What Should You Discuss With Your Doctor Before Laser Eye Surgery?
Whether you decide on getting laser vision correction is normally determined by the questions that you ask yourself about the suitability, safety, and the entire recovery process involved. During the consultation, you have the chance to know all about the surgery and how your eyes will react.
It would be ideal to talk about your prescription, the kind of life that you lead, your work environment, and even your expectations. It is through such open discussion with your doctor that your queries can be sorted out.
Your Eye Health
Notify your doctor regarding your eye problem. Discuss your problems such as dryness, irritation, blur, eye infections, history of eye injury, and previous treatments. If you are taking eye drops or any other medication, make sure you tell your doctor about that too. This could be essential for your preparations before your treatment.
Your LASIK Eligibility
Everybody is not an ideal candidate for LASIK surgery. Your doctor may evaluate your prescription, the condition of your cornea and stability of your vision. Inquire about the results of the test and what issues, if any, would make you ineligible for LASIK. If the procedure is not recommended to you, know the reason behind the recommendation rather than receiving only a yes or no response.
Treatment Alternatives
LASIK is an alternative to you but not the only one. Depending upon your eyes, your doctor may recommend you a different kind of laser vision correction. Find out the details of the treatment being recommended for you along with the reasons of its suitability for you and whether or not there are any other alternatives available.
Possible Risks
Inquire regarding side effects and potential complications associated with the procedure. Dryness, minor discomfort or alterations in night vision are a possibility for some. Your physician will be able to inform you about what risks apply to you and how they are handled, as well as when you should contact him/her if there are any concerns.
Expected Results
Talk about what results can realistically be expected. Some people may still require glasses for particular activities, and vision may change over time as well. Inquire about what result is expected with your prescription, and what could potentially influence the results.
Find out when it might be possible for you to go back to work and do activities such as working at a computer screen, driving a car, exercising and traveling. It will help a great deal if your occupation includes prolonged sitting before computers and lots of driving to share this information with your physician.
Cost and Aftercare
Ask what is included in the price quoted to you, rather than concentrating on the overall price. You should find out if tests, medications and aftercare visits are included in it. It is also helpful to find out if additional treatment, should the need arise in the future, will incur an additional cost.
Your Concerns and Expectations
Use your appointment to discuss any concerns you have. You may worry about pain, recovery process, procedure and how the outcome will compare with your expectations.
Conclusion
Before making any decision, ensure that the consultation helps to address all the queries that you have in mind. It is important for you to understand how your eyesight condition is, the type of treatment being offered, the risks involved, the recovery period as well as the realistic results that can be achieved after the procedure. Raise any issues that bother you even if you think that they are minor. This discussion will enable you to analyze all the facts and make an informed decision.
