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5 Questions to Ask Your LASIK Surgeon During Your First Consultation

November 18, 2022by Dr. Millicent M. Grim

Photo by Sander Sammy on Unsplash

Although necessary, putting on glasses and contacts can sometimes wear you out. It can be tiring to depend continuously on eyewear to see and read clearly.

The constant routine of removing and putting on contact lenses, not to mention the storing and cleaning practices involved, can sometimes be exhausting.

If you are tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses, you can consider a permanent vision correction option that doesn’t involve putting on devices to see clearly: LASIK surgery.

LASIK surgery is a procedure wherein a highly specialized laser is used to change and improve vision and treat refractive errors. As a result, you will reduce or do away with the need to wear glasses or contact lenses.

What to Ask Your LASIK Surgeon Pre-Surgery

If you are thinking of getting LASIK in Dubai, the first thing you have to know is that it is a safe and fast procedure for suitable candidates. The success rate is high, as long as a trained and qualified surgeon has done ALL the necessary pre-surgical tests and preparations.

However, a key step involved in pre-surgery is asking crucial questions that will determine if this procedure is right for you.

Moreover, asking the right questions will help you prepare well for the procedure and reduce your worries about it.

Once you have decided to undergo this procedure, and you have found your ophthalmologist, make sure you ask these important questions during your initial consultation:

1. What is your background in LASIK surgery?

As a patient, you have to get assurance that a specialist will handle the procedure. As such, you have to know your doctor’s background to be sure that you will be receiving excellent care before, during, and after surgery.

Ask your doctor about their qualifications, training, and degree of experience in LASIK surgery. You can then verify your surgeon’s credentials by looking them up online.

If your ophthalmologist has been performing this procedure for at least three years and constantly undergoing relevant training, you can be sure you have the right eye doctor.

2. What tests will you conduct to determine my eligibility for LASIK?

Unfortunately, not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. You have to undergo a few exams beforehand to find out if your eyes are suitable for this treatment.

The first test you will undergo is a LASIK eye exam. During this procedure, the doctor will also administer special drops to dilate your eyes so they can be examined more thoroughly.

During the test, the doctor will check the size of your pupils, corneal shape and thickness, tear fluid production, and stability of the refractive error. If the results show that you are a good candidate for LASIK, you can proceed to the next stage.

Additionally, your doctor will ask about your medical history. If you have diabetes, autoimmune illnesses, and certain eye injuries or diseases, your doctor will unlikely recommend LASIK.  

3. What are the potential side effects and risks of LASIK surgery?

Although this procedure has a high success rate in suitable candidates, like any other surgery, there are some side effects you may experience post-operation.

Some of these side effects include tearing, dry eye syndrome, blurry vision, and sensitivity to light. You may also feel some discomfort once you get home after surgery.

There is also a minimal risk of eye infection related to LASIK surgery. However, this can be reduced by using the antibiotic eye drop medicine prescribed by your doctor.

Your surgeon should be able to explain all of these thoroughly, along with the steps for managing them correctly.

4. What can I expect post-surgery?

After surgery, you can expect to have clearer vision, and the need to use glasses or contacts will be eliminated or largely reduced. You can experience this result as soon as one day after surgery.

However, different patients have different recovery times, so it would be unrealistic to expect this “perfection” to happen in all instances.  

If you follow your doctor’s post-op advice, your eyes should start to heal immediately and you will experience the changes within a few days.

There are a few things you have to avoid after your surgery. These include getting soap, water, and cream in your eyes. Steer clear of places where you will be exposed to dust and smoke.

Your doctor should also explain to you your post-op schedule. You have to see your surgeon the next day, and several days after surgery so that they can monitor the recovery of your eyes. You will also need some follow-up checkups for the next few months.

5. How much does the LASIK procedure cost?

Lastly, eye and medical centers have different rates regarding LASIK surgery. As a patient, you need to ensure that you won’t be surprised by the total fee you have to pay for the procedure.

Before you commit, request a copy of the breakdown of fees for the procedure. Go over the document carefully to make sure there are no hidden charges that will come before, during, and after your surgery.

If you have any questions regarding the breakdown of fees, do not hesitate to ask your doctor about them.

A trusted eye specialist in Dubai will be happy to answer all these questions honestly. They will explain everything in detail to ensure that you know what LASIK is all about and how it can help you with your vision problems.

Give us a call or visit our LASIK page to know more about this vision correction procedure.