4 Questions to Ask Your LASIK Provider in Kansas City

At Durrie Vision, one-on-one time with an experienced refractive surgeon is a unique and important part of our consultation process. It provides an opportunity to get answers to your questions to help you understand the risks, benefits, and factors that determine whether or not you’re a good candidate for LASIK surgery. Keep reading for questions you should ask your LASIK provider in Kansas City before getting started. 

1. How much experience do you have?

When it comes to laser vision correction, surgical experience matters. A few things to consider when comparing provider experience include education and training, research involvement, and number of procedures performed.

At Durrie Vision, we’ve performed over 65,000 laser corrective procedures and have participated in over 200 FDA clinical trials. But don’t take sheer volume as enough when it comes to a LASIK provider. Refractive surgery is a subspecialty of ophthalmology just like retina and glaucoma. In addition to ophthalmology residency training, the surgeons at Durrie Vision have completed an additional one-year fellowship training program specific to refractive surgery. This targeted expertise enables our doctors to refine the techniques and understand the technology better than those with a broader area of focus.

2. What laser technology do you use?

Not all LASIK surgeons have access to the same technology. Do your research to ensure your provider is using the safest and most advanced technology available. Equally important though, is access to multiple laser platforms and treatment technologies as this extends the surgeon’s ability to provide a more precise and personalized treatment plan. With three femtosecond lasers and two excimer lasers featuring four different laser ablation programs – conventional, wavefront-guided, wavefront-optimized, and topography-guided – Durrie Vision’s advanced combination of technology enables our surgeons to customize the procedure for each individual.

3. Is LASIK safe?

According to the American Refractive Surgery Council, “More than 19 million LASIK procedures have been performed in the U.S. with very high patient satisfaction in visual outcomes. The high rate of patient satisfaction, more than 96 percent according to the most recent clinical data, is due in part to the extremely low risk of complications from the surgery. Based upon the research into and clinical experience with LASIK, the rate of complications from LASIK eye surgery is estimated to be less than 1 percent, which makes it one of the safest elective surgical procedures available today.”

Serious complications with LASIK are extremely rare. However, as with any medical procedure, LASIK isn’t completely risk free. Your LASIK surgeon should welcome questions regarding LASIK safety, along with any risks, side effects, or limitations associated with the procedure.

Selecting a reputable, experienced LASIK surgeon is one of the most important steps you can take to reduce any risks associated with the procedure. The surgeons at Durrie Vision use highly advanced diagnostics to evaluate your overall ocular health, along with your unique eye anatomy, to determine candidacy and/or identify underlying health issues that may affect your results.

How Do I Know If I’m a Candidate for LASIK →

4. What happens if I’m not a candidate?

If your LASIK provider doesn’t recommend this particular procedure for you, don’t worry! There are still great options out there to maximize your vision and eye health. Other questions to ask your LASIK provider include asking about alternatives. 

Some of these LASIK alternatives include:

ASA (Advanced Surface Ablation)

Refractive Lens Exchange/Refractive Cataract Surgery

I’m Not a Candidate for LASIK, Now What? →

Durrie Vision can help you with your LASIK questions 

If you’re in the Kansas City area and have more questions to ask your LASIK provider, you can always reach out to our doctors at Durrie Vision. 

We understand that correcting your vision is a life-changing decision. That’s why we ensure that you have a great experience every step of the way. From your LASIK consultation all the way to your post-procedure exams, you’re always our number one priority. 

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