The key to safe, successful surgery in any field of medicine is an informed patient with realistic expectations and a skilled, experienced surgeon. This goes double for your eyes. Take the time to research not only the procedure, but also the surgeon and the laser center you are considering. Ask questions. Do your research. And don't let cost be your deciding factor-we're talking about your eyes.

How to find a surgeon

Word-of-mouth is a good indicator. Begin with the people you know-family, friends and associates, an optometrist or ophthalmologist you trust. Look for a refractive surgeon you feel has your best interests at heart.

Physician Search Directories on the Internet may be helpful, but are limited to those who chose to participate. Checking the surgeon's credentials is your job. Many surgeons have their own website detailing their practice along with qualifications and experience. Ask for the surgeon's web address.

LASIK surgery is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. These days many surgeons and laser centers advertise. Beware of the hard sell and discounters! Discount surgery is as good as a discount parachute. Go for a well-qualified surgeon and pay what it costs.

Experience and results

Studies show surgeons with more experience have the fewer complications. Does the surgeon feel confident enough with the procedure to have done family members? Find out how much experience your surgeon has with the procedure-the more the better.

Ask how the surgeon is tracking surgical results. Surgeons should be able to cite specific numbers and outcomes for vision problems similar to yours. Benchmarking shows the surgeon's concern for achieving the best possible results.

Success, complication rates

Discuss the success rates and complication rates for your individual surgery. Surgical success means not only knowing how to avoid complications, but also how to handle difficult situations before they occur. Beware of the surgeon who claims never to have had a complication. He/she has done very few procedures or is not being truthful. What's important is that the surgeon has a low complication rate and the ultimate visual outcomes are good.

Certifications, awards, malpractice suits

Look for a surgeon certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Participation in research, lecturing and writing professional articles or books also indicate a level of respect by the surgeon's peers. See if your surgeon has been recognized with any awards.

Check to see if a surgeon has had multiple malpractice suits. Even the best doctor may have had a lawsuit against him or her, but multiple lawsuits require an explanation.

New technologies

Refractive surgery is a dynamic field. Your doctors should be keeping up! It pays to get a sense of your surgeon's thirst for knowledge and advancing technologies.

If your procedure is being performed in the United States, make sure it is done only on an FDA-approved excimer laser. Ask about the latest laser upgrades. Remember surgeons in other countries may use lasers that have not had to withstand FDA scrutiny.

Care provider & staff

Some patients choose to see their family eye care specialist for their preoperative and postoperative care. If this is the case, make sure that your surgeon is accessible to you at any time during your preoperative and postoperative period. The doctor's staff should also feel comfortable and confident with the entire procedure. Competence and compassion go a long way.

Personal compatibility

Personal chemistry can make a difference in your experience with any type of surgery. Choose a surgeon with whom you feel comfortable. That person should be easy to talk to, yet professional. Most importantly, your surgeon should listen closely to what you want and be willing to take the time necessary for you to understand the procedure and devise a treatment plan that best suits your needs.

Take your time

You have probably worn glasses or contacts for most of your life. There is no rush to decide who will do your refractive procedure. Take your time and ask whatever questions you need to feel comfortable with your choice. Laser refractive surgery has improved the eyesight of more than a million people in the United States and nearly the same number throughout the world. Most refractive surgery patients report that having laser surgery is the best decision they have ever made. Your refractive surgeon need not be your best friend, but you should have the confidence that he or she has the skills and experience to perform the procedure.