Lasik eye surgery questions -the top 10 you should ask

Compiling a good list of lasik eye surgery questions to ask is one of the most important activities you can undertake before deciding on surgery.

And, of course, you need to actually ask those questions.   Don't be overawed by the technology and expertise you willl encounter in the doctor or surgeon's office.

The list is important for two reasons.

• One, you need to satisfy yourself that you are taking the right decision.
• Two, most doctors will confirm that their best patients are well-informed ones, who also are realistic about the outcomes they can expect.

A good Lasik doctor or eye clinic will insist on at least one initial discussion, with a careful examination and a discussion of your health history.   Have the discusssion before deciding whether or not lasik vision correction surgery is right for you.

If the answer is yes, make sure you ask your own lasik eye surgery questions.   There are benefits as well as risks involved in any lasik procedure. Most people do have positive outcomes after the surgery, but some do not. (See the items on possible complications in the section headed Lasik Complications)

Here then is a starter list of questions you should ask - and think about.

1 Are you a good Lasik surgery candidate?
Your doctor has a number of factors to consider before deciding whether or not you are a good candidate for lasik vision correction. If your doctor says "No", think very, very carefully before going against this advice.  There is a much higher level of complications among those people who are not good candidates but still decide to go ahead with lasik surgery.

2 How long to recovery?
Answers to this question will vary from doctor to doctor, because each has different rules about recovery time. Your age (older people heal more slowly) and the degree of surgical intervention required will affect your recovery time.  A practical outcome is that you might need to take more time off work.

3 What about cost?
There are lots of variables here that will affect the answer. 

• Your doctor's experience (more is good!).
• The area in which you live (the West Coast is most expensive).
• The severity of your vision problems.
• The technology employed.

All these will affect the final price.   Remember that the cost quoted is per eye!

4 What is included in the cost quoted in response to the previous question?
Make sure you get the full costs, and nothing is hidden.   While most Lasik doctors will include all costs relating to your Lasik procedure, you need to know this for certain.

5 Do you have payment plans?
While this is obviously not a question for the surgeon or clinic, it may still be one you should ask.   

Many clinics (including some of the very largest, offer payment on terms that you might like to, or need to, consider).   Remember that most insurance plans will not cover the Lasik procedure. Read the articles on this site to gain an idea of probable cost, which will also help you gauge whether the costs quoted to you are reasonable.

6 What kind of Lasik procedure will be used?
There are a number of techniques within the broad field of Lasik surgery. Make sure you find out whether you need anything special.  Discuss the approach that will help you the most, and whether your doctor is a specialist in what is being recommended.

7 What happens during the actual surgery?
The answers to this question should be very detailed.  You certainly need to know enought to understand what to expect, and what is happening once the actual surgery starts.  After all, you will be awake during the surgery, as most people only get eye drops to numb the eye area.   If you are uncomfortable with this idea, you could ask for a sedative to help you through the operation.

8 What happens after surgery?
Some people are lucky, and experience no problems or pain.   Others, however, experience some discomfort or mild pain.  Your eyes might tear or water, and your vision might be blurry.  You could also be sensitive to light, or have problems with night vision.   Discuss all these possibilities with your Lasik surgeon.

9 What can go wrong?
Most people have a good outcome, but remember that lasik is surgery and there are no guarantees.   There are some risks, and you need to discuss them properly with your eye surgeon and understand them fully before going ahead.

10 Any post-operative instructions?
There certainly should be.  You'll probably need to see the surgeon a day or two after the procedure, and then at regular internals for the next six months or so.  You need to find out when you can go back to work, and restart your normal physical activity.  If will probably be two weeks or so before you can use make-up, cream or lotions around your eyes.

You may need much more detail than this list of lasik eye surgery questions suggests, and a longer question and answer session.   Remember the old woodworker's saying of "Measure twice and cut once."   In your case, before the cut, make sure you get answers to your list questions.