Questions to Ask When Choosing a Laser Eye Surgery Clinic
Deciding to go ahead with Laser Eye Surgery often comes after settling a whole bunch of other concerns and queries, too. After all, when going into a surgical procedure that involves something as important as your vision, you want to be sure you are as informed as possible about the whole process. But this can leave you with more questions than you ever bargained for.
Luckily, we’ve put together a whole host of resources to help make the decision-making process that bit easier. In this article, we’ll cover some important questions you should consider asking during your Laser Eye Surgery consultation (and point you in the direction of some further information!). So, let’s get into it!
How experienced is my surgeon?
In the UK, all laser eye surgeons must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC); however, beyond this, the amount of further training and experience between surgeons can vary significantly. For example, it is recommended that surgeons seek independent training from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, but this is not a legal requirement.
This can lead to varying standards between clinics and, indeed, between surgeons. For this reason, we recommend enquiring about any formal refractive training your prospective surgeon may have undertaken. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to ask whether they have experience performing the specific procedure you are interested in (more on this later).
Other things to consider are the range of prescriptions that can be safely treated at your chosen clinic. This can vary depending on a range of factors, including the experience of the surgeon and the technology available at the clinic.
For more information about Laser Eye Surgery training, take a look at our article, ‘Does Your Surgeon Have a Certificate in Laser Refractive Surgery?‘.
How much time will you spend with me before and after my Laser Eye Surgery?
The extent of pre- and post-operative appointments can vary significantly between clinics. At London Vision Clinic, we offer one of the most comprehensive consultation processes in the country (and likely the world). This allows us to gather all the information we need about your eyes, prescription, and overall health to make an informed decision about your suitability for Laser Eye Surgery.
However, this extensive pre-operative appointment also gives you the chance to meet our clinic staff and ask any questions you may have – including the ones in this list! Your initial screening and ophthalmic examination are followed by a 30-minute Surgeon Consultation, usually on a separate day. This is longer than many other clinics, which allows us to be as thorough as possible in our evaluations.
When it comes to follow-up after your treatment, we advise patients to attend a series of post-op appointments for the first year. This usually accounts for the time needed for your eyes to settle fully, to check that you have achieved the desired outcome, or whether there is more that can be done to further improve your vision.
For more information, check out our article, ‘The importance of a rigorous screening process‘.
When will I see my surgeon?
At some clinics, it is standard for patients not to meet the performing surgeon until the day of their surgery. However, at London Vision Clinic, we believe that the surgeon-patient relationship is an essential part of the Laser Eye Surgery journey. After all, your surgeon is the person who is ultimately responsible for the outcome of your treatment!
Our patients attend a 30-minute consultation with their surgeon on a separate day from their procedure. This gives them the opportunity to go over their treatment with an expert and ask any remaining questions they may have.
What’s more, as a patient, you will be given the personal phone number of your surgeon, so you can get in touch to discuss any pressing concerns during your recovery.
To learn more, read ‘Why Might I Need to Contact My Surgeon After Laser Eye Surgery?‘.
Can I see your results for patients with a similar prescription to mine?
Several factors can affect your expected outcomes from Laser Eye Surgery, with your prescription being among the most prominent. As a result, different clinics and surgeons have different capabilities when it comes to their treatable prescription range. Therefore, it is important to always compare like with like when determining what you could expect from your treatment.
A high-quality Laser Eye Surgery clinic will be able to give you detailed information on their outcomes with patients with similar prescriptions to your own. Their results should be clearly labelled to allow you to examine the results that are relevant to you. Ideally, the clinic will also have published its results in a scientific journal (known as peer-reviewed literature).
Finally, be wary of basing your decision on the advertised complication or re-treatment rates: the data may be skewed because surgeons who only treat simpler cases will generally have lower re-treatment rates, and what one surgeon or clinic officially classifies as a ‘complication’ may be quite different to another.
For more information on Laser Eye Surgery prescription limits and outcomes, take a look at our article, ‘Do Laser Eye Surgery Results Differ Between Prescriptions?‘.
What percentage of patients are charged your advertised price? Are there any hidden ‘extras’?
As a general rule of thumb, you should be wary of choosing a Laser Eye Surgery clinic based on price alone. In some cases, a price may seem too good to be true – and it likely is. That’s because not all patients are eligible for a clinic’s advertised price. For example, a sale price may only be open to patients with low, uncomplicated prescriptions, while patients with higher prescriptions will find that they have to pay more.
And then there is the question of what exactly is included in this treatment fee. At some clinics, you will be required to pay extra for your consultation, follow-up appointments, and even aftercare products like eyedrops. As you might imagine, these costs can quickly add up!
But above all, you should question why Laser Eye Surgery is being offered at such a low price. The bottom line is, high-quality Laser Eye Surgery requires expert surgeons and state-of-the-art technology – all of which come at a price. If a clinic’s prices don’t reflect this, something is likely being cut along the way. Is it worth bargain-hunting when it comes to something as precious as your vision?
For more information about the fees and costs involved in Laser Eye Surgery, check out ‘Why Does the Cost of Laser Eye Surgery Differ Between Clinics?‘.
What Laser Eye Surgery treatments do you offer?
When researching Laser Eye Surgery, it can be easy to be tricked into thinking there are countless available treatments. But most of these confusing, jargon names refer to the same procedures. In fact, there are generally only three main Laser Eye Surgery treatments you need to be aware of: PRK/LASEK, LASIK, and ReLEx SMILE, as well as the innovative treatment for presbyopia, PRESBYOND Laser Blended Vision.
At London Vision Clinic, we offer the full range of Laser Eye Surgery treatments. This allows us to treat a wider range of patients and prescriptions than many other clinics. In fact, we can treat up to 97% of the patients we see!
Which Laser Eye Surgery treatment is right for you will depend on a range of factors, including your prescription, the health and thickness of your corneas, and your lifestyle.
To learn more about the different kinds of Laser Eye Surgery treatments, check out ‘LASIK vs LASEK vs ReLEx SMILE: Laser Eye Surgery Treatment Types‘.
If you have any further questions about Laser Eye Surgery at London Vision Clinic, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators today – we’re always on hand to help. Ready to go ahead and find out if you could be suitable for treatment? Book a Consultation to start the process.
Laser Eye Treatment Fees start from £2,950 per eye. Very complex treatments may cost more.
Interest-FREE finance available over THREE years, from £41 per month per eye, makes the best more flexible. Find out more.