Below you will find a list of questions that you can ask your doctor. If the doctor that you are considering  is happy to sit down with you and answer these questions, you can probably be comfortable that they are a reliable and professional surgeon with your best outcome as their number one priority.

• Does the quoted price include all post-operative care? Does he limit the length of time after the procedure that you can receive postoperative care? If you need corrective surgery, do you pay for it, or is it included in the original price?
• Are they using an FDA approved wavefront laser? Are they prepared to discuss the pros and cons of the technology that they use? Will they share statistics about the technology with you?
• Does the surgeon actively practice in your area, or does he visit on a regular basis to perform surgery?
• Can you get in touch with the doctor quickly in case of emergencies?
• Are they up-front with you about all the costs involved? We’re you offered financing?
• Are the clinic staff friendly? Did you feel welcome when you visitied the clinic? Did they provide you with enough information to make an informed decision?
• Will your doctor be available to you? Do you get to see the surgeon before the day of the appointment? Will he be involved in your postoperative care?
• Does the doctor stay abreast of the latest technology and techniques? Does he undertake regular training in new procedures and equipment?
• Experience: How long has the doctor been performing laser eye surgery? How many operations have they performed?
• Do you feel comfortable with the surgeon? Are they prepared to answer all your questions without using jargon or becoming frustrated with you?

If you are able to answer all of these questions to your satisfaction, you should feel comfortable with the surgeon you have chosen.

If you are seeking a LASIK surgeon in Winnipeg, Dr. James J. Wiens M.D., FRCSC., medical director of IMAGE PLUS Laser Eye Surgery Centre, would love to hear from you.

When your surgeon performs bladeless LASIK (all-laser vision correction), this flap is not created. Rather than use a mechanical blade to create a flap, the thin, outermost layer of the cornea is removed by use of a specialised, incredibly accurate laser.

Having removed the top layer of the cornea, the surgeon performs the normal laser vision correction to the eye. The procedure generally takes about sixty seconds.

Once the all-laser vision correction has been performed, the protective layer of tissue which has been removed with the laser will rebuild itself within a matter of days, leaving the patient with clear vision.

Understanding the difference between the two methods of performing LASIK surgery is crucial, as it relates to both patient outcomes, and safety. Because the all-laser vision correction does not use a mechanically guided blade, the risk of infection or poor outcomes are greatly reduced.

All-laser vision correction also negates the risk of the corneal flap slipping or being damaged by eye trauma. Also, patients undergoing bladeless LASIK can resume sporting and other physical activities almost immediately after treatment, while patients who have had traditional LASIK often need to wait week, or even months.

Patients considering having bladeless LASIK surgery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, should contact Nova Vision.

After being given a light anesthetic, the patient is placed in a surgical chair, and a small flap is created in the cornea using a mechanical blade (microkeratome). After the corneal flap is lifted, the excimer laser is used to manipulate the shape of the cornea, correcting the focal length onto the retina.

After the surgeon has finished reshaping the cornea, the flap is then replaced. The procedure is generally complete in about fifteen minutes.

LASIK can correct the vision of people suffering from myopie, hyperopia, and astigmatsim, allowing them to continue through life without the need for glasses or contact lenses.

For people living in Columbus, contact Columbus Laser and Cataract Center, the Ohio LASIK Surgeon.

Using rapid pulses of laser light, Intralase creates the flap in the eye by moving the laser over the eye in a back-and-forth-motion, creating tiny bubbles at a depth determined by the surgeon.

Creation of the flap is performed by separating the tissue where the bubbles were formed. The surgeon is then able to fold back the corneal flap, and the eye is ready for the actual laser vision correction.

Intralase outperforms standard (blade based) creation of the corneal flap, as the blade (microkeratome) can only make one dimensional, single cuts on the cornea. This may result in poorer patient outcomes as a result of an irregular surface in the flap once it is lifted.

Intralase creates a smooth and even surface on the cornea by virtue of the fact that it creates an even layer of precisely placed bubbles under the eye’s surface.

If your surgeon uses the Intralase method, your eye is never touched by a mechanical blade.

For a much more in-depth look at Intralase, see the Intralase FAQ at EyeQ Laser, Edmonton’s number one Laser Vision Correction Centre.

Below are a list of the six most common questions we come across at the Kelowna Laser Vision LASIK Surgery Clinic:

1. Am I a candidate for LASIK surgery? An examination by the doctor will determine whether you are a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery. You will be asked whether you are taking medications such as steroids, whether your prescription for your glasses or contacts has changed in the last 12 months, and possibly many other questions. The more questions that your doctor asks you, the more comfortable you should be that you have made the right choice of surgeon.
2. Is the procedure painful? Whilst you may experience some slight discomfort whilst your eye heals in the days after the surgery, you will be given a light sedative and anesthetic eye drops which will make the procedure a not unpleasant experience.
3. How long does it take? All told, including preparation and post operative care, the procedure takes about an hour. Having said that, the actual LASIK procedure itself takes around one minute. You should not plan to do anything else on the day of the procedure though.
4. Is it reversible? LASIK surgery is a permanent procedure. It is not reversible, but your eyes will still age as they normally would after the surgery.
5. Can I drive home after the surgery? No, you should arrange an alternative way to get home after the surgery. you should be able to drive within a few days after the operation.
6. What happens with follow up? You will need to have an appointment with your surgeon after the procedure. In most cases, this will be the day after your surgery. After that appointment, your doctor will tell you when he needs to see you again.

If you are in the Okanaga in Canada, and are considering having LASIK Surgery, contact Kelowna Laser Vision. Kelowna Laser Vision offer a range of LASIK Surgery financing options.