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What’s important when choosing a laser eye surgery clinic? Part 2

Dave Allamby | Mar 09, 2008 | Comments 6

There are FOUR key points to look at when choosing a clinic:

1. The laser technology
2. The surgeon
3. The clinic
4. The price

Let’s look at these in more detail:

1. Laser technology
The improvements in success rates and safety of laser eye surgery, including LASIK and PRK, have been mainly down to improvements in sophistication of the laser technology. The lasers are dramatically better than they were even a few years ago.
NOTE: not all lasers are made equal, so you MUST look at clinical results to get accurate performance information.

Focus’ data are available on the results page of the Focus Laser Vision clinics website.

99.4% of patients saw 20/20 or better 6 months after Z-LASIK. 100% saw 20/25 or better.

Also note that each clinic makes a claim that they have the best technology, but this of course cannot be true. They can’t ALL have the best laser equipment, as they all have different systems. Focus Laser Vision bought the WaveLight Allegretto system from Germany as it had the best overall FDA clinical results in extensive trials.

2. Surgeon
Equally important for your result and safety is the surgeon who will perform the procedure and assess your suitability for treatment. The most important decision is who NOT to operate on. In the UK you can look for one or more of the following points in your surgeon: 1. NHS Consultant appointment, 2. Fellowship training in refractive surgery and corneal disease, 3. Extensive experience in treating your kind of prescription, 4. Has performed more than 5000 procedures, 5. Works in refractive surgery on a full-time basis or at least two days every week if involved in other areas of ophthalmology (the more time in refractive surgery, the better), 6. Teaching and presenting on refractive surgery skills, vision outcomes and research.

3. Clinic
Look at the support that each clinic will offer to you. Individual independent clinics can usually offer excellent continuity of care so you see the same clinician each time, but may not be as well geographically placed as some of the nationwide chain centres. Ask if you will get your surgeons private phone number after treatment in case of problems or advice being needed. This number is very reassuring for patients.

4. Price
Last of all, look at the price. You want the above three factors to be the best you can get first of all. If you are completely satisfied you have not compromised there, then you can look at price, but ONLY then. High price is not a guarantee of quality, of having the best laser technology, of getting the best surgeon. It may give you these things, but you have to look and make sure for yourself.

In summary, look for yourself and ask the right questions. I have more information of the FOCUS Laser Vision clinics website on this and other related topics.

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Filed Under: Clinics • LASIK • Prices • Safety

Tags: choose • clinic • clinical • England • FDA • FOCUS Laser Vision • laser eye surgery • LASIK • Prices • PRK • Safety • surgeon • technology • trial • UK

About the Author: Mr. Dave Allamby FRCS FRCOphth is a leading London-based laser eye surgeon. You may have seen him on the This Morning TV show with Phillip Schofield and Fern Britton or read one of several articles in the national press, recently for treating Denise Van Outen, rock giant Rick Wakeman and broadcaster Paul Ross. David is Medical Director at Focus Laser Vision, known as a world-leading clinic in the treatment of presbyopia, or age related loss of close vision. Focus Laser Vision is also London's only clinic to offer next-generation Z-LASIK laser eye treatment for short sight, long sight or astigmatism.

What’s important when choosing a laser eye surgery clinic? Part 2

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