Choosing a LASIK eye surgeon

With so many options available for laser eye surgery, coming to a decision regarding your treatment can be a confusing experience. You have probably allready heard various terms and phrases, whether from friends or in the media, that have left you feeling quite baffled. What are the differences between LASIK, EPI-LASIK, LASEK, Intacs®, PRK, surface laser, intracorneal implants, and conductive keratoplasty?Which Technology is best for me; Wavefront™, CustomVue™, IntraLase®, bladed or bladeless technology, excimer laser, topography, Pentacam, phakic implants, or clear lens extraction? It is an alphabet soup of choices!

Your Eye Surgeon
Let’s start off this explanation of laser eye surgery with a metaphor. Imagine your LASIK surgeon as a master carpenter. A master carpenter who does not use the best tools will get suboptimal results. On the other hand, a merely average carpenter, even when using the best tools, will also get suboptimal results. Put simply, the quality of your results will depend heavily on which doctor you choose to perform your laser eye surgery. Some patients mistakenly think that anyone with top-notch equipment can achieve a superior outcome. All forms of Laser eye surgery are a surgeon-dependent procedure. No amount of high-tech equipment can replace a skilled surgeon. So choose your surgeon carefully. A good surgeon will spend time with you during your evaluation, answering all your questions and addressing any concerns you may have, in addition to detailing your pre and post-operative care.

Expert versus an experienced surgeon
Let’s use another metaphor: many internists perform heart related tests i.e. stress test and even have experience with it, but where would you rather go if the results of the test were crucial to you, to an internist or a cardiologist?

The LASIK procedure involves the part of the eye named the Cornea. Not all Ophthalmologists that perform Laser Vision Correction are Cornea specialists. Some may even have vast experience with this procedure but never had a formal training in performing it. Cornea specialists undergo formal training called a fellowship whereby they become experts in corneal surgery. Hence, an expert surgeon possesses both formal training and experience rather than only experience. Dr. Cohen is a fellowship trained corneal expert and he has performed thousands of procedures.

Who performs the surgery?
Do not fall prey to names of LASIK corporations; rather research and know your individual doctor. Many large LASIK corporations have a variety of surgeons that are salaried and their turn over rate is often high. That means that the surgeon that you see today may not be there tomorrow. Also, many of these surgeons may not have a great deal of experience, and in fact may still be in training. Dr. Cohen performs 100% of all surgeries in our center himself.

The screening exam
The screening exam is an extremely crucial part of the Laser Vision Correction process. The purpose of this exam is:

1. To check if you are a good candidate for vision correction surgery.
2. If the answer to the above is yes, then determine which surgery is most suitable for you.
3. Important measurements for planning the surgery are obtained. The accuracy and the degree of comprehensiveness of such measurements are paramount to the safety and success of the surgery.

Dr. Cohen will personally examine you and will explore which options are most suitable for your individual eyes.

We offer the most comprehensive Screening exam which includes the following:

Refraction, visual acuity check, complete eye exam including bio-microscopy and dilated funduscopy, refraction is repeated after dilation for increased accuracy, depth perception test, color test, contrast sensitivity test, glare test, pupil size, topography, Wavefront analysis, test for dry eyes, monovision test and Pachymetry.

Regardless of where you do your procedure, you need to ascertain that all these tests are performed during the screening exam before making a decision regarding the surgery. Beware of a fast lane approach that has been adopted by many “commercial” eye centers.

Does Your Surgeon teach other surgeons?
If so does he teach at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Where eye surgeons gather from around the world to learn about the newest innovations in the field) or just in a peer group meeting? Dr. Ilan Cohen teaches at the America Academy of Ophthalmology.

Compassion versus Commercialism
This is something that you have to judge for yourself. Did your encounter with your surgeon leave you with a feeling that you are being cared for or did it have the flavor of a commercial interaction? There is no substitute for a compassionate and conscientious physician that will be open and honest about what you should expect and what the risks are. A physician should spend time with you before and after the surgery and should be there for you at any time if you have any concerns.

What to avoid

Beware of paid celebrity endorsements
Celebrities are paid for the use of their names, often incredible sums of money. Paying celebrities to endorse medical procedures is dishonest and misleading. Instead what you should look at is where eye doctors refer their patients and their relatives.

Do not be fooled by surprisingly low prices
Some centers may use bait and switch techniques to acquire new patients. This practice is unethical and will not be used by conscientious and moral physicians.