Q: Can you refer me to a LASIK surgeon in my area?

A: You may want to contact the organizations listed here for additional information. While FDA regulates medical devices and drugs, FDA does not regulate the practice of medicine and does not have a registry of doctors. FDA does not know of any government agency that can provide a referral for any medical procedure.

Q: How do I report a bad experience or who do I notify about a 'bad' doctor?

A: If you had a bad experience or sustained an injury, you should file a voluntary MedWatch report (1-800-FDA-1088) to the FDA. Also, you could contact your state medical licensing board and file a complaint with them. In addition, you could contact your state health department or consumer complaint organization (e.g., Better Business Bureau).

Q: How much does LASIK cost?

A: There is no one answer, since fees vary from one surgeon to the next. Prices range from less than $1,000 per eye to more than $2,000 per eye. The average is about $1,575 per eye.

Q: Which laser is the best for treating my refractive error?

A: FDA does not provide comparisons between refractive lasers. FDA approves the safety and effectiveness of a device independent of any other product. However, you are encouraged to review the approval documents to assess the capabilities of specific laser systems and make your own comparisons. Discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor.

Q: How does wavefront LASIK compare to conventional LASIK?

A: Wavefront adds an automatic measurement of more subtle distortions (called higher order aberrations) than just nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism corrected by conventional LASIK. However, these “higher order aberrations” account for only a small amount (probably no more than 10%) of the total refractive error of the average person’s eye. Conventional LASIK increases higher order aberrations. Although wavefront-guided treatments attempt to eliminate higher order aberrations, results from the clinical studies have shown that the average aberrations still increase, but less than they do after conventional LASIK. In a few studies comparing wavefront-guided LASIK to conventional LASIK, a slightly larger percentage of subjects treated with wavefront LASIK achieved 20/20 vision without glasses or contact lenses compared to subjects treated with conventional LASIK. Patient selection (“When is LASIK not for me?”) and the experience and competence of the surgeon are still the most important considerations.

Q: Can I have both eyes done at the same time?

A:Yes, most surgeons perform the procedure on both eyes at the same time; however, some patients prefer to wait a week between eyes.

Q: How is eye laser surgery different from previous types of refractive eye surgery?

A: Current FDA-approved laser vision correction methods, such as LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), have a higher predictability of the final result with a lower incidence of complications. Additionally, older techniques typically involved manually performed incisions rather than automated lasers for correction.

Q: Does laser vision correction hurt?

A: You won't feel pain during LASIK because your surgeon will place anesthetic drops in your eye first. Afterward, he or she may prescribe medication if necessary. Many LASIK patients report no more than mild discomfort for a day or so — often it's an itchy feeling, as if sand were in the eye.

Q: How do I know if I'm eligible for laser vision correction?

A: Your eyecare practitioner can help you decide, but below are some general guidelines to check out before your doctor visit:

• You must have healthy eyes — no glaucoma, infection, cataracts, severe dry eye, or any other condition that would affect postoperative healing.
• You must be an adult: at least 18 for some procedures and at least 21 for others.
• Your vision must be stable for at least a year before surgery.
• If you're pregnant or nursing, your hormonal levels can affect the shape of your eye. You'll need to wait until hormones are back to normal levels.
• You cannot have a degenerative or autoimmune disease, since this would affect healing.

Q: Can you send me more information or respond to my concern?

A: No. The most current information we have about LASIK is on this website and we update it routinely. We do not have the resources to respond directly to patient concerns or questions. We always suggest that you to talk to your doctor about these matters.