Questions to Ask Your Lasik Surgeon

As a prospective lasik surgery patient, it is in your best interests to fully understand the benefits, limitations and possible complications associated with laser eye surgery. You should ask questions and gather as much information as you can. Some sample questions include:

Am I a viable candidate for Lasik surgery?
Your doctor will examine your eyes and ask you questions in determining your suitability for lasik. You will need to disclose any health problems, current and prior eye conditions, medications you are taking, pregnancy etc. so an accurate assessment can be made. People whose jobs rely upon sharp vision or strong vision in low light conditions such as commercial pilots may not be good candidates so it is important to provide as much information to your doctor as possible.

How much does the Lasik procedure cost?
Lasik eye surgery prices can vary widely. Before you commit to having laser eye surgery, know the costs beforehand. Currently, $2000 is a reasonable baseline figure.

What is included in the cost the Lasik surgery?
Make sure there are no hidden fees and know what exactly is included. For example, if corrective lenses are needed while healing or if enhancement surgery is needed at a later time, know whether additional fees for such will be incurred.

How long will you require me to be without contacts before examination?
Contact lenses change the shape of your cornea even after you stop wearing them. If you are a contact lens wearer, you will need to switch to glasses. Depending on the type of contact lenses you use, your doctor will recommend a timeframe.

Is financing available?
Regardless of how you end up paying for your lasik procedure or where the money comes from, know what your options are in advance. If you do intend to finance, analyze the costs associated with financing and be absolutely certain you can afford the payments.

What type of Lasik procedure will be used?
There are a number of different Lasik techniques and procedures currently in use. For your own peace of mind, it is best to have them fully explained and to know exactly what your lasik surgery will entail.

What will happen during my lasik surgery?
Understand every step of your surgery so you know exactly what to expect. Lasik procedures are usually performed while the patient is awake. Find out what sort of sedative and anesthetic eye drops will be administered.

What can I expect after surgery?
Discuss proper post operative care with your lasik surgeon. You should expect thorough instructions to minimize any risk of post surgery complications. Things such as dark goggles, antibiotics, follow up visits and general post operative care should be discussed thoroughly.

What risks and complications are involved with the Lasik procedure?
Before deciding to undergo lasik eye surgery, it is critical that you understand the potential risks and your own risk factors. This is crucial in the decision making process so make sure you ask any questions you may have and be forthright about your medical history when asked.

What should I expect my vision to be like for the first few weeks after surgery?
While this question can’t be answered with 100% certainty, you can gain somewhat of an understanding of what your vision and your life will be like after having lasik. This will help you set realistic expectations and aid in your decision.

Will my vision fluctuate after surgery?
Understand what is normal and what is cause for concern. Consider how vision fluctuations after lasik could impact you.

How much recovery time will I need?
This is one of those questions that can’t be answered with total accuracy, but it helps to get a ballpark idea of what to expect. You need to plan ahead for the time needed to heal and adjust so a reasonable estimate from an experienced doctor is helpful.

How often and when will you perform post operative examinations?
This information is required to get a sense of the scope of commitment offered by your doctor and required from you the lasik patient. You also need to make sure that you are or can be available for post operative care.

Will you provide me with the names and contact information of previous patients?
References should be available upon request. It can be a comfort to hear others share their experiences and having your questions answered by someone who has undergone the lasik procedure could prove very valuable as well.

How long have you been performing the LASIK procedure?
As with just about anything, more experience is better. You want to be put at ease by the answer. If you are shopping around, this questions can also aid in comparison.

These questions are just examples. When I was considering lasik surgery, I asked all of them at some point during my research. Think of your own. It is extremely important that you feel comfortable with both the lasik procedure and the surgeon you select so do not hesitate to ask any question that enters your mind.