Obviously, cost is also an important factor for many potential patients. When choosing an Eye Surgeon or a practice, patients should research not only the cost of the initial procedure but of post-operative care. In some practices, patients may not be able to choose the particular Surgeon who will perform his or her procedure. Whether or not a patient will have the ability to do so is another important question to be asked up-front.
When choosing any Eye Care professional, patients should also research how the Doctor or practice will work with their Health Insurance provider, and, when surgery is being considered, what type of post-operative care services will be available. They should also know whether their provider is an Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist.
Overall, while recent developments in technology have given patients many more treatment options, they have also made it important for those with vision problems to educate themselves on their vision issues, the courses of action available, and the Eye Surgeon who will work with them.
Until recent years, the idea of seeing an Eye Surgeon for anything other than unique vision problems, injuries or specific conditions rarely crossed our minds. More standard vision problems were generally corrected with Glasses or Contact Lenses. Conditions such as Cataracts often involved working with an Eye Surgeon, but medical vision treatment was of the more non-invasive variety.
That has rapidly changed over recent years. An Eye Surgeon now has Laser Technology readily available. The comparative safety and minimal discomfort involved with Laser Eye procedures has allowed many individuals who would normally have resigned themselves to a lifetime of dealing with aids such as Glasses or Contact Lenses to seek out an Eye Surgeon.
With the ever-growing popularity of such procedures, it has become increasingly important for patients to be able to research, evaluate and select the Eye Surgeon or practice they are considering.
Laser Eye surgery, often referred to as LASIK, is commonplace now for treating Nearsightedness and Farsightedness. An Eye Surgeon may also use LASIK procedures to treat Astigmatism. Before consulting about these or other options with an Eye Surgeon, a patient should make sure to understand the causes and specifics of their particular vision problem.
A patient should also be certain to read about and have a general understanding of Refractive surgeries, potential and potential complications before working with an Eye Surgeon.
Finally, it is important to have realistic expectations about both short and long-term results of surgery as well as overall lifestyle changes before speaking with an Eye Surgeon. As with any other medical procedure, an informed patient is much better able to communicate with their doctor and ask the right questions about procedures, risks and results.
