A study conducted by an independent group of MDs and published by Elsevier Inc. concluded that ophthalmologists who perform laser vision correction surgery (LVC) are significantly more likely than the general population to have LVC performed on their own eyes. In fact, refractive surgeons were approximately four times more likely to have LVC than the general population. And more than 90 percent of these surgeons would recommend LVC to their immediate family members.
These findings are big considering the most common concern among those considering refractive surgery is safety. People want to know that if they are doing something permanent to their eyes, it is safe, proven and has a great success rate. Fair enough.
Dr. Paul Mann of Mann Eye Institute and Laser Center in Houston specializes in refractive surgery. He has been performing blade-free LASIK for 10 years, and has completed over 20,000 procedures. Important to note, Dr. Mann also had his own LVC performed by his father, Dr. Mike Mann, right before he graduated from medical school.
“I went from not being able to read the alarm clock in the morning to better than 20/20 vision,” said Dr. Paul Mann. “That is when I knew I would become a refractive surgeon.” He went on to join his father in practice at Mann Eye Institute and Laser Center in 2004, and the practice now has 10 Texas offices in the Houston and Austin areas.
“Fear is the number one concern that I hear from my patients when deciding to go forward with LASIK,” added Dr. Mann. “It is human nature to be fearful of eye surgery. But LASIK is a very safe and life changing procedure for patients who are ideal candidates.”
Of the ophthalmologists participating in the study, 97 percent responded they were “better off for having had corneal laser refractive surgery” and more than 98 percent of respondents say they would recommend corneal LVC to their immediate family. These are certainly convincing numbers.
With worldwide satisfaction rates at 95 percent, there is more and more compelling evidence that laser vision correction is a safe and proven technology for helping patients regain crystal clear vision.
Sources:
ASCRS and ESCRS, published by Elsevier Inc.