Ask whether the first visit is a brief screening or a complete refractive evaluation. Confirm how long to stop wearing soft, toric, rigid gas-permeable or hard lenses before measurements; the timing can differ. Bring your glasses, prescription history, medication list and eye-surgery history.
Before the appointment
Ask whether the first visit is a brief screening or a complete refractive evaluation. Confirm how long to stop wearing soft, toric, rigid gas-permeable or hard lenses before measurements; the timing can differ. Bring your glasses, prescription history, medication list and eye-surgery history.
Ask whether your pupils will be dilated and whether you should arrange transportation. The FDA notes that contact lenses can change corneal shape and that the surgeon should review medical and eye conditions, medications, risks, benefits and alternatives.
Sources: FDA: Before, during and after LASIK
Questions about the clinician
Do not assume the person conducting the consultation will be the operating surgeon. Ask to meet the surgeon before consenting and learn who is responsible at each stage.
- Who will perform my procedure?
- What refractive-surgery training has that surgeon completed?
- How often does the surgeon use the proposed procedure and device?
- May I see the surgeon’s own outcome and complication data for comparable patients?
- Who handles urgent concerns after hours?
- May I verify the surgeon’s state license and board-certification claim?
Questions about the examination and recommendation
A recommendation should connect to your measurements and priorities. Ask what the examination found, which findings matter, and what would make the surgeon recommend waiting or not operating.
- Is my prescription stable, and how did you determine that?
- What did corneal topography or tomography show?
- How are corneal thickness, tear film and pupil measurements used?
- Why do you recommend this procedure rather than PRK, SMILE, an implantable lens, glasses or contacts?
- Which uncertainties are specific to my situation?
- Would you treat both eyes the same way and on the same day?
Sources: National Eye Institute: Surgery for refractive errors · FDA: When LASIK may not be appropriate
Questions about technology
Ask for names, not adjectives. Write down the manufacturer and model of each device plus the planning method. Use the FDA’s list to find approval documents and patient labeling, then ask the surgeon to explain how those indications apply to the proposed treatment.
- What laser creates the flap, if any?
- What laser or platform performs the correction?
- Is the plan wavefront-guided, wavefront-optimized or topography-guided?
- Is the use within the device’s approved treatment range?
- Can I read the manufacturer’s patient booklet before deciding?
Sources: FDA: Approved lasers for LASIK · FDA: LASIK questions and technology
Questions about risks and expectations
Ask for realistic ranges rather than guarantees. Discuss the chance of needing glasses, contacts or an enhancement; dryness; glare, halos or double vision; infection; delayed healing; and loss of best-corrected vision. Ask how existing dry eye, large pupils or other findings affect the discussion.
If a center promises a guaranteed visual result or describes surgery as risk-free, pause. The FDA says there are no guarantees in medicine and even well-screened patients can experience serious complications.
Questions about price and follow-up
Request a written quote for both eyes and the specific plan. Confirm the procedure, devices, surgeon, facility, medications, supplies, all scheduled postoperative visits and care for unexpected problems. Read enhancement and financing contracts separately.
- What is the total if the plan changes after testing?
- Which follow-up visits are included, where and with whom?
- What does the enhancement policy exclude?
- What happens if surgery is postponed or cancelled?
- Who owns my records and how can I obtain them?
Take the information home
You do not need to decide at the consultation. Compare the written plan with at least one reasonable alternative, review the device booklet and contact the office with unanswered questions. Arrange transportation and follow the center’s preparation instructions only after you choose to proceed.
This checklist is educational and cannot replace advice from a clinician who has examined your eyes.
Sources: FDA: Before, during and after LASIK