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How to Prepare for Your LASIK Consultation: Questions You Must Ask

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information presented is based on published medical research, FDA guidelines, and clinical practice standards. Always consult with a qualified ophthalmologist or refractive surgeon to determine which procedure, if any, is appropriate for your individual circumstances.

You’ve made the decision. You’re ready to explore LASIK. You’ve scheduled your consultation, and now you’re sitting there thinking: What exactly happens at this appointment? What should I bring? What questions should I ask? How do I know if I’m talking to the right surgeon?

Here’s the thing that most people don’t realize: your LASIK consultation isn’t just about determining if you’re a candidate for surgery. It’s your opportunity to interview the surgeon, evaluate the practice, and gather all the information you need to make one of the most important decisions about your health.

Think of it this way you wouldn’t buy a car without a test drive, or hire someone without an interview. Why would you trust your vision to a surgeon without asking the tough questions?

Let’s walk through exactly how to prepare for your consultation and, more importantly, the essential questions you absolutely must ask before moving forward.

Before Your Consultation: How to Prepare

Stop Wearing Contact Lenses (This is Critical!)

Contact lenses change the shape of your cornea, and it takes time for your eyes to return to their natural shape after you stop wearing them. Getting accurate measurements is crucial for LASIK success, and wearing contacts too close to your consultation can skew those measurements.

How long should you stop wearing contacts?

  1. Soft contacts: Stop wearing them for at least 2 weeks before your consultation
  2. Toric soft contacts (for astigmatism): Stop for 3 weeks
  3. Rigid gas permeable (RGP) contacts: Stop for at least 3-4 weeks

Yes, this means wearing your glasses full-time for a while. It’s inconvenient, but it’s absolutely necessary for accurate evaluation.

Gather Your Medical Information

Your surgeon needs a complete picture of your health history, so come prepared with:

Eye history:

  1. Current prescription (bring your glasses)
  2. When your prescription last changed
  3. History of eye injuries, surgeries, or conditions
  4. Family history of eye diseases (glaucoma, keratoconus, etc.)

Medical history:

  1. Current medications (prescription and over-the-counter)
  2. Allergies
  3. Chronic conditions (diabetes, autoimmune diseases, etc.)
  4. Previous surgeries

Lifestyle factors:

  1. Your profession and visual demands
  2. Hobbies and sports activities
  3. Why you want LASIK and what you hope to achieve

Plan for Time

LASIK consultations typically last 2-3 hours. This isn’t a quick in-and-out appointment. The comprehensive evaluation includes multiple tests and measurements, a discussion with the surgeon, and time for all your questions.

What to expect during the consultation:

  1. Your eyes will be dilated, which temporarily affects your vision and light sensitivity
  2. You won’t be able to drive yourself home
  3. Bring sunglasses for after the appointment

Write Down Your Questions

Don’t rely on memory. During the appointment, you’ll receive a lot of information, and it’s easy to forget what you wanted to ask. Bring a written list of questions and don’t leave until every single one is answered.

What Actually Happens During the Consultation

Understanding what tests you’ll undergo helps you know what information the surgeon is gathering and why it matters.

The Comprehensive Eye Examination

This isn’t a routine eye exam it’s a detailed evaluation of your eye’s specific anatomy, vision quality, and overall health.

Tests you can expect:

  1. Refraction Testing
  2. Corneal Topography (Corneal Mapping)
  3. Pachymetry (Corneal Thickness Measurement)
    • Measures how thick your cornea is
    • Critical for determining LASIK candidacy
    • Ensures enough tissue can be safely removed
  4. Wavefront Analysis
  5. Pupil Size Measurement
  6. Tear Film Evaluation
  7. Eye Health Examination

The Essential Questions You Must Ask

Now here’s where preparation really pays off. Don’t leave your consultation without getting clear answers to these critical questions.

Questions About the Surgeon’s Experience

1. “How many LASIK procedures have you personally performed?”

Experience matters a lot. Research shows that complications are more likely with inexperienced surgeons.

What to look for:

  1. Surgeons with 10,000+ procedures have the most experience
  2. Some top surgeons have performed 25,000+ procedures
  3. Minimum threshold: 3,000 LASIK procedures

Red flag: If the surgeon is vague about numbers or only mentions the practice’s total (not their personal experience).

2. “What are your board certifications and credentials?”

Your surgeon should be board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, which requires:

  1. Completion of ophthalmology residency
  2. Passing rigorous examinations
  3. Ongoing continuing education

Bonus credentials to look for:

  1. Fellowship training in refractive surgery or cornea/external disease
  2. Membership in professional organizations (American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)
  3. Teaching positions at medical schools

3. “What is your complication rate?”

