For those interested in LASIK surgery, the road leading to 20/20 vision can be nerve-wracking. However, having a trusted surgeon by your side to ease your fears and concerns is the best way to prepare yourself for the procedure. While the procedure itself takes only 10-15 minutes or less, there is a lot that goes into preparation, as well as training the surgeon must go through to become certified. Knowing your surgeon is qualified for their role and has your best interest at heart will be worth taking the time to learn how to choose a LASIK surgeon.
Education and Certification
If you have already decided that the LASIK procedure is right for you, your next step should be choosing a LASIK surgeon with board certification. A reputable LASIK surgeon will not only hold a general medical license, but be board certified by one or more reputable institutions. A board certification shows that they have specialized education in addition to a broader medical license. An example of such a certification would be through the American Board of Medical Specialties or American Board of Physician Specialties. This information should be easy to find and readily available when researching LASIK surgeons, as your doctor should be proud of their accomplishments and want to ensure their patients that they are educated and reputable.
Qualifying For LASIK
When searching for LASIK surgeons in your area, it is helpful to be aware that a reputable refractive surgeon will always consult with you to ensure that you are qualified for LASIK. While LASIK may be their specialty, a trustworthy surgeon will never try to recommend a procedure to you without ensuring that you are a good match. Here is a list of some qualifying factors that your eye doctor will be able to determine:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Must be free of eye disease, such as glaucoma, cataracts, keratoconus, and certain types of herpes
- Must have reliable vision for a year prior to the procedure (this can be in the form of glasses or contact lenses)
- Must have proper corneal thickness
You may not qualify for laser vision correction if you:
- Have past eye or vision problems such as strabismus, amblyopia, and any other condition that might affect the healing process.
- Have a condition that leads to dry eyes
- Have any previous eye injuries
- Have any diseases requiring medication that contradicts refractive surgery, such as collagen vascular disease
- Are nursing or pregnant, as certain hormones can affect one’s eyesight
The Follow-through
Finally, the last step in understanding how to choose a LASIK surgeon is knowing if they care about following up with their patients. A good surgeon that truly cares about their patients will see the LASIK process through to the end. This includes not only helping you figure out financial costs of LASIK and preparing for surgery, but post operative care as well. After laser eye surgery, it is important that your eye surgeon appoint a follow-up to ensure that the procedure has worked and that you have fully healed.
Receive LASIK surgery in Houston, TX
You don’t have to travel far to find a reputable LASIK surgeon. Board-certified by the American Board of Physician Specialties in Ophthalmology, Dr. Mattioli of Mattioli Vision Professionals delivers eye care you can trust. With over 18 years of experience under his belt and over 50,000 LASIK procedures, Dr. Mattioli has the experience and education to help patients get the best experience possible. Take advantage of Dr. Mattioli’s offer for free LASIK consultation, and begin your journey to 20/20 vision.
