LaserMyEye :: FAQ for Consumers

Suggestions for consumers

This page started out as a very ambitious project - basically a library of articles on a huge host of topics of interest to people considering getting laser eye surgery. Although many of the articles were written, this extensive consumer guide never came to fruition due to lack of resources to finish them and to convert material from our former website format.

So, we decided just to trim it back to a suggested list of topics that we think you may want to consider (if you haven't already) before getting laser eye surgery. We encourage you to explore these topics through:

general internet searches
in our Encyclopedia
in our FAQ for Patients section
on our forums, D'Eyealogues (though if you ask questions as a consumer there, please be sensitive to the fact that the forum's principle use these days is as a resource for people who have already had surgery)

Hope you find it helpful!

Personal & lifestyle factors

GOAL: Carefully define for yourself specifically what you need, want and expect from surgery and learn more about whether it can deliver.

Topics to consider

Your employment

Your leisure activities

Your night driving needs

Your preferences and tolerances

How much reduction in dependence on glasses and contacts

Screening, contraindications, risk factors.

GOAL: Look for any clues suggesting that you might not really be as good a candidate as you have been told.

Topics to investigate

Amblyopia

Forme fruste keratoconus

Binocular vision disorders

Blepharitis

Dry eye

Contact lens intolerance

Ability to fixate

Diabetes

Glaucoma

Keratoconus

Medications

Ocular rosacea

RGP wear: Special considerations

Small eyes

Previous eye surgery

Meibomitis

Nystagmus

Herpes

Thyroid disease

Sjogrens, Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis

Keloids

Multiple sclerosis

Unstable prescription

Steep corneas

Flat corneas

Deep set eyes

High prescription

Hyperopia

Large pupils

Thin corneas

Gender

Pregnancy & lactation

Menopause & HRT

Equipment, procedures, and techniques

GOAL: Thoroughly understand your options - don't just go with the first place that tells a good story.

Topics to investigate

LASIK

Surface ablation (LASEK, PRK, Epi LASIK)

Flaps: Microkeratome vs. Intralase

Ablations: Standard wavefront-guided

Non-laser: IOLs

Non-laser: CK

Monovision: What it means, risks, and why you MUST do a contact lens trial first

Bilateral vs unilateral: Whether to treat both eyes at once

Excimer lasers:

VISX and CustomVue

Alcon LADARVision and Custom Cornea

B&L Zyoptix

Nidek EC-5000

Wavelight Allegretto

Mel-70/80 and WASCA

Selecting a surgeon

GOAL: Know what to look for and shop around. Ideally, make sure you have a thorough consultation WITH THE SURGEON beforehand and that s/he will be involved in your post-operative care tool

Topics to consider

Clinical setting

Equipment

Experience

Medical standing

Malpractice history

"Medical tourism"

Reputation

Training

Understanding the limitations, future implications, and risks

Topics to consider

LIMITATIONS:

Precision limits

Inability to "treat" presbyopia

Reduction in vision quality

Future changes to your vision

FUTURE:

Long-term vision correction needs (can't keep lasering forever)

For 50+ patients: Understand what will happen you get cataracts

For 35+ patients: Understand what will happen when you get presbyopia

RISKS:

DRY EYE

POOR VISION QUALITY (esp. night)

Complications

Equipment malfunctions

Screening errors

Side effects

Slow healing

Surgical errors

The cost factor

Topics to consider

Co-management

Contingency planning

Deals and discounts

Evaluation fees

"Enhancements"

Financing schemes

"Insurance"

Medications

Post-operative care

Price shopping

Going ahead? What to expect before, during and after surgery

Checklist to review with your clinic

Preparing for the preop evaluation

The preop evaluation

Seeking a second opinion

Informed consent (hint: do not read and sign it on the day of surgery)

Preparing for the day of surgery

The day of surgery

The surgery

Just after surgery

Day one

Week one

Month one

The first six months

The future

Not a good candidate? What now?

Alternatives to consider

Better glasses

Better contacts

Gas permeable lenses

CRT

Improving contact lens tolerance

Treating dry eye

Treating blepharitis

Dealing with disappointment

Future technological developments

Journal of patient experiences

Send us your story!

2003 Survey of UK patients

US/Canada: