TOP STORIES

LASIK Mainframe

• Discount centers pose extra dangers for some lasiklaser eye surgery patients.
   

• Go prepared with LASIK laser eye sugery questions to your exam.
   

• Better LASIK laser eye surgery in sight-- seeing beyond 20/20.

Recommended LASIK Surgeons in Ohio:

• Dayton Ohio:
  Dr. Brian Stahl

• Columbus Ohio:
  Dr. Dave Castellano

• Cincinnati Ohio:
  Dr. Dave Schneider

• Lima Ohio:
  Dr. John Pajka

• Marrietta Ohio:
  Drs. Strickler & George

 Where to Go for  LASIK:

How to choose a refractive surgeon...

Dayton, Ohio

     Choosing your LASIK laser eye surgeon is one of the most important decisions you are going to make.  Technology has gone a long way towards improving the results and safety of laser eye surgery, but ultimately your final results are going to be determined by the skill and care you receive from your doctor.  Unique to ophthalmology and LASIK laser eye surgery has been the appearance of corporate discount surgery centers.  The quality of care at these centers can vary greatly, and there are some people who are best to avoid them.  Hopefully we can give you some guidelines to use in evaluating where to go, but ultimately the decision about quality versus price is up to you.

    The discount model typically works by trying to do a very high volume of cases at very low margins.  Most of the time a very low price is advertised (e.g. $299 per eye), but almost no one qualifies for this price.  There are additional charges for exams, eye drops, choice of lasers, and post-operative care that bring the average price to nearly $1100, with many patients being charged more than that.  In order to maximize patient turnover, patients typically will not meet their surgeon until they enter the laser room.   Often times the surgeon may live in a different state or city and is only in the center for surgeries. Critics claim that this policy of the surgeon not personally examining patients before surgery, and not seeing the patients themselves afterwards is not good medicine for patients or doctors (see Discount Dangers).

    One of the most important criteria to look for in a LASIK laser eye surgeon is experience.  Many studies have shown that results improve, and complication rates decline with increasing surgeon experience.  You should also look for a surgeon that is well established and respected in your area.  You may need to see them for years to come.  Even if you go to a discount center, you should insist on meeting your surgeon before the day of your surgery and asking about your eyes and situation.  Be sure and ask questions about the experience and qualifications of your surgeon, as well as questions about your eyes in particular (see Questions to Ask).  One good source that is frequently overlooked is to ask your own eye doctor who he or she would see for LASIK laser eye surgery themselves.  Often times they see the results from multiple surgeons and know who is getting the best results for their patients.