 |
Ten Tough Questions you Should Ask your Doctor About Lasik Surgery
Author: Monica Keller  | Posted: 16-04-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 10 | Rating: (56)  (?) 
No amount or type of technology can make up for an inexperienced or inadequate doctor, so the most important consideration when contemplating laser vision correction surgery is the quality of the surgeon. The only way to determine the quality of the doctor, of course, is to do a thorough investigation.
The first thing to do is to check with the various accrediting groups, your state’s medical board and the local office of the American Medical Association. Once you have established the doctor’s standing, you need to ask some serious questions. Although there is certainly no exact number of questions to ask, and there are many possible ones, we have developed this list of ten tough questions you should ask your doctor about LASIK surgery.
Of course, for you to gauge the answers, you will have to be informed about the procedure, its history and technique, possible complications and even LASIK surgery cost. Following the questions there are some brief suggested answers, but your doctor may answer them somewhat differently. Therefore, you need to be educated enough about laser vision correction to assess the responses.
Use common sense and always request evidence of all claims concerning education, training, certification and patient outcomes. You should also assess the doctor’s willingness to reply almost as much as the response itself. The doctor should offer to make arrangements for any requested test or examination that the doctor does not normally provide.
If you do not completely understand the questions or answers, then you are not ready to approach the physician. Use the DocShop.com resources and search out other resources until you are comfortable with the terminology and the procedure itself. Then present the doctor with some or all of the following questions, and keep good notes of the replies.
1. How long have you been performing this surgery? (Many experts recommend that this be at least three years.)
2. How many procedures have you performed total, and how many in the last year? (Look for about 500 and at least 150, respectively.)
3. How many procedures—of the exact type you will use for me, with the same equipment, to correct the same refractive error—have you performed? (At least 100.)
4. What percentage of your patients report unresolved complications six months after surgery? (The norm is under three percent, with less than .5 percent being serious complications.)
5. Have you had a successful surgery malpractice claim of greater than $30,000? (If "yes," get details.)
6. What is the worst surgery outcome of any patient and how did you handle it? (All doctors with sufficient surgical experience have had negative outcomes. You need to be comfortable that your doctor can handle problems effectively.)
7. Have you ever had hospital or surgical facility privileges, or your Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) certification, revoked, suspended or restricted? (Answer should be no.)
8. Have you ever been convicted of a crime, arrested for being under the influence or possessing any controlled substance, or treated for drug abuse or mental illness as an adult? (Generally speaking, the answer should be no, but you should discuss the circumstances and make up your own mind about potential doctors. A problem 20 years ago when a college student may not be germane today.)
9. Is the LASIK equipment you use specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for laser vision correction? (If not, ask the doctor to explain why it is not FDA approved.)
10. What certification do you hold, if any, from the American Board of Ophthalmology, American Board of Eye Surgery and the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance? (The best doctors are members of all three.)
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/ten-tough-questions-you-should-ask-your-doctor-about-lasik-surgery-132264.html
About the Author:There are scores more questions that you could potentially ask about the equipment, the procedure and your own suitability for the operation. Beyond the medical questions, you will also have discussed the LASIK surgery cost, as well as the historical data on outcomes of laser vision correction surgeries. Information and knowledge are key to making a wise decision and you cannot be too careful with your vision at stake.
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
What to Expect Before your Lasik Surgery & Preparation Tips
By: Monica Keller | 18/04/2007 | Health
You should prepare for LASIK surgery the same way you would prepare for any surgery - by being careful, thoughtful and fully informed. The first thing you should expect is that your surgeon will educate you about the procedure and its effect on both body and mind. Learn more about what to expect before and after LASIK surgery.
What to Look for in a Lasik Surgeon and Lasik Surgery Facility
By: Monica Keller | 18/04/2007 | Health
Compared to brain or heart operations, of course, LASIK surgery is not particularly difficult or risky. But a negative outcome can affect your life tremendously, since the procedure involves crucial sensory organs, the eyes. Therefore, you must seek and choose your eye surgeon with the same diligence you would apply to finding a heart specialist. Learn more about what to look for in a LASIK surgeon and facility.
