A vision correction consultation is a 60–90 minute diagnostic appointment that determines which procedures you qualify for and what outcome to expect. It involves a series of non-invasive tests followed by a physician examination and a discussion of your options.
For the broader context of how to use this information, see Vision Correction Procedures Compared and How to Determine Which Vision Correction Procedure Is Right for You.
Featured Snippet: The Pre-Operative Evaluation Step by Step
1. Medical history and intake (10 min) 2. Refraction measurement — your glasses/contacts prescription verified 3. Corneal topography — curvature map of the corneal surface 4. Corneal tomography (Pentacam) — 3D thickness and shape analysis 5. Wavefront analysis — higher-order aberration mapping 6. Pachymetry — central corneal thickness measurement 7. Anterior chamber depth — critical for EVO ICL candidacy 8. Dry eye assessment — tear break-up time, Schirmer test 9. Pupil size in dim light 10. Dilation and retinal exam 11. Physician review — interpretation of all findings, candidacy determination 12. Consultation — procedure recommendation, Q&A, options discussion
What to Do Before Your Consultation
Stop wearing contact lenses before your exam. Contacts alter the shape of the cornea, which can skew topographic measurements and wavefront data, potentially leading to an inaccurate treatment calculation.
- Soft contacts: stop 3–5 days before
- Toric (astigmatism-correcting) soft contacts: stop 1–2 weeks before
- Rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contacts: stop 2–4 weeks before
Bring your glasses — your current spectacle prescription is a useful reference for the measuring surgeon.
Arrange a driver. Your pupils will be dilated during the exam. Your vision will be blurry and light-sensitive for several hours. Do not plan to drive yourself home.
Write down your questions in advance. Common useful questions:
- Which procedures am I a medical candidate for?
- What are my corneal topography findings specifically?
- What is your practice’s enhancement policy?
- How many of this specific procedure has the operating surgeon performed?
- What is your outcome rate for patients with my prescription profile?
The Physician Consultation
After the diagnostic tests are complete, you will meet with the surgeon (not just a coordinator) to review your results. A high-quality consultation includes:
- Explanation of your topographic and tomographic findings — not just a “you’re a candidate” summary
- Specific candidacy determination — which procedures are medically appropriate for your anatomy
- Discussion of the recommended procedure and why — based on your measurements, not on the most expensive option
- Realistic outcome expectations — including the realistic range of outcomes for someone with your prescription and anatomy
- Risk discussion — what the specific risks are for your profile
A consultation that skips the clinical explanation and proceeds directly to pricing and scheduling without a thorough findings review is a warning sign of a practice oriented more toward conversion volume than clinical quality.
Questions That Reveal a Practice’s Quality
Beyond the standard questions, a few probing questions reveal how a practice approaches care:
- “Are there any findings in my topography that give you concern, even minor ones?” A good surgeon will give you an honest answer. A conversion-focused coordinator will brush this off.
- “What would make you decline to perform surgery on a patient?” A strong quality threshold answer (thin corneas, irregular topography, unstable prescription) is reassuring.
- “Can I review my topographic maps with you?” Being shown and explained your own data is a reasonable expectation at a high-quality practice.
After the Consultation
Following your consultation, you are under no obligation to schedule surgery immediately. Take time to:
- Review the information provided
- Compare with other consultations if desired
- Confirm the enhancement policy, included services, and pricing in writing
- Research the specific surgeon’s credentials and outcome data
Our LASIK Surgery Awards are one useful tool for identifying practices with documented outcome excellence before or after your consultation.
Related Resources
- How Do I Know If I’m a Candidate for Any Vision Correction?
- What Is the Best Vision Correction Surgery?
- Which Vision Correction Is Safest?
*This content is educational and does not constitute medical advice.*