“Is LASIK for Me?” guide includes comprehensive information about LASIK and informed consent

ATLANTA, GA—Consumers who are thinking about whether to have LASIK now have a new resource to help them with their decision. “Is LASIK For Me?: A Patient’s Guide to Refractive Surgery” offers objective and balanced information about refractive surgery, as well as links to other documents that patients may find useful. The free fifteen-page guide is produced by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy), the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS) and Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company.

Each year, approximately 700,000 Americans have LASIK, and the vast majority are happy with their results. As with all surgery, however there are risks associated with the procedure. The information in the guide is intended to help potential LASIK candidates:

• understand what LASIK is;
• be aware of what would make a person a good or poor candidate for LASIK;
• be aware of and understand the possible risks and complications of LASIK;
• select a surgeon;
• evaluate LASIK advertising; and 
• become familiar with the Informed Consent process.

“This guide brings together important information for consumers in a single resource,” said H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD, executive vice-president of the Academy. “We hope that anyone who is considering LASIK will find this a useful educational tool for helping to make a decision.”

In addition to the guide, the Academy has also developed a K card for patients who have undergone LASIK surgery. The card, which is to be kept by the patient, captures a patient's preoperative keratometry readings (the curvature of the cornea) and refraction. It is often difficult to track down this critical data years later, when the patient is in need of cataract surgery or additional eye care. “The K card should be an essential part of a LASIK patient’s health records,” said Dr. Hoskins.

“Is LASIK for Me?” and the K card are available at http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/correction/LASIK.cfm

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
AAO is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons—Eye M.D.s—with more than 27,000 members worldwide.  Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s” – opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. To find an Eye M.D. in your area, visit the Academy's Web site at www.aao.org