How to Choose a LASIK Surgeon in Portland, Maine

Are you a candidate for LASIK eye surgery? Let’s find out together how to choose a LASIK surgeon, to increase your chances for a successful procedure.

Choosing a laser eye surgery center is one of those areas that require careful consideration. (Prior to this, of course, you should have educated yourself on the advantages and disadvantages of LASIK eye surgery).

What to Consider When Choosing a LASIK Eye Surgery Doctor.

Choose Qualified Surgeons with Experience in the LASIK Procedure

Experience is important when choosing any type of surgeon, but it is absolutely critical when choosing a Maine LASIK surgeon. There’s too much at risk to trust your vision surgical procedure with an unqualified doctor. State licensing boards do a pretty good job of screening this for you before licensing an eye doctor, but you should still take it upon yourself to measure the experience of LASIK doctors before choosing one.

There are, of course, exceptional young LASIK surgeons, which takes us to our next step:

Patient Success Rate

Patient success rates (surgery success rates) are the best way to judge a LASIK surgeon’s level of experience. Some people don’t feel comfortable asking about this when talking to a potential surgeon, but it’s a necessary piece of information so you should certainly ask.

Some doctors will even share this information with you without your having to ask because they know it will make you feel comfortable. In fact, I’ve seen quite a few websites for LASIK surgery centers where the doctor’s credentials are showcased for all to see. That’s something to look for.

Since most doctors are not very present online, either on their own ophthalmology websites, ZocoDoc (and similar directories), or the Google Business Profile of their clinic, make sure to also read the reviews. There’s a wealth of knowledge to be gained just by reading about past patients’ experiences.

The medical curriculum, diplomas, and certifications should also be accessible to you either online or at the doctor’s office.

Number of LASIK Procedures Performed in Total and on a Weekly Basis

If you are not dealing with a new exceptional LASIK eye surgeon, then it’s a good idea to seek a doctor who has completed at least 10,000 procedures to date. You’ll also want to choose a doctor who is performing these procedures on a regular basis, not someone who’s doing them every few months.

Just like sports, for instance, in the healthcare industry constant performance matters. If you are looking for a neurosurgeon, you’ll choose someone who constantly performs this type of surgery, when you go to an auto body shop, you’ll choose someone who does this type of job regularly and has many clients, so, it’s the same with your LASIK surgeon: go for someone who has a steady flow of procedures on a weekly basis.

Current Techniques in Refractive Surgery

LASIK eye surgery is a highly technical field, and the technology is constantly evolving. So when choosing a LASIK surgeon, be sure to ask if they use the latest techniques and equipment. This directly relates to a positive surgical outcome and your LASIK procedure’s recovery time.

Refractive Surgeon Bedside Manner

You won’t necessarily be in a bed while recovering from LASIK surgery, so bedside manner in this context simply refers to the doctor’s personal interaction with you. You will undoubtedly have a lot of questions about your LASIK procedure, and you should never feel rushed about the process.

From the initial consultation visit to the final follow-up, you will spend a lot of time with your chosen LASIK doctor, so be sure to choose one who treats you with patience and respect.

Another good question to ask is if they turn down LASIK surgery patients. For many ophthalmology practices, there is a good income to be made from these procedures, which means some doctors might recommend it, even if laser vision correction isn’t the optimal route.

LASIK is not suitable for any case and a doctor who runs the office like a sale front should be avoided. Some patients are not good candidates (patients who suffer from various immune system disorders, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and so on).

You should never feel rushed into this procedure and should expect respectful and kind treatment.

Word of Mouth: What Do Past Patients Say About Your Chosen LASIK Surgeon?

When picking the individual doctor you wish to have for your vision problem, how do you know whether you’ve got the right person? This can be a tough decision. There are as many different types of individual doctors as there are types of people.

One of the best sources of good doctors is word of mouth. If you have a friend who wears glasses or contacts and has been with a good doctor for several years, there’s a good chance that this doctor will be good for you too.

Here are a few questions to ask their receptionists when telephoning their offices for the first time:

• How long has the doctor been in practice?
• How long does the examination take?
• Will your eyes be dilated for the examination?
• How much does the examination cost?
• Does the doctor specialize in (or have experience with) the particular condition or service you are interested in?
• Will a case history be taken? (Be sure the doctor sits down and talks about your problems, medical history, medications, and lifestyle.)
• How extensive is the examination form? (Although the form will probably look mysterious, see how big it is and how much of it should be filled out by the end of the examination. Be suspicious of an examination form that’s the size of an index card.)
• Is a full range of distance and near-vision tests included in the examination?
• Is a glaucoma test a regular part of the examination?
• Does the doctor work with a number of different contact lens companies? (If you want contact lenses, it’s important to have a doctor who is not tied to one manufacturer. There are many different kinds of contacts available now.)
• Will the doctor describe the different tests while performing them?
• Does the doctor offer treatment alternatives (for example, contact lenses, glasses, or vision therapy) according to the patient’s preferences?
• Does the doctor regularly refer patients to other doctors when appropriate or necessary?

Much of what you determine about a doctor will be based on just plain old gut feelings about the office in general. If you feel you aren’t getting high-quality, personalized service from your eye doctor, you may want to go elsewhere. Sometimes it takes a little faith and trust to find a good eye-care professional.

Try to See at Least 3 LASIK Eye Surgeons, Before Choosing the Right One for You.

You are the “consumer”, it’s your right to be properly informed before deciding. LASIK eye surgery is not like buying a pair of jeans, you cannot discard it like used clothing. It’s a serious procedure with long-lasting effects (ideally positive).

So don’t worry about hurting anyone’s feelings, visit a few medical offices, discuss with the doctors, read reviews and then settle for the one who seems right to you.