Laser Eye Surgery

To legally perform laser eye surgery the doctor must be a licensed medical practitioner who has undergone extensive additional training in the techniques of laser eye surgery. Typically a medical doctor has completed 4 years of college, at least 2 years of medical school, 2 years of specialized training in surgery, 2 years of internship training under an experienced surgeon and then the continuous training required to learn the use of laser in surgery. He or she has invested about 10 years and many thousands of dollars to be an eye surgeon. He or she has decided to become an expert in the care and treatment of the many eye problems people develop.

After all of the education and training, the surgeon must become part of a hospital or clinic that offers laser eye surgery as part of its services. No one starts at the top of the profession, so now the surgeon must become part of a team that can perform laser eye surgery all day long every day. After several thousand successful procedures, performed over 5 or more years, the surgeon can be rest assured that his or her reputation is solid. Others happily recommend this particular clinic or doctor. Hospitals regularly hold peer reviews of the need for and outcome of all surgeries performed there. The surgeon is judged by the toughest jury of all, his fellow doctors. If there are any negative outcomes from the work of the surgeon it is noted and follows him for the rest of his career. Very serious problems can negate all of his years of training, causing him to lose his career.

Correcting refractive vision problems is only one of the areas where laser eye surgery is used. Diabetics often develop tiny bleeding blood vessels in their eyes that will lead to blindness. A laser can seal the vessel without harming the surrounding tissue. Cataracts are quickly removed using lasers. Instead of having stitches and spending several weeks immobilized, the cataract patient is up and about with clear vision in a matter of 3 to 5 days. These are only two examples of the dozen or more procedures that a laser eye surgeon must become expert at.

When deciding on laser eye surgery it is the wise patient who takes the time to look at the quality and length of the surgeon’s education and training. Laser eye surgery makes a permanent change in the patient’s vision in most cases.