Choosing a Lasik eye surgery center - 5 mistakes to avoid

The market is huge - more than a million Americans chose Lasik eye surgery last year.   The natural result is more and more Lasik surgeons, and more and more lasik eye surgery centers, and more and more information on lasik itself.

And that in turn means advertising, exciting claims, great-sounding offers and glowing testimonials.

You know that you have to do the research that will help you make an educated and informed choice, but how to work your way through all the options?

It's useful to know clearly what NOT to do when making a decision.   Take a look at this list of five mistakes to avoid when choosing a lasik eye surgery center.

Don't fixate on lasik costs

All of which makes the financing offered by many lasik clinics quite tempting, but it is a temptation you must resist until you have finished your research.   If all other things are equal, then take the best financing plan.  But don't make easy payment terms your reason for choosing a particular lasik eye center.

Be wary of advertising

And unfortunately the misleading claims are not only financial ones.   There will always be people whose advertising is "economical with the truth".

Take a good hard look at any advertising for lasik surgery that makes the lasik eye surgeons look like the best in the world.  Some of them make the Lasik procedure sound as normal as having a haircut.

It might be true, of course, but Lasik is a very complex surgical procedure involving skilled operators who must use very complicated tools.

So don't entrust your eyesight to anyone purely on the basis of a smooth spokesperson, a clever copywriter or a surgeon who is happy to endorse over-the-top claims.

Which brings us neatly to the third "Don't"...

Be wary of guarantees

The reality is quite simple - Lasik involves surgery.   There are never any guarantees in medicine.

These days the odds are hugely in favor of a successful outcome to lasik procedures.   But it would be smart to put your eyesight in the hands of cautious, careful lasik surgeons rather than go for anyone selling "guaranteed results or your money back".

Do not make quick decisions

If you have read this far, you will have agreed that you have to do the research.   Research takes time and needs evaluation so do not make any quick decisions.

Even if you are a gung-ho, Type A person, do not make up your mind too quickly.   There is lots of information to absorb about the procedure, the risks involved, possible complications and the results you can expect.   Above all, take the time to make sure you avoid making the fifth mistake, which is...

Do not duck making comparisons

Visit as many lasik eye surgery centers as you can.   Compare their equipment and the procedures they offer.

Find out which lasik specialists are available in your area.  Visit the website of the American Academy of Ophthalmology at http://www.aao.org.

You have probably been to a local optometrist, who may also have some recommendations to make.

See if your candidate surgeon is a 'Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.' Any surgeon with a FACS designation has passed an evaluation in the areas of education, training, qualifications, competence and conduct.

After all the "Do nots", some simple "Do's".

• Do the research, and then action your short list.
• Make a list of questions, listen to the answers, look around the clinic and then score each center.
• Don't trust your memory - write down your impressions after each visit.

Follow this simple procedure and you will end up with a surgeon and a lasik eye surgery center you will feel you can trust.