What you Should Know About Lasik to Make an Educated Decision
By: Monica Keller | 18/04/2007 | Health
Laser eye surgery has helped millions of people since its inception, and of the most popular forms of corrective eye surgery is LASIK. As with any surgery, it is essential that you know about it so that you can make an educated decision about having the procedure, a decision that will be assisted by your doctor and/or LASIK surgeon. Learn more about what you should know about LASIK.
Five Best Ways to Prepare for your Recovery After Lasik Surgery
By: Monica Keller | 16/04/2007 | Health
In the overwhelming majority of cases, healing from a LASIK procedure is relatively fast and, happily, uneventful. However, as with most surgeries, even so-called minor ones for vision correction, your doctor may recommend that you take a few days off from work to recuperate. Learn more about ways to prepare for your recovery.
Five Ways to Prepare for Lasik Surgery - Before and After the Surgery
By: Monica Keller | 16/04/2007 | Health
When facing any serious surgical procedure, the key to a successful outcome is thorough preparation. In addition to listening to your doctor and following his advice, you should educate yourself on the particular procedure you are having and take all appropriate steps to prepare for both the surgery and your recovery. It is no different when considering laser eye surgery.
Learn the Latest on Lasik Technology Used in Lasik Eye Surgeries
By: Monica Keller | 16/04/2007 | Health
We live in a time of seemingly endless innovation and rapid technological progress. It is hard enough to keep up on the latest e-mail filters and cell phone video cameras, much less such specialized medical procedures as LASIK eye surgery. If you're considering LASIK, it is your responsibility to be an informed, prepared patient for any kind of surgery, so you need to learn the latest on LASIK technology used in LASIK eye surgeries as part of that preparation.
Main Risks Involved in Lasik Surgery and Ways to Avoid These Risks
By: Monica Keller | 16/04/2007 | Health
If you are considering LASIK eye surgery, take the time and expend the energy to become fully informed about the procedure. This means reading the literature, as well as asking questions of the surgeon, so that you have a realistic expectation of the results, a solid grasp of the surgical technique and an understanding of risks and possible complications.
Realistic Expectations After your Vision Correction Surgery
By: Monica Keller | 16/04/2007 | Health
There have been any number of studies done on the outcomes of LASIK eye surgery, and even the least impressive results indicate that approximately 90 percent of patients achieve a level of vision equal to, or greater than, their state’s driving license standard. Learn more so that you have realistic expectations after your vision correction surgery.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Health Articles
Stress - Driving Them Away
By: Paul Hata | 21/08/2008
Chances are you will not be able to reduce your stress level overnight. Many of us have become quite used to stress on the road. However, by trying to make our trips as pleasant as possible, we can go a long way to lessening driving-induced stress.
Stress - Bring An End To The Meal-Time Rush
By: Paul Hata | 21/08/2008
Even if you don't have children, meal time can be major stress time. Your mate might become irritable while awaiting dinner, and you might be grumpy as well. Hunger can be a powerful motivator, but it can also be the cause of major stress. Sometimes, you might find it difficult to concentrate as your stomach is growling.
Mind Over Matter At Vital Times
By: Catherine Harvey | 21/08/2008
A look at one mans survival with the power of the mind after a catastrophic personal injury.
Stress - Are Your Kids Stressing You Out
By: Paul Hata | 21/08/2008
While you can guide your child, you cannot expect to control him or her, particularly when your child reaches the teenage years. Therefore, you have to learn to somehow manage the stress of parenthood before it gets the better of you.
At Home DNA Testing is Here
By: Jason Kay | 21/08/2008
You can't watch a crime drama on TV, or the news (think Anna Nicole Smith) for very long nowadays without hearing about DNA. DNA testing can tell who fathered a child. It can rescue an innocent inmate from prison, or prove the case against a criminal. DNA testing can give...
