Is there any potential problems with an outfit that uses lasers that travel from one facility to another or is this a common practice?

The fact that the machine is traveling is not the problem. The fact that the VISX laser is one of the worst offenders in creating permanent visual problems because if its undersized optical zone is a concern however.

Read around on this BB a bit. A number of studies have come out demonstrating permanent eye damage from refractive surgery.

Bill sums it up best:

"Only the uninformed, in denial, or with a motive for lying can sing the praises of a medically unnecessary surgical procedure that does so much damage to a vital sensory organ."

LASIK: the more you know, the worse it looks.

The roll-on-roll-off (RORO) lasers are calibrated every time they are set up, and recalibrated between a certain number of patients. It is not likely that the laser will function any differently.

Where there may be a real difference is in the practical experience of the surgeon. RORO lasers tend to be used by doctors in more rural areas where there is not enough refractive surgery to support a permanent laser installation. That means less practical experience.

You may want to use our 50 Tough Questions For Your Doctor at http://www.usaeyes.org/faq/tough_questions.htm to evaluate a potential doctor. There is appropriate emphasis on the doctor’s experience. Remember that no amount of technology can compensate for an inferior surgeon. You may need to travel for a good surgeon, even if a laser is available locally.

Glenn Hagele
http://www.USAEyes.org

I am not a doctor.