Choosing an Oklahoma City LASIK eye surgeon is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. In Oklahoma City, there are several doctors who specialize in refractive laser eye surgery, and choosing a surgeon can be a difficult decision. If you are going to entrust your vision to a surgeon, you must be sure that he is well trained and qualified to perform the procedure. Here are the six questions you absolutely should ask an Oklahoma City Lasik eye surgeon before committing to eye surgery:

1. Are you Board Certified? The answer should be yes, and then you should ask for details. There are different types of certification that ophthalmologists can acquire. The American Board of Ophthalmology certifies physicians, but does not offer specific certification for laser refractive surgery. Your Oklahoma City eye surgeon may be ABO certified without actually having a Lasik or PRK certification. The American Board of Eye Surgeons offers peer-approved certification in specific laser procedures, and this is the best certification an ophthalmologist can have. There is also a certification offered by the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance, which assesses patient satisfaction and rates surgeons based on patient outcome.

2. How long have you been performing laser vision correction surgery? There is no right or wrong answer for this one. But you should look for a surgeon who has several years of experience; however, make sure that if the surgeon has been performing corrective eye surgery for 10 years or more, they are up to date with the latest procedures.

3. How many procedures have you performed on people with my particular problem? Again, there is no one answer, but you want to know that you are not the first patient in Oklahoma City to have received this particular surgery from this ophthalmologist.

4. Who will take care of my pre-surgery exams and aftercare? You want to know that your doctor will personally handle all aspects of your case from start to finish. If there is a problem after surgery, you should not be sent to another doctor on the other side of Oklahoma City, or you should only receive follow-up care from a nurse or assistant.

5. Do you have all the equipment here at the clinic? It is good to know where the surgery will be performed. It may be on-site, at the doctor’s clinic, or it may be affiliated with a nearby hospital or medical center.

6. Can I have references? A good doctor will have no problem providing you with the names of local Oklahoma City patients who have had Lasik surgery. Ask for five references and call them to find out how satisfied they are with the doctor’s work.