This is a tough question, but a good surgeon will answer it honestly.

What to know:

  1. National LASIK complication rate: less than 1%
  2. Top surgeons typically have complication rates of 3 in 1,000 (0.3%) or lower
  3. Acceptable complication rate: less than 1%

Red flag: A surgeon who won’t share this information or claims a 0% complication rate (unrealistic).

4. “What percentage of your patients achieve 20/20 vision or better?”

Success rates matter, but realistic expectations matter more.

What to know:

  1. More than 80% achieving 20/20 is normal for LASIK
  2. With wavefront-guided treatment, top practices see 95% achieving 20/20
  3. Ask about outcomes specific to your prescription range

Questions About Technology and Technique

5. “What laser technology do you use, and how old is your equipment?”

Not all LASIK technology is created equal. Modern equipment produces better outcomes.

What to ask about:

  1. What type of femtosecond laser for flap creation?
  2. What excimer laser for corneal reshaping?
  3. Do you use wavefront-guided or topography-guided LASIK?
  4. How often is equipment upgraded?

What to look for:

  1. FDA-approved lasers
  2. Equipment less than 5-10 years old
  3. Custom or wavefront-guided treatment options

6. “Do you perform all types of vision correction procedures, or just LASIK?”

A surgeon who offers multiple options (LASIK, PRK, SMILE, ICL) is more likely to recommend what’s truly best for you, not just what they know how to do.

Ask:

  1. What alternatives do you offer if I’m not a LASIK candidate?
  2. Have you performed these other procedures?
  3. Why are you recommending LASIK specifically for my eyes?

Questions About Your Specific Candidacy

7. “Based on my examination, am I a good candidate for LASIK? Why or why not?”

A good surgeon will explain their reasoning in detail, including:

  1. Your corneal thickness and whether it’s adequate
  2. Your prescription and how it affects candidacy
  3. Any risk factors specific to your eyes
  4. Whether another procedure might be better

Red flag: Pressure to have surgery when you have concerns or risk factors.

8. “What are my specific risks and potential complications?”

Generic information isn’t enough. You need to know about your individual risk profile.

Questions to ask:

  1. Am I at increased risk for dry eyes?
  2. With my pupil size, am I at risk for night vision problems?
  3. What are the chances I’ll need an enhancement?
  4. What happens if my vision isn’t corrected to 20/20?

9. “What can I realistically expect for my vision outcome?”

Setting realistic expectations is crucial for satisfaction.

Discuss:

  1. Likelihood of achieving 20/20 vision with your prescription
  2. Whether you’ll still need reading glasses (if you’re over 40)
  3. Potential for residual prescription
  4. Timeline for vision stabilization

Questions About Costs and Policies

10. “What exactly is included in your quoted price?”

Some practices advertise low prices but add fees for everything else.

Make sure you understand:

  1. Pre-operative testing and consultation
  2. The surgery itself (both eyes)
  3. Post-operative care and follow-up visits
  4. Medications
  5. Custom wavefront technology (or is this extra?)
  6. Enhancement procedures

Get it in writing. Ask for an itemized quote that clearly breaks down all costs.

11. “What is your enhancement policy?”

About 1-5% of patients need an enhancement procedure because their initial procedure didn’t fully correct their vision or their prescription changed over time.

Critical questions:

  1. Is the first enhancement included in the original price?
  2. For how long is enhancement coverage valid? (1 year? Lifetime?)
  3. Are there any conditions or restrictions?
  4. What about enhancements needed due to age-related changes years later?

12. “If a complication occurs, what is your policy for follow-up care?”

Complications are rare, but you need to know how they’ll be handled.

Ask:

  1. Are follow-up visits for complications covered?
  2. Will you personally handle any complications?
  3. What if I need additional treatments or medications?
  4. Are there any circumstances where I’d have to pay extra?

Questions About the Practice and Post-Operative Care

13. “Who will perform my surgery – you or another surgeon?”

Some practices have multiple surgeons. Make sure you know who will actually be operating on your eyes.

Red flag: Finding out on surgery day that a different (less experienced) surgeon will perform your procedure.

14. “What does post-operative care look like?”

Recovery doesn’t end when you leave the surgical suite.

Clarify:

  1. How many follow-up appointments are included?
  2. When are they scheduled? (24-48 hours, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months)
  3. Who conducts follow-up visits you or another doctor?
  4. How do I reach someone if I have concerns between appointments?
  5. Is there 24/7 emergency support?

15. “Has your surgical center ever had an outbreak of infections?”

This is an important safety question. While rare, infection outbreaks can occur if sterilization protocols aren’t followed properly.

