Knowledge is power, as the old saying goes. This is true, but when considering a doctor for your laser eye surgery, knowledge is also security-you need to be completely convinced that your doctor not only knows what he or she is doing, but is also sensitive to your every concern.

Clear communication and the reassurance of your chosen physician are crucially important, particularly if there is a problem with the procedure or your recovery. Patients who are hurting and scared never wish to feel abandoned by their doctor, so building a good relationship is essential.

Before undergoing any vision correction procedure it is important to study everything about the surgery, especially about any problems that may occur during or after surgery. It is advisable to seek out reports from those patients who did have "negative outcomes," so that you will be fully prepared for any eventuality.

Although there is a virtual mountain of information available at DocShop and other Web sites, the most important information you will have to assess is what your potential LASIK surgeon tells you. There may be scores of questions in your mind, and dozens of ideas about how to choose the surgeon, but you can get started in the process with these seven tips for finding a reputable LASIK surgeon.

1. Do not hesitate to ask tough questions. Ask about everything from the doctor's background and the procedure to follow-up care-and what you can expect from the doctor if something were to go wrong. With proper study and preparation on your part before speaking with potential surgeons, you should be able to gauge the doctor's professionalism and attitude in a short period of time.

2. If the doctor, clinic or office staff seem off-putting and impersonal to you, you should make a note of it. If you feel like you are just a number in an assembly-line procedure, or that you are dealing with a "surgery mill," then look elsewhere. Be sure to trust your intuition, or if yours is undeveloped then bring someone along to help you "feel out" the doctor and the clinic.

3. You want a doctor who will listen to you and see you as an individual, a human being, rather than an earnings entry in his accounting ledger. Therefore, if the doctor acts hurried or seems distracted during your initial meeting, you may take this as an indication of the attitude you will find during and after the laser eye surgery itself.

4. You should check with all of the appropriate medical specialty boards and organizations, and ensure that your potential LASIK surgeon is in good standing. You should also check with the local Better Business Bureau and other financial oversight groups about the doctor's business practices. A surgeon who over charges or whose practice is going bankrupt may not engender the level of trust that you need to have in your doctor.

5. It is essential for the doctor to be honest and forthright about discussing possible problems with the LASIK procedure. If he or she is less than straight forward, or does not seem to want to get into these negative outcomes, then you should take that as a signal that there may be a problem. You shouldn't assume the doctor is inept or unprofessional, but you want more than an average physician on your case-you want the very best.

6. Watch how the first contacts with the doctor and staff go. You must be completely confident that you were fully and correctly examined and questioned. This is essential to establish that you are a good candidate for a laser eye surgery.

7. You must be willing to pay more for quality, especially if you want "the best of the best," and should put additional effort into finding just the right doctor. Once you understand what the range of prices is and the particulars of the outpatient LASIK surgery and after-care, you will know how to rate the doctors that you are considering.