If you’re considering LASIK to correct refractive errors, your primary consideration should be to choose the right LASIK eye surgeon, who is not necessarily the closest or the least expensive eye surgeon. In making this determination, you should consider the eye surgeon’s experience, credentials and demeanor. More specifically, the following resources may assist you in choosing the right eye surgeon for your LASIK procedure:
Licensing:
If you have any doubt about whether a physician is properly licensed, you should contact the medical licensing board in your state.
Certification:
Beyond licensing, it is important to consider whether your eye surgeon is Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, which requires certified eye surgeons to undertake continuing education and training specifically related to the field of Ophthalmology. Membership in the American College of Surgeons is another positive factor. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) requires its members to adhere to high ethical standards . Members must be board certified to be considered for Fellowship by the ACS.
Dr. Bud Kurwa is a certified member of the American Board of Ophthalmology and The American College of Surgeons (ACS), as well as the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Advertising:
The fact that you may have seen a LASIK eye surgery center ad on television or heard about it on the radio does not provide strong evidence one way or the other about the quality of the eye surgeon. Obviously, the fact that one can afford to pay for advertising is not an indicator of competence. Nevertheless, ads can provide a starting point in your research to find the right eye surgeon for your LASIK procedure.
Referrals:
Of course, you may choose to ask your family physician for recommendations about eye surgeons in your area. You also need to understand the basics about LASIK so that you can ask informed questions of eye surgeons when you meet with them.
It would be appropriate to consider asking any of these questions to try to gauge whether the eye surgeon is a good fit for you, and whether you are comfortable in moving forward with the procedure:
1. Ask the eye surgeon how many LASIK procedures he or she has completed.
2. Ask about the percentage of cases that result in complications, and ask the eye surgeon to identify the most common complications and compare his success rate to published averages.
3. Ask where the procedure will be performed and make sure it is convenient for you.
4. Ask about the eye surgeon’s follow-up process.
5. Ask about the eye surgeon’s experience and certification.
6. Ask about the cost of the procedure and whether financing is available
Another important consideration is the range of the eye surgeon’s prior experience. You may want to consider whether the surgeon has experience not only in LASIK, but also with other current techniques, such as CK surgery, so that you can be certain that your eye surgeon will choose and utilize the procedure that is right for you given your specific refractive error.
You should never feel pressured to utilize an eye surgeon simply because you met with him or her, and you should always feel free to seek a second opinion if you harbor any doubts or lingering concerns.
As a general matter it is preferable to find an eye surgeon near your home, assuming you are comfortable with the surgeon, the surgeon’s qualifications and his or her personal demeanor. The reason for this is that in the event of difficulties, or even for routine follow-up appointments, it’s simply easier to keep up with your post-surgery care if your physician is nearby. We have two locations to serve Los Angeles County residents:
210 South Grand Avenue, Suite 115 | Glendora, CA 91741
7 West Foothill Blvd. | Arcadia, CA 91006
For more information about our practice, or about the LASIK or CK procedures, visit www.kurwaeye.com