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Questions to Ask When Considering Laser Eye Surgery

If you’ve been considering laser vision correction for a while, it can be easy to get carried away and book your treatment as soon as possible. However, it is important to make sure you have answers to any pressing questions you may have before committing to a particular clinic or surgeon.

Laser Eye Surgery FAQs

Here, we go over some of the most important Laser Eye Surgery FAQs that you should consider in preparation for your initial discussions with a Laser Eye Surgery clinic.

Laser eye surgery questions you need to ask

Does your Laser Eye Surgeon have Specialist Training?

If you’re going ahead with Laser Eye Surgery, there is no doubt that you want to place your vision in the hands of an expert surgeon with specialist training. Unfortunately, this isn’t actually a prerequisite for Laser Eye Surgeons in the UK. One of the most important questions you can ask when choosing a Laser Eye Surgery provider revolves around the surgeon performing your treatment: How qualified is the surgeon – particularly in the specific procedure you are interested in?

Checklist for evaluating a laser eye surgeon’s qualifications

When considering the expertise of a Laser Eye Surgeon, look out for qualifications such as:

  • A Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons / Ophthalmologists or equivalent
  • Fellowship specialty training in corneal surgery
  • Fellowship sub-specialty training in refractive (laser eye) surgery
  • On the General Medical Council’s Specialist Register

Laser Eye Surgery is a sub-speciality of ophthalmology, but not all ophthalmologists are fully versed in the various kinds of refractive surgery. These can include laser procedures such as PRK/LASEK, LASIK, and ReLEx SMILE, as well as non-laser procedures such as intra-ocular lenses and Conductive Keratoplasty.

In 2007, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists introduced training and accreditation in laser eye surgery into the curriculum of trainee eye surgeons. A number of specific refractive surgery fellowships also exist. Fellowship training in refractive surgery prepares the surgeon for dealing with all the complications of refractive surgery so that when they encounter them, they are prepared.

Does the surgeon have experience treating prescriptions similar to your own?

Not all laser eye surgeons have experience treating the full range of prescriptions. For example, many surgeons cannot treat patients with particularly high or unusual prescriptions as they lack the necessary expertise or access to the latest technology. Results can vary significantly between prescriptions, surgeons, and technologies used.

When choosing the right surgeon, it is imperative to consider the surgeon’s results for patients with prescriptions similar to your own. Making past objectively measured outcomes available to prospective patients is a sign of a surgeon who is dedicated to quality. Ideally, each surgeon should be able to present you with a table of results or statistics that are relevant to your specific prescription.

Understanding Results and Statistics

Examine quoted statistics carefully to determine if they are relevant to your particular prescription. Results for patients with a prescription between -1.00D and -3.00 short-sightedness will have little relevance to you and your potential outcomes if you have a -6.00D prescription.

Furthermore, statistics for short-sighted patients are often better than those for long-sighted patients. If you are long-sighted, ensure you are looking at results for other patients with long-sightedness. This will allow you to evaluate the results more accurately. For those interested in treatment for presbyopia (people who need reading glasses, bifocals, or varifocals), bear in mind that results rarely include patient’s near vision after laser eye surgery. If you are over 40, you will want to look at surgical results for both near vision and distance vision.

Will the clinic conduct all of the necessary pre-operative tests to ensure your suitability for Laser Eye Surgery?

The pre-operative examination is arguably the most important step in the Laser Eye Surgery process. This is an excellent opportunity for the clinic’s eye doctors to examine the eye fully to give them a clear idea of your suitability. A comprehensive pre-operative examination should include some or all of the following tests:

  • Corneal topography (including back surface)
  • Dry eye
  • Pupil size
  • Corneal thickness
  • Wavefront analysis
  • Blended vision assessment (if you are presbyopic)
  • Contrast sensitivity
  • Very-High Frequency Ultrasound (if necessary)
  • Dilated eye examination
  • Night vision simulation
  • Intra-ocular pressure

Once these tests and examinations have been completed, the clinic should be able to inform you of your suitability for treatment, as well as recommendations for your personalised treatment plan. If you are found to be unsuitable for Laser Eye Surgery, you should be given a comprehensive explanation for this. You may also want to ask if there is another provider that may have the technology and expertise to treat you.

What aftercare regime is provided for my particular treatment plan?

The aftercare provided also an important consideration when choosing the right clinic. The immediate aftercare will depend on the recommended treatment while further aftercare should also be provided until your one-year follow-up appointment. Some clinics also offer continuing aftercare after this time. Generally, your aftercare should include appointments at:

  • 1st day after surgery
  • 1-3 weeks after surgery
  • 3 months after surgery
  • 12 months after surgery

You should be provided with everything you need to help ensure a smooth recovery, including lubricating eye drops and painkillers if necessary. You may also want to ask if these aftercare products and appointments are included in the initial fee quoted by the clinic, as this isn’t always the case.

Will I have access to my surgeon post-treatment?

A surgeon is directly responsible fo the care of their patients, even if they have delegated some aspects of aftercare to an optometrist. As such, it is important that you have access to your surgeon if required. Following your treatment at London Vision Clinic, you will be given the mobile number of your surgeon so you will be able to contact them directly in case of an emergency.

Once your questions are answered…

Asking the questions laid out on this page will help you to make a truly informed decision when choosing the right Laser Eye Surgery clinic and surgeon for you.

London Vision Clinic is one of the leading Laser Eye Surgery providers in the UK – and the world. We offer the expertise of world-class surgeons who are experienced in performing a wide range of refractive treatments. Read our full list of FAQs for answers to all your questions. Alternatively, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators or Book a Consultation today!