The most popular type of laser eye surgery, LASIK (laser-assisted-in-situ keratomileusis), is the best choice for many individuals who have common vision issues such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and even astigmatism. The United States Food and Drug Administration has given its approval for this type of laser vision correction procedure that successfully corrects refractive errors and gives patients the ability to do away with or lessen their reliance on glasses or contacts. The majority of LASIK patients enjoy 20/20 vision without the use of corrective lenses after their procedure.
The decision to have LASIK vision correction surgery is a significant one, and the success of your procedure will be greatly influenced by the surgeon you select. When comparing LASIK providers, it is crucial to make an educated decision and to ask important questions. Asking questions and learning what makes one LASIK surgeon different from another is essential because not all LASIK surgeons are the same. We at Tersigni Vision want to give you the information you need in order to feel comfortable choosing to have LASIK surgery with our highly trained and experienced surgeon, Dr. Tersigni. When looking for a LASIK surgeon, it’s important to ask the following questions.
Who will be performing my surgery, and do they only work in this office?
Is your surgeon based at the LASIK facility you’ll be using? Or does he take a flight into the city and back out after performing your procedure? It is important to know precisely who will be operating on your eyes during LASIK. Avoid LASIK Eye Centers with LASIK Surgeons based in different cities and states. These ophthalmologists often fly in, perform your procedure, and then leave again. What if you need to see your surgeon right away? Most likely, you will not be able to see them, and you will need to consult with another LASIK surgeon or technician.
Every piece of LASIK equipment is different, which is another disadvantage of “traveling surgeons.” Even though your surgeon may use the same brand of equipment in all of their offices, each unit has a slightly different calibration. Tersigni Vision is the only place Dr. Tersigni performs refractive surgery. He will be available to you before, during, and after your LASIK procedure. Dr. Tersigni also has a deep understanding of the laser technology used in our office and records each surgery in a database so we can monitor the accuracy for each patient.
What training does the surgeon who will be performing LASIK on your eyes have?
It’s essential to find out as much as you can about the background of the surgeon doing the procedure. Each surgeon must adhere to certain standards, but their level of expertise varies. Credentials are always important when choosing a doctor. When selecting a LASIK surgeon to operate on your eyes, qualifications are critical.
One qualification is board certification from the American Board of Ophthalmology. Board-certified LASIK specialists have completed years of surgical training, obtained their medical degree from a reputable institution, and regularly participate in continuing education seminars to stay current on the most recent advancements in laser vision correction. Even more important, though, is whether your surgeon has received specialized training in refractive surgery and vision correction. Not all eye surgeons receive the specialized training needed to be an expert in LASIK and vision correction surgery. Your surgeon ideally should have fellowship training in the field in which they specialize.
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Do you solely perform LASIK, or do you provide the entire range of refractive surgery options?
Knowing whether the vision correction surgeon you are considering for your vision correction solely does LASIK or provides a broad range of LASIK alternatives is important. Working with a surgeon who not only offers LASIK but also its cutting-edge alternatives is vital because there is no one method of vision correction that is optimal for all patients. Some doctors who solely perform LASIK eye surgery may frequently try to fit you into a LASIK procedure, even if it isn’t the best option for your particular needs. At Tersigni Vision, we are experts in a variety of vision correction surgery techniques and strive to provide the best results for every patient. We are the only center in Oregon to provide the full portfolio of vision correction options. We will never advise you to have a procedure for which you are not a good candidate and will instead work with you to identify the procedure that best suits your needs and vision objectives.
Not a candidate for LASIK? Don’t worry; you’ve come to the right place. Your LASIK alternatives at Tersigni Vision include SMILE eye surgery, Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK procedures), ICL, and Refractive Lens Exchange. Let’s put an end to fuzzy eyesight so you can see properly and live your life to the fullest.
Why is finding a surgeon who performs other procedures in addition to LASIK important?
Your vision correction surgery should be tailored to your unique needs; thus, it’s crucial to find a surgeon that performs LASIK and its alternatives. Not everyone is a candidate for laser surgery, and that’s okay! Even though it may be discouraging to learn that you are not a candidate for LASIK, it is much better to have a surgeon who is straightforward with you and prioritizes your individual needs over their own financial interests.
When doctors pressure a patient into a vision correction procedure for which they are not a good candidate, it might result in complications and the requirement for additional corrective surgery. When discussing LASIK, it’s important to be upfront and truthful with your eye doctor about your medical background. A competent refractive surgeon will want to make sure that you are a strong candidate for the operation and that you have a good chance of having a successful outcome.
Dr. Tersigni is an expert surgeon in not only LASIK but also EVO ICL surgery, SMILE, PRK, and Refractive Lens Exchange. Many patients come to us after they have been told they are not a candidate at another center. Our patients will always leave our office feeling encouraged that there is hope for clearer vision and informed of all of their options for vision correction.
How many LASIK surgeries have you performed?
We realize that everyone started somewhere, but the surgeons’ credentials and experience should speak for themselves. Ideally, your LASIK surgeon should have completed thousands of procedures. Furthermore, he or she ought to be performing them frequently, which shows that their skills are “in shape.”
In light of this, “Do you ever decline a patient’s request for LASIK surgery?” is one of the greatest questions you can ask. In a perfect world, the answer would be “Yes, I have.” The fact is that not every patient is a good candidate for LASIK surgery.
If the surgeon asserts that no patient has ever been turned away, this may be a sign that financial gain takes precedence over the patient’s overall success and long-term well-being, and you should find another surgeon. The health and safety of the patient are the top priorities of a great LASIK surgeon.
