Advertisements for lasik are everywhere these days. However, some are less informative than others. While a trained and experienced surgeon can perform lasik surgery with relative ease, an operation that goes wrong may result in permanent visual deficits that cannot be corrected by surgery, contact lens or eyeglasses. Lasik is also a rapidly advancing field; newer methods are constantly being developed to improve surgical outcomes and make vision as close to perfect as possible. It is therefore important to take ones time in finding a lasik surgeon who is skilled, experienced and up to speed on current advances.

A good way to find reliable surgeons in New York State is through hospitals with an academic or research focus, such as leading teaching hospitals. Academic centers that focus on eye conditions in particular will likely have surgeons with a great deal of experience and exposure to the newest methods. A surgeon who is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons will typically have gone through a thorough process of verifying credentials and training and will have the letters FACS after their name and professional qualifications. Searching the American Academy of Ophthalmology website for refractive surgery is another way to locate a good surgeon.

Once a surgeon is identified, he or she should be willing to answer a patients questions and to honestly address concerns related to lasik surgery. Specific questions to ask are how many procedures similar to the one you will undergo the surgeon has performed, and over what period of time. Ask about the percentage of patients who have a post-surgical visual acuity of 20/20 or better; about half of all lasik patients in most practices fall into this group. A good surgeon will usually be willing to provide patient references; it is a good idea to speak with someone who has had exactly the same procedure as you are planning before scheduling surgery.