What to Look For In a Good LASIK Surgeon or Refractive Surgery Office
Since most serious LASIK complications can be blamed either on a botched operation or on a poor pre-op assessment--both responsibilities of your surgeon--if you want to ensure the best possible results, then you need to find the best possible LASIK eye surgeon. Many people see an ad for cheap eye surgeries and automatically go to that LASIK clinic, but choosing a subpar eye surgeon will cost you more in the end than the small premium you'll pay to get better service. Don't let your budget compromise your results; here are a few things to look for when choosing a LASIK surgery office.
Experience
Since your LASIK results are directly tied to the skill of your surgeon, you want to find an eye surgeon that's successfully performed your desired operation hundreds of times. It's easy to find out either from the office itself or from a service like the Better Business Bureau how long a particular eye clinic has been business.
Reputation
Forget about the overwhelmingly positive references you read in a LASIK surgery ad. Even the patient references that an office will provide you are not always reliable. Before you schedule a procedure, be sure to ask around. Ask your personal physician what they know about your potential LASIK surgeon, and check the internet for patient reviews regarding a New Hampshire-area ophthalmology office.
Service
Because proper post-op care is often as important as the procedure itself, you want to choose an eye clinic that's going to protect your health even after you've paid the bill. Be sure to ask about a clinic's standard post-op care, especially whether they provide patients with a 24-hour contact number should you have any complications.
Products
Because LASIK procedures are improving and expanding on a regular basis, you want to be sure that you go to an office that can offer you the newest and best procedure for your particular needs. Do your research in advance, and then narrow your search to offices that offer the most effective services.
Comfort
While research and good references are important, what's most important is your own gut feeling. If you're just not comfortable with the clinic or more specifically with your doctor, then continue the search until you've found an office and a surgeon that you trust.