Do you want to know if you qualify for LASIK eye surgery? With the growing popularity of this surgical technique, it's become all the more important to separate the hype from the real facts. You'll definitely need to spend some time learning how to choose a doctor for LASIK eye surgery, to safeguard your eyesight. You'll also need to learn how not to choose a doctor for LASIK eye surgery.

Before you venture any further on the how-tos, here are tips on how not to choose a doctor for LASIK eye surgery.

Don't base your search on which doctor offers the lowest costs for this eye surgery. LASIK is elective surgery and it can be expensive. Make the doctors' skills and experience, the priority in your search. You can easily negotiate with your surgeon about spreading the costs over a specific period. But you can not compromise on your eye sight.

Don't rely on the advertising. A doctor may claim to be using lasers for 15 years; LASIK only got approved for use in 1998, do the math.

Now that you have a better idea of how not to choose a doctor for LASIK eye surgery, here are the tips on how to choose!

1.Do arm your self with the basic facts about the procedure, the limitations and benefits. This makes it easier for you to understand the eye surgeon explanations and questions on your eye sight.

2.Check out the American Academy of Ophthalmology's website at www.aao.org, and do a search on surgeons in your area.

3.Additionally, look for surgeons who are members of the American College of Surgeons. As members of the American college of surgeons, they have to pass a stringent set of standards to be accredited. Even better, those are members of academic medical centers, like teaching hospitals; these institutions are always at the cutting edge of technology and information.

4.Talk to your optometrist and ask her or him, whom he or she would recommend you visit for an initial consultation.

5.Assemble a list of these eye surgeons and go for consultations. It's not so important that you've a long list, rather that you've done the preliminary search narrowing the search to accredited surgeons.

6.Visit the surgeons on the list. Prepare a list of questions and ask these, don't be shy. You have only one pair of eyes, and the LASIK eye surgery procedure changes your vision permanently.

7. Evaluate your impressions of the surgeon. Is there rapport? Do you think you can easily talk to this surgeon about your concerns? If so, then you've found your eye surgeon.