In order for a LASIK surgeon to be eligible to be listed at the Trusted LASIK Surgeons website, each one is pre-screened using our unique qualifications criteria (the “Trusted LASIK Surgeons Qualifications”).

Overview

Choosing your refractive eye surgeon carefully is the most important aspect of your decision to proceed with the best surgery to eliminate or reduce your need for glasses or contact lenses. You have no doubt seen multiple advertisements in newspapers or on television or have heard radio spots proclaiming surgeons as experts or pioneers in the field of refractive surgery. Many of these also proclaim high volume (e.g. Dr. X has performed 50,000 LASIK surgeries) as an important aspect of their qualifications. Very few of these surgeons would meet all of the Trusted LASIK Surgeons Qualifications listed below.

In order to be eligible to be listed in the Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory, a refractive eye surgeon must meet most of the Trusted LASIK Surgeons Qualifications set forth below.

The number of Trusted LASIK Qualifications that doctors must meet to qualify for listing on our website varies depending on the population of the city. In cities with populations over 500,000, LASIK surgeons must meet at least eight of the Trusted LASIK Surgeons Qualifications. In cities with populations under 500,000, LASIK surgeons must meet at least seven of the Trusted LASIK Surgeons Qualifications and they must have submitted a recommendation letter from another LASIK surgeon who meets at least nine of the Trusted LASIK Surgeons Qualifications and is listed at our website. In a few cities, we list practices where most of the surgeons in that practice meet nine or more of the qualifications listed below. Any surgeons who do not meet the minimum standards are part of highly regarded lasik and refractive eye surgery practices where most of the surgeons in the practice meet at least nine of the qualifications we use. In addition, where practices are profiled there is at least one surgeon who we estimate is in the top 1% of all refractive surgeons in the United States based on experience, professional accomplishments and premier patient care.

We invite you to visit the profile page for each surgeon listed at the Trusted LASIK Surgeons website in your local area and we encourage you to schedule a consultation with the confidence you will receive the highest level of care.

We believe the qualifications listed below sets the Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory apart in finding Exceptionally Qualified LASIK and Refractive Surgeons because we consider the professional credentials and accomplishments of a LASIK eye surgeon are measured by and then compared among their peers. We estimate that many, if not most of the LASIK eye surgeons in our LASIK Directory have professional credentials that place them within an elite circle comprising the top 1% of LASIK and refractive surgeons in the United States. Of the other refractive surgeons listed in the Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory, most have professional credentials that we estimate 5% of all refractive surgeons in the United States would have and the remaining few would be among the top 10%.

Trusted LASIK Surgeons Qualifications

1. Participation in FDA Refractive Vision Correction Studies

2. Publication of at least 5 Scientific Articles Involving Refractive Eye Surgery in Major Eye Journals

3. Over 5 Presentations About a Refractive Surgery Topic at Major Meetings of Eye Doctors

4. Board Certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology

5. Experience

6. Managing Complications of Patients Who Were First Operated On By Another Surgeon

7. Complete Refractive Surgeons, not Just LASIK surgeons

8. Have Performed Surgery on other Eye Surgeons, Optometrists, Opticians, Employees of Companies that Specialize in Refractive Surgery Instrumentation or their Families

9. Society Membership in American Academy of Ophthalmology and at least One Refractive Society

10. Use of IntraLase for “all laser” LASIK and Wavefront-based (“Customized”) LASIK and PRK

11. Academic Appointments at Universities.

Trusted LASIK Surgeons Qualifications:

1. Participation in FDA Refractive Vision Correction Studies

Medical companies such as Alcon, Visx, Bausch and Lomb, Nidek and Wavelight are the manufacturers of the lasers used in LASIK and PRK to correct vision. Laser manufacturers invest millions of dollars to obtain FDA approval for all lasers, not to mention millions of dollars spent to research, invent, and patent their lasers. Because of the substantial investment these laser manufacturers make in testing, building, and obtaining patents and FDA approval, these companies must be especially vigilant in choosing laser eye surgeons to be investigators for the FDA studies. Laser and lens implant manufacturers select their own investigators for FDA studies by choosing those laser and refractive eye surgeons who have impeccable credentials. In particular, these companies select laser eye doctors who are highly skilled, experienced in the procedures under FDA studies, familiar with the stringent examination and follow-up requirements of FDA studies. Most importantly the laser eye surgeons selected by these companies, are ethical, honest and held in high regard by their peers. The laser manufacturers can choose from a large pool of potential surgeons and they of course choose only the best. These laser and refractive eye surgeons are either principal investigators or co-investigators at the study sites. These investigational sites can either be affiliated with major universities or hospitals or they can be private laser centers. Many of these investigators will be asked to represent the companies when the data is reviewed by the FDA prior to approval of the laser procedure under study. All of the laser and lens implant procedures discussed on our website require a separate FDA approval. Thus, a company must obtain approval for correction of myopia, hyperopia (usually with astigmatism) and more recently additional approval for customized Wavefront-guided LASIK procedures. These investigators are also frequently asked by the companies to present the data at national and international ophthalmology meetings.

