Choosing
a Doctor
Finding
the right refractive surgeon to perform
your LASIK
procedure is crucial. Your vision
is precious, and you deserve to be
treated by a highly qualified, skilled
ophthalmologist. Choosing a doctor
should involve more than flipping
open the yellow pages. There are many
excellent LASIK surgeons in the Los
Angeles area, so take the time
to conduct research about each one.
Here are some questions you might
want to ask each doctor you are considering:
1. If I come to your practice, how
involved will you be with my case?
Some LASIK surgeons treat their patients
from start to finish, performing the
preoperative evaluation, the surgery
itself, and all the follow-up treatments
2. What are the risks involved with
LASIK surgery? Find out what some
of the possible complications and
side
effects of LASIK are before asking
this question. Your doctor should
be honest and thorough in replying.
If he or she downplays or denies the
risks of surgery, you are advised
to find a different surgeon.
3. How many LASIK procedures have
you performed? The old adage ‘practice
makes perfect’ is at least somewhat
applicable to laser eye surgery. Statistics
show that the patients of doctors
who have performed many LASIK procedures
tend to have better results and fewer
complications. While a surgeon who
has performed less than 1,000 LASIK
surgeries is probably capable of doing
a good job, you may want to consider
choosing someone with more experience.
4. What tests will you perform to
determine whether or not I am a good
candidate
for LASIK? Make sure the surgeon
will measure your pupil size in the
dark, as well as your corneal thickness.
Remember,
although convenience, location, and
price may at first seem important,
your safety and results are significantly
more valuable. Choose the most highly
qualified LASIK surgeon.
For example, here are two of L.A.’s
top ophthalmologists:
- Brian Boxer Wachler, M.D. from
Boxer Wachler Vision Institute in
Beverly Hills.
- Andrew Caster, M.D. from Caster
Eye Center
You can learn more about these and
other LASIK eye surgeons by visiting
www.LASIKdocshop.com.
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