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Why You Need a LASIK Surgeon You Can Trust
If you’re wondering where to get LASIK surgery from a professional you can trust, you’ll need to do your research, just like with any worthwhile investment. There are many factors to consider when it comes to how to choose a LASIK surgeon. Finding a trustworthy eye surgeon, such as those at Michigan Eye Institute, will allow you to go into your appointment with peace of mind. Below, find out what to look for to ensure you get the best visual results possible from LASIK surgery and that your eyes receive the greatest care.
Looking for a Top-Rated LASIK Surgeon in Michigan?
What to Look For When Choosing a LASIK Surgeon
Board Certifications
One important starting point for your research is to look at board-certified LASIK surgeons.
Right off the bat, you should verify that any prospective eye surgeons are certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and have all necessary regional licenses. Performing any surgical procedure, especially one on the eyes, requires an advanced level of expertise.
Expertise
While board certification is a critical starting point, it doesn’t tell you the surgeon’s specific day-to-day experience with the LASIK procedure itself. A great surgeon will be transparent with their outcomes and volume. Don’t be afraid to ask for specific numbers during your consultation.
Key questions to ask:
- How many LASIK procedures have you personally performed?
- What to look for: You want a surgeon who performs LASIK regularly, not just occasionally. Look for a surgeon who has performed thousands of procedures, not just a few hundred. This high volume indicates a deep level of familiarity with the procedure and its nuances.
- What percentage of your patients achieve 20/20 vision or better?
- What to look for: While no surgeon can or should “guarantee” a 20/20 outcome, they should be able to provide their personal statistics. This shows they track their results and are confident in them. Be wary of any surgeon who gives a vague answer or seems annoyed by the question.
- What is your “enhancement” or “touch-up” rate?
- What to look for: An enhancement is a follow-up procedure to further refine the vision if the first surgery didn’t achieve the desired correction. A low enhancement rate (typically in the low single digits) is a strong indicator of initial accuracy.
- What is your personal complication rate?
- What to look for: This is a crucial question. While LASIK is extremely safe, all surgery has risks. A confident surgeon will be able to discuss their complication rate and how it compares to the national average (which is very low).
- What percentage of patients do you turn away?
- What to look for: This is an excellent “insider” question. A responsible surgeon will not operate on everyone. They should be turning away a significant percentage of people who are not ideal candidates (e.g., due to thin corneas, dry eye, or unstable prescriptions). A center that seems to approve everyone is a major red flag.
Referrals
Whether you hear it from your friend, family member, or general eye doctor, a referral can be a very useful tool for ensuring a reliable and high-quality LASIK surgery. Learning about a worthwhile, positive experience from a source close to you – and especially one who gets no compensation for sharing – is highly effective and trustworthy.
Reviews
You can check Google reviews or similar sites to get a feel for what the majority of patients are saying about the LASIK surgeon or establishment you’re researching.
That being said, try not to read too heavily into what is posted since you don’t actually know the people giving their opinions. The reviews could be exaggerated, or in rare cases, fraudulent. While you should look at reviews for additional information about your decision, you shouldn’t rely on them as your primary factor when choosing a LASIK surgeon.
Office and Staff Experience
Before even meeting with any board-certified surgeons, you’ll need to visit the office and meet supporting administrative and medical staff. If the office is clean, organized, and up-to-date and the staff is attentive, polite, and approachable, you can usually expect the eye surgeon to be of the same caliber.
Initial Screening
When meeting with your potential surgeon, make sure that your appointment feels like a medical determination or consultation of your LASIK case rather than a sales pitch. The ophthalmologist should forecast your specific LASIK outcome to help you make a decision, rather than pressure you or give you overly generalized information. That’s why Michigan Eye Institute staff members are always transparent and patient-oriented—we always make sure this procedure is right for you.
Post-Operative Care and Follow-Ups
LASIK is a quick procedure, but proper aftercare is essential for a smooth recovery and long-term vision success. Before choosing your surgeon, ask about their post-operative care process to ensure you receive the best follow-up treatment. Your clinic should be able to provide a detailed post-op care plan outlining what to expect in the hours, days, and weeks after surgery as well as schedule follow-up visits to monitor healing and address any concerns.
Technological Resources
A clinic’s medical equipment could be a huge factor in where to get your LASIK surgery. When given the option, you may want to opt for premium LASIK treatment, such as the state-of-the-art bladeless LASIK treatment offered at Michigan Eye Institute. Most importantly: there should be a variety of surgical options available to best fit your needs, in case LASIK isn’t your right match.
Find A LASIK Surgeon in Michigan
Contact Michigan Eye Institute to schedule your LASIK consultation today!
Our team of doctors offers LASIK eye surgery and vision solutions to clients in Michigan. Give our staff a call by phone at (810) 733-7111 to Schedule Appointment for LASIK surgery or other eye care services.
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