Choosing an Ophthalmologist

San Francisco, Bay Area & San Jose, California

Choosing an ophthalmologist is a very important task that should be taken seriously. You want to make sure that you choose an eye specialist that has the skills and experience to properly treat your condition. Choosing an unqualified or inexperienced ophthalmologist can drastically increase your risk of complications which may result in permanent vision loss.

Training and Board Certification

Ophthalmologists must undergo rigorous training, including:

• Four years of medical school
• One year internship
• Three year residency in ophthalmology
• Post-residency fellowship(1-2 years) in a specific area of eye care (optional)

To earn board certification, an ophthalmologist must pass a rigorous exam dealing with every aspect of surgical and medical eye care. This final piece of training is voluntary and only a select few ophthalmologists ever achieve this distinction. It indicates that the eye doctor has completed the highest levels of training available.

While choosing a board certified ophthalmologist does not guarantee that you will receive the best results, it does ensure that your doctor has all of the necessary training and experience to properly and effectively treat your condition.

Researching your Potential Ophthalmologist

It is important to thoroughly research any potential ophthalmologist you are considering. Your research should focus on the following areas:

• Education/training
• Experience
• Services offered
• Patient satisfaction

In conducting your research, you can obtain valuable information on your potential eye surgeon from his website, discussions with former patients, and recommendations from friends/relatives or other doctors with whom you have an established relationship. It is important to choose a doctor who has a great deal of experience treating your exact condition and who uses the most advanced eye care technology available.

Questions to Ask your Ophthalmologist

Your initial consultation is an important meeting. While this is a valuable opportunity to learn more about your condition and the treatment you will need, you should also view it as a time to interview your potential ophthalmologist. Come to your consultation prepared to ask the doctor several tough questions about his background and experience:

• Are you board certified?
• Tell me about your education and qualifications?
• How long have you been performing surgeries and what surgeries have you performed?
• What services do you offer?
• How many of the exact same procedures that I will require have you performed?
• What percentage of your patients achieves 20/20 vision after surgery?
• Will you be managing my pre- and post-operative care?
• What technology do you use on your procedures?
• Can you provide me with the contact information of several former patients who can act as a reference?
• Have you ever faced any medical malpractice lawsuits?

Experienced Bay Area Ophthalmologist

San Francisco ophthalmologist Dr. Gary Kawesch is the owner, medical director, and surgical ophthalmologist at the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley. He is board certified and has performed more than 40,000 refractive procedures since Laser Eye Center opened in 1992.

Dr. Kawesch handles all of the laser eye surgery procedures for the San Jose Sharks and Bay Area Raiders. He has helped patients such as Carlos Santana, Russ Ortiz, and Rachel Leigh Cook achieve excellent vision through LASIK surgery.

To learn more about Dr. Kawesch's credentials or to schedule an appointment, please contact our San Francisco ophthalmology office today. Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley serves patients in the San Francisco, Bay Area, and San Jose, California areas.

1.800.725.0740