Need help picking a doctor for lasik surgery?Florence
I am trying to do some resaerch on a specific doctor in my area. Where can I look to see if there was any malpractice issues or reviews? I've tried everything I cna think of including the bbr website but they aren't a member. Any place else I can look?
France
I happen to work as a customer service rep. for a lasik provider. I'll try to remain as neutral as possible without including any biases in my answer. But before I answer you, I'd like to say that I am NOT a sales rep. I won't be making any money from giving you my advice as I won't be mentioning the company I work for.There's one thing I recommend you do before picking a surgeon/laser vision correction company : RESEARCH. Not just on here, but Googling various terms like :- "laser vision correction" and "THE NAME OF YOUR STATE/PROVINCE".- LVC- Allegretto- Wavefront- Ladarvision- VISX Star S4- PRK ***- ICL ***- CK ***- Lasik ***- Lasek ***- Intralase (also referred to as "bladeless")- Microkeratome (in layman's terms : the blade)- IOL *** (stands for "intraocular lenses")- Presbyopia ++- Myopia ++- Hyperopia ++- Keratoconus ++- Macular Degeneration ++- Astigmatism ++- Amblyopia ++I know that may seem like a lot to research, but trust me....when you're dealing with your eyes it'll be the one time you don't want to cut corners. There are certain red flags that will pop up during your free initial consultation (which most lasik providers offer) such as :- Pregnancy- Breast Feeding/NursingThese two items are considered red flags because they affect your hormonal levels and fluctuations in your hormonal levels will play a role in your vision stability. During a consultation (an eye exam) they want your vision to be stable and not fluctuating because they will base your corrective treatment on your consultation test results.- Diabetes- LupusThese two conditions are a threat to one's immune system and may hinder your recovery process. If the diabetes is under control you may still be a candidate.- Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure why this is a red flag however I know it would prevent you from getting the surgery.It's something you'll be asked about.Here's an AWESOME article (in my opinion) on helping one choose between intralase/bladeless and the microkeratome. http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurg…Things you'll want to be mindful of when choosing a surgeon / company:- He/She shouldn't be pushy- Pay close attention to the office (neatness, professionalism)- Make sure your surgeon is board certified (they'd have to be anyways to legitimately perform the surgery)- Note how many surgeries the surgeon who'll be performing YOUR surgery has performed.- Note what sort of "warranty" or "lifetime commitment" package you'll be getting and specifically ask if it's limited to that particular surgeon / center. Many of these warranties are tied into one particular doctor and/or center (and NOT the company as a whole). In other words, you SHOULD be asking : "If I move to another province/state, or if the doctor retires what happens to the validity my warranty? "- Note how many follow-up visits you'll be getting- Inquire about financing- IMPORTANT : MAKE A LIST OF ALL THE MEDICATIONS YOU'RE TAKING, QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE PROCEDURE & FOR CRYING OUT LOUD....TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE PROCESS! DO NOT TAKE A LAID BACK APPROACH TO THIS AND ASSUME THEY WILL ADDRESS ALL ISSUES. IT'S UP TO YOU!Well I think I've given you enough information to think about. I wish you the best of luck! Believe it or not, I just had my surgery about a week ago (Aug. 31/07) and I'm LOVING IT! Best of luck, and keep us posted on how things turn out for you! NOTE : This is NOT to be considered as medical advice. You should ALWAYS consult a professional doctor/practitioner when seeking medical information. The information provided above is presented merely as my personal opinion(s).LEGEND : ----------------*** = procedures available to correct your vision++ = eye condition / defect
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