The combined care of your eye doctor with the LASIK surgeon will ensure you achieve the optimum vision.
According to Market Scope, around 10 million Americans have had LASIK surgery since it was first approved by the FDA in 1999.
Deciding to get LASIK surgery can be overwhelming. There are two doctors involved in this surgical process, your eye doctor and a LASIK surgeon, will work together to ensure you receive the optimum results.
With LASIK co-management your eye doctor can provide you with an initial eye exam and the information you need to make your decision. Once you have decided to have LASIK eye surgery, the eye doctor will refer you to an eye surgeon.
These doctors can co-manage the entire journey ensuring patients receive the best care and vision.
If you are interested in LASIK surgery visit your eye doctor to find out if you are a good candidate.
The Find an Eye Doctor directory provides a list of eye doctors near you that can conduct a consultation and discuss LASIK co-management with you.
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LASIK co-management
Co-management is when an eye doctor works together with a LASIK surgeon. An eye doctor will provide the pre- and post-operative care while the LASIK surgeon will perform the surgery.
When an eye doctor and LASIK surgeon co-manage, the eye doctor may exclusively refer their patients to a specific surgeon. This is beneficial to patients at the eye doctor and LASIK surgeon has a relationship and can communicate with one another on the patient’s eye history and work together to come up with a post-operative recovery plan.
LASIK evaluation
Both an eye doctor and LASIK surgeon will conduct their own comprehensive eye exams.
The eye doctor will conduct a preoperative evaluation to see if the patient is a good candidate for LASIK surgery. If they suspect that the patient is a good candidate they will refer them to a LASIK surgeon.
The LASIK surgeon will also conduct their own preoperative evaluation by examining the vision and a more detailed analysis of the cornea and eye health by analyzing 3D maps of the cornea.
Following these in depth exams the LASIK surgeon will determine if the patient is a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery and what the best vision outcomes could be after the surgery.
LASIK post-operative care
Your eye doctor, who conducted the pre-operative care, will also conduct most of the post-LASIK consultations.
There are several factors involved in LASIK post-operative care, such as follow-up appointments with the surgeon, a recovery plan to follow, and specific guidelines to keep in mind, such as no eye rubbing. As every person’s eyes are different, each post-operative plan is unique.
Within the first 24-48 hours after LASIK surgery, patients need to see their eye doctor so they can check on their vision and healing. The eye doctor will also assess if there needs to be any alterations to the recovery plan.
At least six months after surgery, follow-up appointments should be continued, to ensure that recovery is going as planned.
If during the recovery period vision seems to be getting worse or not resolving, it is recommended to call your eye doctor.
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If you are currently looking into LASIK surgery, contact an eye doctor near you to schedule an appointment, they will provide you with information about LASIK and see if it best suits your needs.
