I have been referred two different surgeons and am trying to make a selection. Here is a brief profile of each:

SURGEON A:

Certified: YES
Practice focus: REFRACTIVE SURGERY AND ANTERIOR SEGMENT
Number of procedures: ALMOST 4,000
Teaching Position: NONE (THOUGH TRAINS OTHER DOCS ON LASIK)
Fellowship: NONE
Cost: $3,500
Other: HIS STAFF WERE NOT VERY FRIENDLY AND DIFFICULT TO GET SPECIFIC INFORMATION FROM, HAD TO TALK TO FOUR DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIM. ONLY SCHEDULED THE CONSULT AND SURGERY - NO FOLLOWUPS.
Name: DR. AYMAN BOUTROS

SURGEON B:

Certified: YES
Practice focus: REFRACTIVE SURGERY AND CORNEA/EXTERNAL DISEASE
Number of procedures: ALMOST 11,000
Cost: $4,000
Teaching Position: GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Fellowship: WILLS EYE HOSPITAL
Other: MY CURRENT OPTOMETRIST CO-MANAGES WITH HIM, SO I CAN MAINTAIN THAT RELATIONSHIP. STAFF WERE FRIENDLY AND EASY TO GET INFO FROM. SCHEDULED ALL APPOINTMENTS THROUGH TWO MONTH FOLLOWUP
Name: DR. RAJESH RAJPAL

Anyone have any info on these two? What are your thoughts on who I should use?

Thanks

Just looking at your reaction to your visit I
think the answer is easy. There is only a 500
difference between the two and your comfort level
must be worth something. You are not far from my
office and if you like I would be happy to see you
for another opinion. Remember there is no rush
here. You only have one set of eyes. Our center
includes one year of follow up with lifetime
enhancements if needed.
Leonard Friedman MD Washington DC........

Thanks for your response. I do feel more comfortable with Dr. Rajpal, as my current optometrist comanages with him. $500 is not that big of a difference for peace of mind! The research I have done suggests that when selecting a surgeon, things like teaching positions and fellowships are good indications of quality, and Dr. Rajpal has the edge over Dr. Boutros in that department.

I noticed that you went to GW. I believe that Dr. Rajpal did his internship there and was formally the Director for Cornea and External Disease Service. Any feedback on him?

One of the most important aspects as you consider a LASIK surgeon is to meet the potential surgeons and talk about your visual expectations and your specific risks and success rate with surgery. Patients often learn an incredible amount about a doctor by the way the doctor talks and explains LASIK surgery and discusses the specific risks that each person may need to consider (such as loss of reading vision, dry eyes, regression, complications, etc). Once you a surgeon has performed over a few hundred surgeries, comparing quantities is not the most important aspect (In other words - it is impossible to know who is a better surgeon just by finding out that one doctor has performed 300 surgeries and another doctor has perrformed 800 surgeries).

Best of luck

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

Dr. Trattler, thanks for the response. I plan on meeting with the potential surgeons to interview prior to handing over my $$$. There are soooo many doctors who do LASIK in the DC area, one's head can spin. There are advertisements on TV and radio, with prices ranging from $3000 to $5500. They all tout "the best surgeons" with "significant experience". I am simply trying to narrow my list down. I trust my optometrist, though I know he has a financial stake as he comanages with several surgeons. However, the other research I have done backs his recommendations. He was also comfortable sending me to someone else - in other words, not pushing me in one direction or using scare tactics. Thanks for the info.