If you have been thinking about having LASIK, and had a LASIK consultation but have not pulled the trigger yet on moving forward with the procedure, it may be for good reason. It could be your gut telling you that you are unsure about the practice or maybe all of your questions have not been answered. Maybe you just do not have enough information yet to make the decision to have LASIK. In these situations, or even if you were told you were not an ideal candidate, getting a second opinion is an excellent decision. A second LASIK consultation will help you feel confident in your decision and raise any red flags you did not pick up the first time around. Most importantly, good doctors highly suggest it, as it is always important to do your research and feel good about the LASIK surgery decision you make.
Here are a few of the reasons why you should have a second LASIK consultation:
1. Not All LASIK Practices Put the Patient First.
If you did not meet your surgeon, were disappointed in the office atmosphere, or the way you were treated at your LASIK consultation, you should continue your research and visit another practice before you make your decision. There can be many things to keep a look out for. Some practices lack the proper level of communication to prepare candidates for LASIK eye surgery. Other practices have so much focus on their bottom line that they put pressure on patients to make an immediate decision or try to “upsell” you to a more expensive procedure like implantable contact lens (ICL) or cataract surgery (Tecnis or Symphony) when that is not necessary. Your consultation should be an educational process not a sales pitch. If any of these issues are present at your LASIK consultation, a second opinion is definitely worth the investment of your time.
2. Not All LASIK Consultations Are Equal.
There are a few things that MUST happen at every LASIK consultation:
- Your eyes should always be dilated.
- You should meet the surgeon who will be doing your LASIK surgery.
- You should get the chance to ask that surgeon all of your questions.
- Without these elements included in the LASIK consultation, you will not have enough information to make a proper decision – and you should definitely get a second opinion.
3. Not All LASIK Technology is State of the Art.
The type of laser DOES matter. First, it must be all laser LASIK, which means two lasers are used and NO blades. If only one laser is used then that is PRK or sometimes called no-flap LASIK. If you are not a LASIK candidate then PRK may be the right solution for you. Certain lasers cannot treat a full range of prescriptions or astigmatism. Laser technology has changed and improved significantly in the LASIK industry over the past 10 years. However, it is up to the practice to invest financially and keep their technology up to date so that you are ensured the precise, predictable, fastest and most comfortable procedure possible. If during your laser eye consultation, the practice does not educate you on the technology they will be using for your LASIK surgery you need to consider visiting another LASIK practice that does.
4. Not All LASIK Surgeons Offer the Same Level of Expertise.
As surgeons complete more and more procedures throughout their career they become better at evaluating candidates properly during their LASIK consult and better at achieving optimal results. Experience especially plays a role when performing laser vision correction on those who may have more challenging situations. Along with just years of experience, you should consider a LASIK surgeon who consistently performs many LASIK surgeries every week over one that does only LASIK as an add-on to a large general eye care practice.