50 Questions For Your Eye Surgeon (continued)
If you are seriously considering LASIK, PRK, LASEK, Epi-LASIK, or any other refractive surgery technique, you need to first and foremost consider the qualifications and experience of your potential surgeon. The surgeon is even more important than the medical devices used. No amount of technology can compensate for an inferior surgeon.
Do not expect your prospective surgeon to respond with our suggested answers for every question. Some are more important measures of ability than others. Use your own common sense. Ask for proof of all claims. Measure the willingness to respond as much as the response. The surgeon should offer to make arrangements for any requested test or examination that the surgeon does not normally provide.
If you do not completely understand the relevance of any of these questions, use the links provided or search our website for more detailed information. Best of luck in your quest for an excellent surgeon.
Download a printer friendly version of these questions and answers already prepared for your potential surgeons. No need to cut and paste from this webpage. You must have Acrobat Reader.
Back to part 2 of the questions for your Eye Surgeon
The Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance's
50 Tough Questions For Your Doctor and suggest responses
(Part 3)
- Is the laser and equipment you will use specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the recommended procedure and intended parameters? If no, explain why it is not FDA approved and/or off-label use.
The equipment should be FDA approved (hardware and software). The parameters may not be FDA approved. Surgeons are legally able to use FDA approved tools beyond FDA approved parameters in some circumstances. This is called off-label use and should be discussed with your surgeon if applicable to your circumstances.
Answer should be no charge for an enhancement within a specified period of time, usually about a year after surgery. If there is a charge, consider the affordability if needed.
- If another surgeon will be comanaging pre- and/or postoperative care, can I see you at any time without my comanaging surgeon’s authorization?
The answer should be yes. You should be able to go directly to the surgeon at any time you feel it is appropriate.
- What should I expect my vision to be like for the first few weeks after surgery?
The answer should include an explanation of minor fluctuations, regression, minor halos, minor starbursting, etc. These side-effects may occur, but normally resolve during the six-month healing process.
- Will you perform a complete refractive examination including evaluating the medical health of my eyes both before and after surgery?
The answer should be an unqualified yes and the medical component of the exam must be performed by an ophthalmologist (medical eye surgeon).
- Will my vision fluctuate after surgery? How long is the healing period?
If the surgeon says, "Twenty minutes and all will be fine" you may want to move on. The surgery is quick but the healing and fluctuations may continue for months or longer. Refractive surgery is more of a six-month process than a 20-Minute Miracle even though it is possible you will have perfect vision immediately after surgery.
- Will you perform a contrast sensitivity test before and after the surgery?
The answer will probably be no, but should be yes. Contrast sensitivity testing is not currently routine and not all surgeons have the technology available. Your surgeon should offer to arrange for you to receive this test at your expense at another location.
- Will you perform a glare sensitivity test before and after the surgery?
The answer will probably be no, but should be yes. Glare sensitivity testing is not currently routine and not all surgeons have the technology available. Your surgeon should offer to arrange for you to receive this test at your expense at another location.
The answer should be yes.
- If you recommend LASIK, will you use a laser to create the flap or a mechanical microkeratome?
The femtosecond laser (Intralase) may be a better alternative than a flap created with a blade, however not many surgeons have this equipment and it is not always be required. Like the different types of excimer lasers, it may be that only a laser created flap will be appropriate or a microkeratome created flap will be fine. Discuss this with your surgeon.
- Will you perform a test to determine tear volume (Schirmer) and tear breakup test (TBUT) prior to making a recommendation about surgery?
Answer should be yes. These tests help determine if you have unusually dry eyes.
- Will you measure the size of my pupils when naturally dilated in a dimly lit room prior to making a recommendation about surgery?
The answer must be yes. This is an important test to determine if you my have a higher than normal probability of postoperative problems in low light environments. Dilation needs to be natural and without medication. The ruler method will work but the infrared pupilometer method is better. more
- Will you use a different microkeratome blade (LASIK only) for each eye?
The answer may be yes, but many surgeons use one blade for both patient's eyes. You may request a new blade for each eye, but don’t be surprised if the surgeon asks you to pay a little more for the extra blade.
Forward to part 4 of the questions for your Eye Surgeon
Source: USAEyes.org
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