What to know:

  1. Surgical centers should have impeccable sterilization standards
  2. Ask about their infection prevention protocols
  3. Any history of infections should be explained

Red Flags That Should Make You Walk Away

Not every LASIK practice has your best interests at heart. Watch for these warning signs:

High-Pressure Sales Tactics

A consultation shouldn’t feel like a sales pitch. Legitimate surgeons won’t pressure you to:

  1. Make a decision immediately
  2. Sign up for surgery on the same day as your consultation
  3. Pay a deposit to “lock in” a special price

Remember: Good practices encourage you to take time, ask questions, and even get second opinions.

Unrealistic Promises

Be wary of surgeons who:

  1. Guarantee 20/20 vision or “perfect vision”
  2. Claim zero complications
  3. Promise “money-back guarantees”
  4. Gloss over risks or side effects

No surgeon can guarantee specific outcomes. Vision correction has inherent variability.

Lack of Transparency

Walk away if the surgeon or practice:

  1. Won’t share complication or success rates
  2. Is vague about the surgeon’s experience
  3. Refuses to provide an itemized cost breakdown
  4. Won’t answer your questions directly
  5. Rushes through your consultation

Suspiciously Low Prices

If a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Ultra-low prices often mean:

  1. Older technology
  2. Less experienced surgeons
  3. Hidden fees not included in advertised price
  4. Rushed evaluations
  5. Limited post-operative care

High-quality, all-laser wavefront-guided LASIK typically costs $2,500-$3,500 per eye.

Inadequate Screening

A conscientious surgeon turns away about 10-15% of potential patients because they’re not good candidates.

Red flag: Every patient seems to be approved for surgery, regardless of their individual circumstances.

After the Consultation: Making Your Decision

Take Your Time

You don’t need to decide immediately. Most doctors encourage you to think about the information, discuss it with family, and even get a second opinion.

Compare Multiple Consultations

Consider getting consultations from 2-3 surgeons. This allows you to:

  1. Compare recommendations
  2. Assess different surgical approaches
  3. Evaluate bedside manner and communication
  4. Compare pricing and policies

Trust Your Gut

Beyond credentials and statistics, how did you feel about the surgeon and practice?

  1. Did they listen to your concerns?
  2. Were your questions answered thoroughly?
  3. Did you feel rushed or valued?
  4. Can you reach them easily with post-op questions?

Your comfort level matters. You’re trusting this person with your vision.

Get Everything in Writing

Before committing to surgery, make sure you have:

  1. Detailed cost breakdown
  2. Enhancement policy terms
  3. Post-operative care schedule
  4. What’s covered vs. what costs extra
  5. Complication management policy

Your LASIK Consultation Checklist

Print this checklist and bring it to your appointment:

Before You Go:

  1.  Stop wearing contacts (2-4 weeks depending on type)
  2.  Bring current glasses and prescription
  3.  List all medications and supplements
  4.  Write down medical and eye history
  5.  Prepare written list of questions
  6.  Arrange transportation (you can’t drive after dilation)
  7.  Bring sunglasses for after appointment
  8.  Clear 2-3 hours in your schedule

Questions to Ask:

  1.  How many procedures have you performed?
  2.  What are your credentials and board certifications?
  3.  What is your complication rate?
  4.  What percentage of patients achieve 20/20 vision?
  5.  What laser technology do you use?
  6.  Do you offer alternatives to LASIK?
  7.  Am I a good candidate and why?
  8.  What are my specific risks?
  9.  What can I realistically expect?
  10.  What’s included in the price?
  11.  What is your enhancement policy?
  12.  How are complications handled?
  13.  Who performs my surgery?
  14.  What does post-op care include?
  15.  Any history of infections at your center?

The Bottom Line: You’re in Control

Your LASIK consultation is your opportunity to gather information and make an informed decision. Don’t be intimidated by medical terminology or feel like you’re bothering anyone with questions. This is your vision we’re talking about, you deserve complete, honest answers.

The right surgeon will:

  1. Welcome your questions
  2. Provide transparent answers
  3. Respect your need to take time
  4. Turn you away if you’re not a good candidate
  5. Prioritize your safety over making a sale

Remember: A consultation is free at most practices. You’re under no obligation to proceed with surgery just because you had an evaluation. Use this opportunity to be thorough, ask tough questions, and find the surgeon who’s truly right for you.

Come prepared, ask everything on your list, trust your instincts, and don’t settle for anything less than complete confidence in your surgeon and their team.

Your clearer future depends on making the right choice today.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information presented is based on published medical research, FDA guidelines, and clinical practice standards. Always consult with a qualified ophthalmologist or refractive surgeon to determine which procedure, if any, is appropriate for your individual circumstances.