When choosing to have LASIK surgery or to explore its facts, a person is not choosing a clinic but selecting a doctor. It remains a one-on-one relationship between patient and doctor regarding care. Ophthalmologists know more than LASIK procedures for the eye. They often have expertise in other surgeries, such as cataracts. At the Houston LASIK clinic, ophthalmologists such as Dr. Ahmad Khokhar have training in monitoring, treating, and diagnosing all visual disorders. Plus, a doctor of Dr. Khokhar’s quality can give consultations about the eyes as an added expert for patients with hypertension and diabetes. Consultations remain not always about surgery. Often, clinics also specialize in contact lenses and glasses. A promising sign is that a clinic is not about sales but concentrates on eye health.
Signs of a Good Clinic
National Eye Institute lists what a good clinic should be like. It should have an optometrist or an ophthalmologist on staff. It should offer a comprehensive dilated eye exam. The clinic should be able to prescribe contacts or eyeglasses. It can prescribe medicines. Ophthalmologists do surgeries, while optometrists do not. Often, staff will recommend that a person check what their health insurance covers. They will list health services, explain out-of-pocket costs, and which doctors are on the network for that insurance. What the insurance does not cover, financing can become set up for.
Signs of a Problem
LASIK treatments are not for everyone, so a skilled ophthalmologist must assess the problem with the eyes. Sometimes, LASIK treatment would be detrimental to a patient’s health. A good clinic has consultation and assessment. A doctor can tell a patient no surgery. In most cases, one of the first statements a doctor makes is that one has to be a candidate and assessed to have the surgery. If a LASIK clinic always says yes to surgery, then it is not a good place to have surgery. Justice and malpractice litigation in refractive surgery state the most common allegations listed as negligence during the surgical procedure and did not get informed consent. Judges favor the defendant if the clinic does not do preoperative screening and diagnosis. Suppose the machine malfunctions during a procedure then judges favor the plaintiff. As of 2022, the FDA has been working on proposed labeling recommendations, making a language understandable with images to ensure good outcomes after surgery. A significant portion of that document is a set of checkboxes for surgery candidates to use to see suitability. Labels will start with frequent and severe complications in LASIK surgery. A standardization note of the issues LASIK surgery may cause when assessing eye pressure and some cataract surgery as per the FDA. If those items above are not found in a clinic, a person must consider a different clinic.
Conclusion
For a clinic to be deemed successful, it must do more than LASIK. It must have credentialed, respected doctors on staff, follow government guidelines, have a stellar communications program with clients, and have a record of refusing LASIK surgery to specific clients with justifications. If it does not have those things in place, it is a money-only clinic and does not care about eye health. Take a drive and chat with the good doctors in Houston, where candidates for laser eye surgery get information, and a doctor makes the call.
Since 2005, Houston LASIK has been providing surgical vision correction technologies to patients from the Greater Houston Area and all over the world. The center specializes in multiple premium technologies including LASIK, EVO ICL (Intraocular Collamer Lens), ASA (Advanced Surface Ablation), and RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange). Houston LASIK & Eye is well known for using state-of-the-art technology and personalized care to help patients see their best. Patients receive customized surgical solutions from a team of highly experienced and award-winning ophthalmologists and optometrists. For more information, visit www.houston-lasik.com or call 281-240-0478.
Sources
- https://www.rjlm.ro/system/revista/62/133-142.pdf
- https://www.medtechdive.com/news/lasik-fda-seeks-comment-patient-communication/628315/
- https://www.optometrists.org/general-practice-optometry/guide-to-eye-exams/choosing-an-optometrist/