Dr. Tersigni is not only a surgeon but also an educator and researcher. He has written for and edited content for a wide variety of medical educational publications and websites and has been published in national journals. He has been involved in multiple U.S. FDA trials involving advanced technology lens implants, corneal treatments, and investigational therapeutic medications, among other studies.
How in-depth is the eye exam at the initial LASIK consultation?
Many LASIK facilities only do two tests to see if you qualify for the procedure. To ensure that LASIK is the best procedure for your eyes, it is crucial to get a comprehensive eye examination that includes multiple tests.
Our procedure differs significantly from a typical LASIK consultation. According to our patients, this is the most cutting-edge and in-depth eye exam they’ve ever experienced. Most places do two or three tests on your eyes to determine if you are a candidate for LASIK because LASIK is all they do. At Tersigni Vision, we provide the complete range of contemporary vision correction options. Therefore, we do up to 9 separate scans and test on your eyes to thoroughly examine them from the front to the back. You will spend around a half-hour with your vision correction surgeon, Dr. Tersigni, after all of your scans, measurements, and tests to discuss which vision correction options are ideal for you.
What is your success rate for the LASIK procedure?
Laser eye surgeries can improve visual acuity, visual perception and fix a variety of vision issues, including astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Your surgeon should have had success using LASIK surgery to treat patients with the type of refractive error and severity of vision impairment that you have. Knowing that the surgeon has successfully conducted hundreds or maybe thousands of LASIK procedures on people with comparable vision problems will put your mind at ease.
How much does the initial consultation cost to determine if I’m a candidate for LASIK cost?
To draw clients to their laser eye surgery center, many laser eye surgery specialists offer free initial LASIK consultations. Unfortunately, this can be a little misleading because at these kinds of vision centers, the costs associated with your testing and examination are ultimately passed on to the patient. LASIK surgeons and their employees frequently use aggressive sales techniques and recommend a surgery that may not be the most suitable for you in order to avoid losing money on the free consultation.
Tersigni Vision emphasizes open communication and upfront costs. Every step of the way, we provide high-quality medical services and will only suggest a procedure if it is really the best option for your eyes.
What does the LASIK cost include?
Make sure the LASIK pricing is all-inclusive when comparing costs, which means that it covers the operation as well as preoperative and postoperative services. This ensures there are no unpleasant surprises and that you receive the best care possible. Pricing with restrictions or exceptions can put your finances in danger and lead to unforeseen extra costs.
With all-inclusive pricing, you can relax knowing that all of your needs will be met. Costs should typically include all clinic visits before, during, and after the surgery. You may wish to look into the following coverage options if you’re researching all-inclusive surgery rates:
- Prescriptions needed before and after the procedure, in addition to anesthesia (numbing eyedrops)
- Cost of facilities and personnel
- Items that are disposed of after use, like gloves and medical gowns
- Cost of using lasers. Sometimes there is a small additional fee to utilize the laser
At Tersigni Vision, there won’t be any unforeseen costs before, during, or after the LASIK eye surgery because our prices are all-inclusive. Additionally, working with a team of professionals who are dedicated to providing you with high-quality service throughout the entire process will give you the peace of mind you need.
What type of LASIK technology do you use?
Technology for vision correction is ever-evolving. Modern techniques like All-laser LASIK and wavefront LASIK allow eye doctors to tailor the course of treatment to be more precise and accurate. A skilled LASIK surgeon invests in the most modern technology and advancements to provide a safe patient experience and great visual acuity results. Femtosecond laser flaps help to produce a result that is safer. It is essential to use wavefront lasers with the most recent software upgrades.
The most cutting-edge excimer laser and vision correction technologies are used by Tersigni Vision, and they are so accurate that they can etch letters on a human hair strand. All of this cutting-edge LASIK technology, though, is useless without a qualified, knowledgeable LASIK surgeon like Dr. Tersigni to program and guide it.
How do you determine if a patient is a good candidate for LASIK?
LASIK may be a fantastic procedure for you if you have reached ocular maturity (often about age 18), have a healthy cornea, and have nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, or astigmatism. Additionally, your contact lens or eyeglass prescription must show that your eyes have been somewhat stable for the past year or so.
At Tersigni Vision, your initial visit includes a comprehensive diagnostic workup using the most modern technology and up to nine different tests to assess your eye health. After having your eyes assessed, you will meet with Dr. Tersigni, your surgeon, to discuss the perfect vision correction technique created just for you as well as other valuable information relevant to the health of your eyes.
How do you handle follow-up care and monitoring of the patient’s progress?
After undergoing a LASIK procedure, patients should schedule follow-up appointments with their LASIK surgeon. These post-operative visits with the surgeon help them make sure the patients are healing properly and without any complications. If any issues are discovered by an eye surgeon at a follow-up visit, they can be resolved immediately.
During these follow-up visits, patients are advised to share any questions or concerns they may have. This is an excellent method for assisting individuals in their recovery and discovering issues before they become more serious. For the best continuity of care, it is necessary to schedule an appointment with the surgeon who performed your treatment. It is not ideal and can lead to misunderstanding for both the patient and the provider if the surgeon you use for your LASIK surgery only sees you during the operation and not before or after.
You will see your surgeon at Tersigni Vision before, during, and after your LASIK treatment. Dr. Tersigni is available to respond to concerns and make sure your recovery is going as planned.
Come See What You’re Missing…
Do not settle for a one-size-fits-all approach to vision correction. Come see what refractive surgeries Tersigni Vision has to offer, whether you have worn glasses since the second grade, you just started wearing bifocals or reading glasses, or you have been informed you are not a candidate for LASIK. You really can have clear vision and get rid of contact lenses or glasses. Come see what you’re missing. More options. Less confusion. Maximum care.