Fighting Cancer From Within
By: Catherine Harvey | 21/08/2008
A look at the research that is being carried out into the treatment of cancer and how new findings hope to secure a way of using the bodies own defence system to beat the killer disease.
The Health Benefits of Vitamin C
By: Paul Hata | 21/08/2008
The C vitamin is also an antioxidant for the body and helps other vitamins and minerals to be absorbed better. Folic acid and iron, for example, need the C vitamin to maximise their usefulness. The more C vitamin that the body has, the better its defence against colds and other common ailments.
Massage Therapy - History and Development
By: Paul Hata | 21/08/2008
During 500 BC-50 AD, the Greek and Romans used massage on Olympic athletes and to relieve neuralgia and epileptic seizures. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, incorporated massage in medicine. In 130 AD-201 AD, Galen, a Greek physician from the school of gladiators who were rubbed before fighting wrote a book on manual medicine.
More from Monica Keller
What you Should Know About Lasik to Make an Educated Decision
By: Monica Keller | 18/04/2007 | Health
Laser eye surgery has helped millions of people since its inception, and of the most popular forms of corrective eye surgery is LASIK. As with any surgery, it is essential that you know about it so that you can make an educated decision about having the procedure, a decision that will be assisted by your doctor and/or LASIK surgeon. Learn more about what you should know about LASIK.
What to Look for in a Lasik Surgeon and Lasik Surgery Facility
By: Monica Keller | 18/04/2007 | Health
Compared to brain or heart operations, of course, LASIK surgery is not particularly difficult or risky. But a negative outcome can affect your life tremendously, since the procedure involves crucial sensory organs, the eyes. Therefore, you must seek and choose your eye surgeon with the same diligence you would apply to finding a heart specialist. Learn more about what to look for in a LASIK surgeon and facility.
What to Expect Before your Lasik Surgery & Preparation Tips
By: Monica Keller | 18/04/2007 | Health
You should prepare for LASIK surgery the same way you would prepare for any surgery - by being careful, thoughtful and fully informed. The first thing you should expect is that your surgeon will educate you about the procedure and its effect on both body and mind. Learn more about what to expect before and after LASIK surgery.
Treatment Options for Overcorrection, Undercorrection and Regression
By: Monica Keller | 17/04/2007 | Health
After your LASIK surgery, you will be treated with some anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial eye drops and fitted with a light plastic shield over your eyes. At this point the LASIK procedure itself is finished, although the vision correction process itself is continuing. This is because you may be one of the rare cases that experiences overcorrection or under correction of the treated condition, and you will not know until some time after the actual surgery.
Top 5 Reasons Why People Get Lasik Surgery
By: Monica Keller | 17/04/2007 | Health
There are undoubtedly many unique, personal reasons for getting LASIK eye surgery, but after many years of doing the operation doctors have found a handful of common reasons. You may or may not agree with every item on the following list of the top five reasons why people get LASIK surgery, but chances are one or more will ring a bell.
The Cost of Lasik - What to Expect, What's Included and Financing Options
By: Monica Keller | 16/04/2007 | Health
The cost of vision correction, however it is approached, depends on a number of factors. The specific procedure that's best for you, the location, etc. As with any other purchase, do your homework and get the facts on the cost of LASIK and financing options.
Seven Tips for Finding a Reputable Lasik Surgeon
By: Monica Keller | 16/04/2007 | Health
Knowledge is power, as the old saying goes. This is true, but when consideringa doctor for your laser eye surgery, knowledge is also security—you need to becompletely convinced that your doctor not only knows what he or she is doing,but is also sensitive to your every concern. Discover seven tips for finding a reputable LASIK surgeon.
Realistic Expectations After your Vision Correction Surgery
By: Monica Keller | 16/04/2007 | Health
There have been any number of studies done on the outcomes of LASIK eye surgery, and even the least impressive results indicate that approximately 90 percent of patients achieve a level of vision equal to, or greater than, their state’s driving license standard. Learn more so that you have realistic expectations after your vision correction surgery.
|
|
Health 