Laser and refractive eye surgeons who have participated in FDA studies are a very select and special group and that is why we have chosen to make this a very important aspect of our certification process. This is a significant criterion because most of the laser eye doctors listed on our site are among a select few of FDA investigators out of an estimated 13,000 laser eye doctors in the United States. Our estimate of laser eye surgeons who have participated in FDA studies ranges between 200 and 500.

Most of the surgeons listed at www.TrustedLASIKSurgeons.com have participated either as principal or co-investigator in at least one FDA study of either laser vision correction (LASIK, PRK, LASEK, EpiLasik) or lens-based refractive surgery procedures (RLE (Refractive Lensectomy) or CLE Clear Lensectomy),, Phakic Implants, Toric Implants, Cataract Implants).

2. Publication of at least 5 Scientific Articles Involving Refractive Eye Surgery in Major Eye Journals.

Another important requirement is the publication of at least 5 articles written and researched by a laser eye surgeon, either as a primary or secondary author, in the field of refractive surgery in a peer-reviewed journal. These journals include The Journal of Refractive Surgery, The Journal of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, The Archives of Ophthalmology, The American Journal of Ophthalmology and The Journal Ophthalmology. Publication of such an article requires a special commitment to the science of refractive surgery and usually requires hours of work independent of the care of patients. Only a small number of refractive laser surgeons have their names associated with an article in a major journal. Most of the doctors listed at the Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory meet this qualification.

3. Over 5 Presentations About a Refractive Surgery Topic at Major Meetings of Eye Doctors

Refractive surgeons who are respected by their peers as leaders in the field are frequently invited speakers at ophthalmologic meetings in the United States and abroad. Refractive surgeons meeting this requirement have given at least lectures on refractive surgery topics. In that way, these refractive specialists have shared their knowledge with their peers, thus helping to educate other eye doctors about the latest techniques in the field of refractive surgery. Most of the doctors listed at Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory meet this qualification.

4. Board Certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology

The American Board of Ophthalmology has certified all of the laser eye surgeons listed here at Trusted LASIK Surgeons. This means that after completing a 3 to 4 year residency in ophthalmology, they have passed a written and oral examination in the field of general ophthalmology. All of the doctors listed at the Trusted LASIK Surgeons website meet this qualification.

5. Experience

Nealry all of the eye surgeons in the Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory have performed well over 2000 refractive surgery procedures and nearly all have been performing refractive surgery for at least 10 years. In a few cases, those surgeons who do not meet the above standards are associates in practices where the other surgeons generally meet at least 10 of the qualifications we use to screen surgeons.

6. Managing Complications of Patients Who Were First Operated On By Another Surgeon

Because our laser eye surgeons have been involved in FDA studies, have taught and certified other laser eye surgeons, and have lectured on complications of laser eye surgery procedures, our doctors are often asked to examine and treat patients who have experienced complications or undesirable side effects from their original surgery by other surgeons. Generally, the laser eye doctors in our directory also have the latest diagnostic equipment available to them and often have a choice of more than one laser system to treat the patient.

7. Complete Refractive Surgeons, Not Just LASIK Surgeons

All of the laser eye surgeons listed on our website offer complete refractive care available because they perform most refractive procedures currently approved by the FDA. In order to recommend the best procedure for each patient, each laser eye surgeon on our site must be properly trained and certified (by the manufacturer of the equipment uses in the procedure) for each laser eye surgery in most of the possible refractive surgery options, not just those involving lasers like LASIK and PRK. Many of the doctors listed in our directory in the major cities are the proctors of the certification process for either the laser (for laser eye surgeries), lenses (such as Phakic Implants, RLE (Refractive Lensectomy ) or Clear Lensectomy (CLE) and Cataract), or other refractive procedures like NearVision CK.

