps keep the laser at its peak level of accuracy

· Keep the laser in a room that has the correct temperature and humidity

· Have good battery backup in case of power outages

· Have professional preventive maintenance done on the microkeratome – this is the instrument used to cut the little corneal flap so that the laser can do its corrective work on the underlying corneal tissue. Many LASIK complications are related to faulty flaps.

7. Offers Custom Wavefront LASIK

This is an upgrade over traditional LASIK surgery, and uses a far more precise method of mapping your eyes, so that your treatment will be far more exact and customized for you. This type of LASIK treats the higher order aberrations (glare, starbursts, double vision etc.) as well as the lower order aberrations (near- and far-sightedness and astigmatism).

8. Will respond quickly to any complication or emergency situation

The sooner a problem in any surgery is addressed, the more likely it is to be well corrected. A great LASIK surgeon is equipped and staffed such that he can respond immediately to any problem, whether it occurs during surgery, or just afterwards, or in the recovery period. Follow-up visits are a part of a good LASIK treatment, so that if you do experience a problem in the period following your surgery, you can quickly see your surgeon and have it resolved.

9. Feels and shows genuine concern for each patient

Eye surgery can be an alarming prospect. The best surgeons understand this, and take care to inform and reassure their patients, and answer all their questions. Some also offer relaxing medication such as Valium, if necessary.

Part of genuine concern is honesty. The best LASIK surgeons will not:

· Guarantee 20/20 vision -- because each person is unique and though many LASIK patients do achieve excellent vision, some still must wear glasses, and others run into some rare complication which can probably be remedied, but sometimes not

· Claim to have “special” technology – the LASIK technology is widely available, and if a new technique comes along it will have to be tested over time before it can be trusted

· Offer extraordinarily low prices – because LASIK procedures are best done using the best equipment and staff, which eliminates bargain basement prices. As with so many thi

· Have professional preventive maintenance done on the microkeratome – this is the instrument used to cut the little corneal flap so that the laser can do its corrective work on the underlying corneal tissue. Many LASIK complications are related to faulty flaps.

7. Offers Custom Wavefront LASIK

This is an upgrade over traditional LASIK surgery, and uses a far more precise method of mapping your eyes, so that your treatment will be far more exact and customized for you. This type of LASIK treats the higher order aberrations (glare, starbursts, double vision etc.) as well as the lower order aberrations (near- and far-sightedness and astigmatism).

8. Will respond quickly to any complication or emergency situation

The sooner a problem in any surgery is addressed, the more likely it is to be well corrected. A great LASIK surgeon is equipped and staffed such that he can respond immediately to any problem, whether it occurs during surgery, or just afterwards, or in the recovery period. Follow-up visits are a part of a good LASIK treatment, so that if you do experience a problem in the period following your surgery, you can quickly see your surgeon and have it resolved.

9. Feels and shows genuine concern for each patient

Eye surgery can be an alarming prospect. The best surgeons understand this, and take care to inform and reassure their patients, and answer all their questions. Some also offer relaxing medication such as Valium, if necessary.

Part of genuine concern is honesty. The best LASIK surgeons will not:

· Guarantee 20/20 vision -- because each person is unique and though many LASIK patients do achieve excellent vision, some still must wear glasses, and others run into some rare complication which can probably be remedied, but sometimes not

· Claim to have “special” technology – the LASIK technology is widely available, and if a new technique comes along it will have to be tested over time before it can be trusted

· Offer extraordinarily low prices – because LASIK procedures are best done using the best equipment and staff, which eliminates bargain basement prices. As with so many thi

9. Feels and shows genuine concern for each patient

Eye surgery can be an alarming prospect. The best surgeons understand this, and take care to inform and reassure their patients, and answer all their questions. Some also offer relaxing medication such as Valium, if necessary.

Part of genuine concern is honesty. The best LASIK surgeons will not:

· Guarantee 20/20 vision -- because each person is unique and though many LASIK patients do achieve excellent vision, some still must wear glasses, and others run into some rare complication which can probably be remedied, but sometimes not

· Claim to have “special” technology – the LASIK technology is widely available, and if a new technique comes along it will have to be tested over time before it can be trusted

· Offer extraordinarily low prices – because LASIK procedures are best done using the best equipment and staff, which eliminates bargain basement prices. As with so many things, you get what you pay for in vision correction.