Questions for Your Eye Surgeon

What this checklist is

This free PDF is a simple list of questions you can bring to a consultation with a licensed eye surgeon. It is meant to help you slow down, take notes, and compare consultations in a clear way.

Sightlume is a free matching service. We can help you get matched with ophthalmologists near you for a consultation, but we do not perform exams, diagnose eye conditions, or tell you which surgery you should have.

That matters because candidacy is not something anyone can decide from a website, a phone call, or a short ad. Many people are not good candidates for a given procedure, and an honest surgeon should say so.

How to use it well

Bring the checklist to each consult and use the same questions every time. That makes it easier to compare answers without relying on memory.

1. Print it or keep it on your phone.
2. Write down the surgeon's answers in plain words.
3. Ask what procedure they think fits your eyes, and why.
4. Ask what the downsides are for you, not just the benefits.
5. If you feel rushed, pressured, or confused, pause. It is always OK to wait or keep glasses or contacts.

A good consult should leave you with a better understanding of the likely benefits, limits, cost range, recovery, and risks. It should not feel like a sales pitch.

If you want background before your visit, our pages on candidacy and the exam and LASIK risks and side effects can help you know what kinds of topics usually come up.

What kinds of questions belong on a good consult checklist

We do not use this page to reproduce the full PDF, but a useful checklist usually covers topics like these:

• Candidacy: Am I a candidate for LASIK, PRK, SMILE, ICL, or lens surgery based on my exam?
• Reasoning: Why do you recommend one option over another for my eyes?
• Risks: What are the real risks in my case, including dry eye, glare, halos, under- or over-correction, infection, flap problems, and the rare possibility of vision loss?
• Limits: What kind of vision outcome is realistic for me? Results vary from person to person.
• Recovery: How long might healing take, and what restrictions should I expect?
• Follow-up: Who handles follow-up care, and what happens if I need more treatment?
• Cost: What is the estimated price, what does it include, and what could cost extra?

Typical US price ranges are often about $2,000-$3,000 per eye for LASIK, $1,800-$2,800 for PRK, $2,200-$3,200 for SMILE, and $3,000-$5,000 for ICL. Those are only estimates, not quotes. Real cost depends on the procedure, your eyes, the technology used, and your area. Surgery is rarely covered by insurance. You can learn more on our costs guide.

Why this matters before you choose anyone

Vision-correction surgery can help some people reduce dependence on glasses or contacts, but every procedure carries real risk. No ethical service should hide that.

Use the checklist to look for clear, direct answers. You want a surgeon who explains both the possible upside and the possible downside in a way you understand. You also want space to think.

You compare consultations. You choose who to trust. No surgery happens without an exam first. And no honest person can promise a perfect result.

If you want help finding consultations in your language, Sightlume can help you get matched. We only collect contact details like your name, phone, ZIP, email, preferred language, and which procedure you are curious about. We do not collect medical history or health records through our matching form.

This checklist is educational information only. It is not medical advice, and only an in-person exam with a licensed eye surgeon can decide candidacy or recommend treatment.