What should I look for in a LASIK surgeon?

Boling Vision Center recognizes how important it is to choose the right surgeon for your vision correction needs. Unfortunately, the process for finding a highly reputable LASIK or PRK surgeon can prove to be a tedious endeavor if you are not aware of the indicators needed to identify a quality surgeon.

A bad vision correction procedure can negatively impact your livelihood. Always look for an organization and surgeon with experience & great credentials.

Identifying a good Refractive/LASIK Surgeon

Licensing: State licensing boards will validate a surgeon’s credentials. You should also verify a surgeon’s credentials using the National Practitioner Data Bank.

Board certification: Make sure to ask if your surgeon is board certified beyond having a basic license to practice medicine. This means that a surgeon has been certified to practice in his or her specialty through an organization recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. The American Board of Ophthalmology is such an organization which requires board-certified physicians to complete specific training and continuing education related to their specialty.

American College of Surgeons (ACS) membership: This organization holds surgeons to ethical standards of conduct for all members, who must be board certified.

“Vision ‘Firms’ make LASIK sound like it’s a flap-and-zap commodity, but the fact is, it is a surgery. Make sure to choose a doctor that is a fellow of the ACS. It will ease a lot of nerves when dealing with any surgery involving the eye. The credential process is rigorous, and the group is highly diligent about advancing the field of surgery.”

Surgeons who use the designation “FACS” after their names are Fellows of the ACS.

Advertisements: Many refractive surgery centers will advertise in newspapers, on the radio and on TV. Some ads are more informative than others.Some even tout extremely good pricing, but while this can be an attractive starting point, an ad or a procedure price should not be your only criterion when choosing a doctor to trust with your vision.

Referrals: Ask for a referral from your regular eye care practitioner. Tell him or her that you want the LASIK surgeon in your area with the best reputation in the profession. If you are unsure call the organizations office and ask for recommendations regarding the surgeon in your area.