What you need to ask your doctor during your consultation before laser vision correction

The popularization of knowledge about laser vision correction methods has given many people the impression that refractive surgery is safe for everyone without exception.

So, on the one hand, we have patients who react to the phrase laser eye surgery with panicked fear, imagining that this kind of surgical intervention is accompanied, like an action movie, by a beam of red light that burns everything in its path. On the other hand, people who are unable to accept that with laser vision correction, as with any other surgical procedure, there are certain obstacles – relative and absolute.

When you decide to have a consultation at a refractive surgeon’s office, it’s a good idea to use the time to ask all the questions you have. Determining whether laser treatment is right for you is one of the main goals of the initial consultation – don’t let yourself be treated in a perfunctory manner, and if the doctor doesn’t answer your questions comprehensively and dismisses you despite your concerns, seek another.

After the initial visit, you need to be sure that you are a suitable candidate for laser vision correction.

Ask:

About the surgeon’s education, experience and credentials – there is a reason why the standard of treatment offered varies from clinic to clinic.

SwissLaser is Schwind’s laser reference center. Laser vision correction experts with international experience work here. They use state-of-the-art, certified technology to free themselves from glasses for good. They cooperate intensively scientifically with Schwind. The clinic’s owner trains doctors around the world in laser vision correction using highly advanced SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions brand equipment.

How many procedures did the surgeon perform – after all, you’re not looking for a scientific theorist, but an experienced practitioner in his field.

SwissLaser employees have performed more than 15,000 successful surgeries over the years. Experienced surgeons, skilled nurses, experienced optometrists and helpful staff ensure that all treatment runs smoothly. However, the medics’ goal is not to admit as many patients as possible – instead, they want to offer professional consultation and personalized treatment.

What results can you expect from laser vision correction?

The rapid development of ophthalmic techniques makes laser eye surgery a procedure that is as safe as possible (the number of complications is less than 1% of cases), painless, and offers the possibility of almost immediate return to normal daily functioning. But you, after all, are curious about the results of the one particular method your doctor will use: ask for a detailed description of the operation and information about the expected results.

Will you still need to wear glasses after the procedure?

For any medical procedure, the term “guarantee” is not used, but “effectiveness of the procedure.” Treatment of laser vision correction is effective in approx. 95%. Patients who do not achieve 100 percent visual acuity during the first surgery usually choose to have their vision corrected during a subsequent procedure, rather than return to wearing glasses or contact lenses.

Is the effect of the correction permanent?

If the surgery is performed on an eye with a stabilized defect, we can hope that the laser correction of the vision defect will be permanent and there will be no need to repeat the operation in the future. However, one should always keep in mind that the tissue is alive – this means that changes are possible. If necessary, also years later, doocorrection (laser corrections after the first surgery) or an intraocular implant can be added.