Authored by Katharine Foust in Eyes and Vision
Published on 11-05-2009
If you are considering lasik surgery, then the first thing you need to do is learn how to find a lasik surgeon. This is a serious procedure and involves more than sorting through your nearest phone book. There are many elements to consider. To begin with, ask yourself the following questions: Do you qualify for lasik surgery? How much are you willing to spend? What are your goals for the surgery?
To begin with, you should talk to a vision specialist. If you normally obtain your glasses through a franchise such as Lens Crafters, then you may want to take the time to visit an optometrist that specializes in more in depth vision problems than just testing for glasses or contacts. A specialist will not only be able to tell you if you qualify for a successful lasik surgery, but may also be able to recommend a surgeon or even be one themselves.
Do your research. Don’t jump on the first name you find. Talk to your friends and family to get some personal references. If any of them have had the procedure done, they may be able to tell you how the experience was for them in general. Was it a success? Was the cost more than anticipated? Were there any insurance problems? In fact, contact your own insurance agency to find out what they do and don’t cover as well as any surgeons that may be listed in their network. By doing this you will have some names to start with as well as knowledge about how your insurance company deals with these types of procedures.
Once you have a list of names of lasik surgeons, do some research on the Internet to find out more about the surgeons you are considering. Many people post blogs about their surgeries and procedures. Type in the name of the surgeon and see what type of results you come up with. Keep in mind that there is no surgeon who is going to have all positive results. There will be some type of negative feedback for any person. Take this in stride and think about the complaints. For instance, if there are multiple complaints about the actual results of the procedure, this might be a surgeon you want to avoid. If the complaints were about personality or how the insurance dealt with them, consider the individual situations. Contact your own insurance company for details in the procedure and the surgeon performing it to make sure you know where you stand financially.
Finding a good lasik surgeon takes some effort and should be done carefully, making sure that all of your needs are met. If you hear one name over and over again with good results, that’s probably the one you should be going to. If you don’t hear any names at all, then it’s time to get online and do a Google search for lasik surgeons in your area. Once you have a few names, do some more research on those specific names. Never let anyone intimidate you into going to a surgeon because they recommend it. Keep in mind this is a procedure that can change your life, not anyone else’s.
