by : Ezaida

Before you sign the patient consent form for your LASIK surgery, ask your ophthalmologist these questions to set your mind at ease:

Question: What are your qualifications as a LASIK ophthalmologist?
Suggested answer: The answers may vary but a safe gauge would be an ophthalmologist whom have undergone a LASIK certification course and have performed at least 50 LASIK surgeries under the supervision of a senior LASIK surgeon. He or she should be an accredited eye specialist bearing the designation of an associate consultant or higher.

Question: How much is the cost of the whole surgical procedure?
Suggested answer: The cost of LASIK surgery may vary according to the seriousness of your refractive error, the level of your surgeon's experience, and the type of technology and machine used. Generally a LASIK surgery will fetch approximately $1500 per eye.

Patients need to be wary about cheap LASIK surgeries, warned Dr Lennard Thean, Senior Consultant and Head of LASIK & Refractive Surgery at National University Hospital . Dr Thean explained, “ The cost of the surgery involves labour, equipment and medical instruments and if the cost is extremely low, patients should be cautious. At NUH Lasik Centre, our doctors operate using new disposable blades and cannulaes per eye in our surgeries. However, patients should not just decide on cost alone as they have to consider the skill of the ophthalmologist. '

Question: What is the percentage of your patients achieving perfect vision after undergoing the surgery?
Suggested answer: The audited results should be above 96%. It was reported in Straits Times last year that “ between 96 and 100 per cent of patients had vision that no longer required spectacles" after undergoing LASIK surgery. More specifically, the success rates of Singapore 's major LASIK ophthalmologist s are as follows:

100%
Jerry Tan Eye Surgery 100%
99%
98.8%

Dr Steven Seah, a LASIK surgeon from Excellence Healthcare Pte Ltd (Camden Medical Centre), advised: “There are many factors that can affect the results, for example, whether the person is suffering from myopia, presbyopia and such. These kind of patients will be provided with the correct results statistics and probabilities."

Question: Can I expect an excellent refractive surgery results (like not needing spectacles or contact lenses)?
Suggested answer: Your ophthalmologist should answer this question honestly, and whatever his/her answer, it needs to be parallel with your expectations.

Question: What should I expect my vision to be like for the first few weeks after surgery?
Suggested answer: Your ophthalmologist's honest answer should include an explanation of minor fluctuations of eye vision, minor halos, minor star bursts and/or other minor side effects that should subside at the end of the healing process period (which will be set by your ophthalmologist ).

Never be afraid to ask your LASIK ophthalmologist these questions or other delicate questions prior to your LASIK surgery because trained and skilled doctors will be more than happy to answer your doubts. Remember, your ease of mind and your successful LASIK surgery is of utmost importance.

References:
Dr Lennard Thean (Senior Consultant)
Department of Ophthalmology

Dr Steven Seah (Senior Consultant)
Excellence Healthcare Pte Ltd