Choose an ICL Surgeon

You may already know that you want implantable contact lenses or you may have more questions about the procedure before you choose a refractive surgery option. Either way, in order to take the next step you need to find an ICL surgeon.

Tips for Selecting an ICL Surgeon

When selecting an ICL surgeon, you need to review not only the physician's qualifications, experience, and results, but also the doctor's relationship with patients. Each ICL surgeon will have his/her own philosophy of practice and you need to find an eye care specialist with whom you feel comfortable.

Qualifications and Experience

When searching for an ICL surgeon, it is important to find an ophthalmologist who is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). Board certification is not always enough. You need to also be sure that the ICL surgeon has specialized training in the surgical procedure for implantable contact lenses.

There are certification courses for both the Visian ICL™ and the Verisyse™ phakic IOL. It is important to find an ICL surgeon who has been trained in the procedure that you wish to have, since the ICL eye surgery is different for each of the implantable contact lenses. In addition to training, it is important to ask your potential ICL surgeon the number of ICL and other refractive procedures that he or she has completed.

You can further check the credentials of an ICL surgeon by contacting your local state medical licensing board to ensure that the surgeon is licensed to practice medicine in the state. Other organizations that you can use to check an ICL surgeon's credentials are American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS), and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The LCME can verify that the ICL surgeon attended an accredited medical school.

Previous Patient Testimonials

Patient testimonials are a great way to review the satisfaction of the ICL surgeon's previous patients. The testimonials can give an insight into not only the doctor's skill in performing the surgery, but also his or her level of patient care. A reputable ICL surgeon will gladly share patient testimonials with prospective patients.

Safety and Results

Although patient testimonials will give you some insight into the ICL surgeon's results, those testimonials will most likely be one-sided. To be sure that there are no complaints against an ICL surgeon, you can contact the County Clerk's Office to check for any past or pending legal actions. You can also check for complaints and/or reports of good standing with the Better Business Bureau.

An ICL surgeon's reputation among peers is also a good indicator of his or her results. If another eye care specialist, like your optometrist, recommends an ICL surgeon then that surgeon is most likely respected in the field. Also, eye surgeons with high safety standards and amazing results are often asked to give lectures or presentations. Check to see if an ICL surgeon holds these types of credentials.

Personalized Care

ICL surgeons with matching education, training, experience, and certifications will still be different from one another. When reviewing the patient testimonials, pay attention to any references to patient care. You should also ask friends, family, and coworkers who have had refractive surgery what their eye care specialist was like. Personal references will give you a revealing glimpse into what an ICL surgeon has to offer and what you can expect in regard to personalized care.

Locate an ICL Surgeon in Your Area through DocShop

To help you in your search for a qualified ICL surgeon, DocShop has provided a doctor directory that allows to you find an ophthalmologist in your local area.