By Debra Gordon

• How many of these procedures have you done? Although there is no absolute number, ideally you should choose a doctor who has performed at least 500, says Dr. Marguerite McDonald, president of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

• Who will handle my preoperative evaluation, postoperative care and follow-up and what are their qualifications? Some doctors turn this part of the care over to other physicians or even optometrists. “Co-management with an optometrist is fine,” says American Academy of Ophthalmology spokesman Dr. James J. Salz, “but don’t rely on the optometrist for a referral to a surgeon, since he or she obviously has a vested interest in who performs the procedure.”

• Is this strictly a refractive surgery center or a full-service ophthalmic practice offering refractive surgery as one of its specialties?

• How many times will I see the doctor prior to surgery?

• What are the qualifications of the person providing follow-up care?