LASIK Surgery Practice in Washington, DC Discusses How to Choose the Right Surgeon

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - May 1, 2012) - According to the latest statistics from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), over 150 million people in the United States rely on refractive eyewear to improve their vision, spending $15 billion annually on glasses and contact lenses. While glasses and contact lenses can provide clarity and function to a person's life, the vision correction surgeons at Eye Doctors of Washington, a center for LASIK surgery in Tyson's Corner, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC, say patients do not have to depend on the inconvenience and discomfort of eyewear thanks to the number of recent developments in refractive procedures. However, the Tyson's Corner laser vision correction practice says choosing the right surgeon to perform one's procedure is an essential factor in ensuring patients receive the proper care and results.

The AAO statistics show that 800,000 refractive surgical procedures were performed in 2010, a number Eye Doctors of Washington says has been increasing over the past few years as the economy rebounds and more patients become aware of new advancements in techniques and technology. Northern Virginia LASIK surgeons Dr. Thomas Clinch and Dr. Paul Kang confirm this rise in demand and say patients now have an even greater duty to conduct extensive research into their practice. Because of the intricacies of the procedure and the importance of the eyes to everyday life, they say patients should look for several crucial indicators of excellence and proficiency in a practice before undergoing LASIK in Northern Virginia.

As with any medical procedure, Dr. Clinch and Dr. Kang say selecting a surgeon with the proper certification, experience, and credentials can determine the success and safety of one's treatment. Dr. Clinch recommends checking a practice's background and experience in performing the type of procedure one is considering to ensure they are proficient in their techniques and precision. He also says board-certification in ophthalmology signifies a dedication to patient safety and quality results, and adds that he believes fellowship training in cornea treatment, an additional year of clinical work, is also beneficial for better understanding the effects of laser surgery on the healing eye. Dr. Clinch adds that another beneficial way to determine if a practice is the right fit is to talk with patients who have already undergone a similar procedure under that doctor to gain a firsthand account of their experience. However, Drs. Clinch and Kang say each patient has individual needs and goals, so anyone considering a procedure should take time to evaluate their own before making conclusions.

Whether patients are considering LASIK or another refractive eye procedure such as cataract surgery, the Eye Doctors of Washington urge patients to weigh all options before settling on a vision correction practice or eye doctor. Through the skilled hands of a dedicated and personable eye surgeon, Dr. Kang says patients can achieve better vision and a higher quality of life: "Having a successful outcome from surgery is not just a numbers game. It is making sure the results meet patient expectations. For that reason, as a surgeon, getting to know my patients, their job, hobbies, and reasons for wanting surgery are crucial to the process. There is no question that patients should look for doctors who are qualified and have successfully performed many surgeries. In addition, a relationship or partnership with the surgeon will help ensure that expectations are met regardless of whether a patient is a 24 year old applying to be a fighter pilot in the Air Force, or an established 50 year old attorney. At the Eye Doctors of Washington we work hard to provide the best results in a personalized environment."

About Thomas E. Clinch, MD

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Cornell University, Dr. Thomas Clinch earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, where he also graduated with high honors. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the prestigious Wills Eye Hospital as well as a Fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery at the Louisiana State University Eye Center. Dr. Clinch has served in the U.S. Navy as the Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, Naval Hospital, Camp Lejeune, and as an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Utah as Director of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services. He was a clinical investigator in FDA trials to approve LASIK surgery.

Presently, he is the managing partner of Eye Doctors of Washington and has completed over 30,000 eye surgeries. Dr. Clinch is a true innovator in ophthalmology and was the first surgeon in the Washington, DC region to perform LenSX -laser assisted cataract surgery, multifocal intraocular implants, phakic intraocular lenses, intraoperative miniature telescopes for macular degeneration, and Intacs for keratoconus.

He is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. He has served as a past president of the Washington Metropolitan Ophthalmology Society and has been voted one of the Best Doctors and Top Ophthalmologists in America, and well as to Top Doctors by Washingtonian Magazine, and Super Doctors by the Washington Post.

About Paul C. Kang, MD

Dr. Paul Kang graduated cum laude from Harvard University and received his medical degree from Indiana University. He completed his ophthalmology residency at the Duke University Eye Center, in addition to completing a fellowship in cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery at the John Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. Dr Kang has been selected as a Top Doctor from Washingtonian Magazine and a Super Doctor from the Washington Post. Dr. Kang serves as a scientific reviewer for the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and is the past President of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Ophthalmological Society. He is on the Visual Sciences Committee at the National Institute of Health and serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Department of Ophthalmology at Georgetown University and the Washington Hospital Center.

About the Eye Doctors of Washington

The Eye Doctors of Washington has been serving the metropolitan DC area for over 40 years. Founded by a group of professors from the Center for Sight at Georgetown University, doctors with the practice are all board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and fellowship-trained in subspecialties that include corneal and refractive surgery, glaucoma, pediatrics, or strabismus. The Eye Doctors of Washington is also the first practice in Washington, DC to offer the LenSx® laser refractive cataract surgery procedure. It is also the official eye doctors of the Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards.

EDOW has three locations: 2 Wisconsin Circle Suites 200 and 230 in Chevy Chase, MD, reachable at (301) 215-7100; 1016 16th Street NW Lower Level 100 in Washington, DC, reachable at (202) 659-2050; and 8230 Boone Blvd Suite # 125 in Vienna, VA, reachable at (703) 962-7104. It can also be contacted online via the website edow.com or the Eye Doctors of Washington Facebook page.