Many LASIK surgeons perform only LASIK and PRK, and, consequently, can not offer a more complete range of treatments available to you. For example, Astigmatism can be corrected with 3 types of surgery: (1) laser (PRK and LASIK), (2) incisional and (3) Toric Implants. A laser eye surgeon who only performs laser eye surgery may not be qualified to perform the second and third surgeries. Moderate amounts of Astigmatism can be corrected by either limbal relaxing incisions or arcuate incisions on the cornea at the same time as the implant (Toric Implant) is placed inside the eye. This incisional surgery also requires special instruments and experience and most of the surgeons listed on our website have performed this type of surgery before the advent of LASIK surgery. Another example concerns patients with abnormal or thin corneas or very high corrections, who are not proper candidates for laser vision correction procedures like LASIK and PRK. However, they may be excellent candidates for Phakic Lens implants. The Phakic Lens implants surgery requires special skills and training, as it is performed inside the eye rather than on the surface of the eye. All of the doctors listed at Trusted LASIK Surgeons perform LASIK, IntraLase (Bladeless LASIK), PRK, Wavefront-based (Custom) LASIK, RLE, Phakic Implants, and limbal relaxing incisional surgery procedures. Many also perform LASEK, Conductive Keratoplatomy (CK), Toric Implants, and arcuate incisional procedures. Even if a doctor listed at Trusted LASIK Surgeons does not offer one of these lesser utilized procedures, he or she will be able to refer you to a competent specialist the doctor recommends that procedure for you.

8. Have Performed Surgery on Other Eye Surgeons, Optometrists, Opticians, Employees of Companies that Specialize in Refractive Surgery Instrumentation or their Families

Nearly all of the LASIK and refractive experts in our directory have performed vision correction eye surgery on other eye doctors. Ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, and employees of companies that specialize in refractive surgery instrumentation (like laser vision and lends implant manufacturers) are usually familiar with the reputations, results and complications of refractive surgeons in their communities. Because of this “inside knowledge”, these eye care professionals choose the very best surgeons for themselves and their families. Nearly all of the laser eye surgeons listed in Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory have represented that they have performed LASIK or another refractive surgery procedure on other ophthalmologists, optometrists, employees of companies that specialize in refractive surgery instrumentation or their families.

9. Society Membership in the American Academy of Ophthalmology and at least One Refractive Society

Nearly all of the surgeons listed on our website are members of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and either the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, or the International Society of Refractive Surgeons (and often all three groups). Membership in these societies includes automatic subscriptions to the official journals of these societies and member surgeons are eligible to attend the national yearly meetings of these societies at a reduced rate. Attendance at these meetings and reading these journals is one of the best ways for surgeons to keep up with the latest advancements in the rapidly changing field of refractive eye surgery.

10. Use of IntraLase for “all laser” LASIK and Wavefront based (“Customized”) LASIK and PRK

Two of the most significant advances in the field of refractive surgery were the introduction of the IntraLase femtosecond laser to perform LASIK flaps and the ability to perform “wavefront based” or customized laser eye surgery. The IntraLase laser creates flaps with a laser pulsating at 60,000 pulses per second. This reduces flap complications and produces more predictable flap thickness and diameters compared to the mechanical microkeratomes, which used a vibrating metal blade to create the flaps. Nearly all of the surgeons listed at our website utilize the IntraLase for LASIK procedures and all have been certified by at least one laser manufacturer to perform “Custom” wavefront-based surgery (and utilize a wavefront-based surgery in their practice). The combination of the IntraLase and wavefront-based procedures has been shown to increase the percentage of patients achieving 20/20 vision or better and to reduce the frequency of night vision complaints (a higher order aberration).

11. Academic Appointments at Universities

An Academic Appointment means the laser eye surgeon either has a full-time academic appointment or is on the voluntary faculty at the ophthalmology department of a university's medical school in the United States. A full-time academic appointment means that the laser eye surgeon actually works for the university. Typically, these doctors have a title like Professor of Ophthalmology at the “name of their university” (e.g., Dr. PerfectVision, Professor of Ophthalmology, Stanford University). Most of the laser eye surgeons listed on the Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory are in private practice, but they still volunteer their time to help assist in the training of residents and fellows at universities. They are not paid by the university and their title could be for example, Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California. Just as with FDA study participation, academic appointments are reserved for a very special group of surgeons and that is why we have included this requirement. While many of the doctors listed in the Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory have an academic appointment, not every eye surgeon listed at our website has one, since many small and mid-sized cities in the United States may not have universities with ophthalmologydepartments at their medical schools, and consequently, do not make academic appointments of such doctors at their universities. Most of those LASIK experts in our directory who do not have a current faculty appointment have had a past faculty appointment.

WHAT'S NEXT? Find a Trusted LASIK Surgeon in your area

Once you have located a surgeon you are interested in contacting at the Trusted LASIK Surgeons web site, we invite you to review their profile and compare their qualifications with other doctors you are considering. As a courtesy to us, if you decide to contact the office of a surgeon listed in our LASIK directory, we would greatly appreciate that you mention you found him or her through the Trusted LASIK Surgeons website (especially to the surgeon, but also the staff or counselors). Thank you.

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