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How To Select a Laser-Eye Surgery Center
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The How-To Business Book
11/20/2000
By: Susan E. Cornell
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Laser vision correction is the hottest new surgical procedure on the table. But how do you know with confidence that you are right for it - and the center is right for you? Knowledge is power and will help you to make a well-informed decision about the eye centers you are considering.
Laser eye surgery is a precise and minimally invasive laser treatment that reshapes the cornea, permitting your eye to focus properly. This can eliminate or at least reduce the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. In the last eight years, more than one million treatments have been performed abroad. Since the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved this procedure in 1995, more than 150,000 procedures have been performed in the U.S. So the treatment has been clinically proven and tested.
But what are you really in for? Refractive procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Total time spent in the surgical suite is only about 15 minutes, the length of time needed to measure the cornea and program the computer that operates the laser. The treatment parameters that are entered into the laser are determined from the results of the patient's eye exam.
Unlike most medical procedures, the time spent performing the procedure is minimal. Prior to treatment, the physician numbs the eye by administering anesthetic eyedrops. After the drops take effect, the patient is led to a treatment room and positioned in a comfortable chair centered underneath the laser beam. The patient focuses on a small, bright light and, once the eye is properly aligned and the patient feels comfortable focusing, the treatment may begin. The actual laser delivery time ranges between 15 and 45 seconds; the number of pulses is dependent on how much correction is required. The patient is pain-free and awake throughout treatment.
The patient experiences a slight sensation of sand in the eyes or minor discomfort during the first days following surgery and eyesight may fluctuate over the next few weeks, but vision should stabilize after three months' time.
One of the primary considerations when deciding upon a laser-eye center is trust: You must have utter faith and confidence in the doctor performing the surgery. Trust can be built by ferreting out how much experience your physician has. Find out how much training he/she has - not only in the use of the laser but also in patient evaluation. You must feel confident that your physician is a highly trained expert.
Another factor in determining if you will receive quality care is investigating whether the center itself offers the latest in state-of-the-art technology and technologically advanced treatments. Furthermore, the staff of the center must convey the message that their mission is to serve both providers and patients.
As with every product and service we purchase, it is important that the “sales representatives” (in this case the surgeon and staff) demonstrate good listening skills. The staff of the laser center you are considering must listen closely to you, the patient, to understand your needs and concerns.
Another criterion is the availability of easy-to-understand yet detailed information. A patient can make a well-informed decision only if he/she completely understands the procedure and its risks and the rewards. The laser center which helps the patient become an active partner in his or her care has scored points in the selection process.
One consideration is economical: Can you afford such treatment? Various costs in addition to the expense of treatment will include maintaining eyeglasses or contact lenses which, when adding in purchasing solutions and other accessories, add up. Some centers offer a myriad of payment options and personal financing.
Finally, the highest quality laser vision correction can be assured only when the steps in this checklist are completed:
• Full consultation with eye exam and discussion with the surgeon.
• Orbscan computerized corneal topography.
• Pupil measurement with infrared technology.
• Pachymeter corneal thickness measurement.
• Tear film analysis.
• Dilated eye exam using one-percent Cyclogyl.
• Active tracking laser technology to follow eye movement.
• New blade and sterilized instruments used with each eye during surgery.
• Full-service refractive surgeon, with experience in all aspects of laser vision correction.
• State-of-the-art follow-up care with your refractive surgeon.
Of course, you may not fully understand many of the terms in the checklist unless you are a physician. By asking questions of the staff and your surgeon, however, you should not only gain a better understanding of the steps involved, but be prepared to decide upon the particular center based upon the quality of the responses you receive.
Deciding upon laser-eye surgery and the right center for you is an important decision - and one with potentially rich rewards. Examine the issues mentioned - trust, technology, listening skills, sharing information, professionalism, responsiveness, cost. If this surgery is right for you, you may well be on the road to lens-free living.
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