D. Shawn Parker, MD, FACS
Researching LASIK doctors is the most important aspect of the LASIK procedure process! LASIK eye surgery is a safe and effective procedure when performed by an experienced LASIK doctor on good candidates. We encourage you to talk to your regular eye doctor and friends, family, and co-workers who have had LASIK eye surgery. You’ll soon find Dr. Parker is the leading LASIK surgeon in Southeast Missouri and is one of the top LASIK doctors in southern Illinois and western Kentucky.
Get to Know Dr. Shawn Parker
A Kentucky native, Dr. Parker established his practice in Cape Girardeau at Eye Care Specialists in 1998 following his corneal and refractive fellowship in Indiana. Dr. Parker was the first surgeon to perform LASIK in this area. His excellent surgical outcomes and personalized patient care have made him the most chosen LASIK doctor in southeast Missouri.
Corneal and Refractive Specialist
While general ophthalmologists are trained to care for all eye problems and conditions, subspecialists obtain additional knowledge and training in a specific area of eye care. One to two years of additional, more in-depth training, called a fellowship, in one of the main subspecialty areas such as glaucoma, retina, cornea, pediatrics, and plastic surgery, is required. This added training prepares your doctor to take care of more complex or specific conditions in certain areas of the eye. Dr. Parker’s subspecialty is corneal and refractive surgery. LASIK is a type of refractive surgery.
Update: Dr. Parker has been serving patients in Cape Girardeau for over 20 years! Please note we no longer have a pediatric ophthalmologist.
Years of Experience
Eyes Treated†
%
20/25 or Better*
%
Retreatment Rate^
Dr. Parker’s Credentials and What They Mean:
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Board Certified
A surgeon should be board certified. This indicates that beyond his or her basic medical license, an entity recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties has certified the surgeon to practice within his or her specialty. For ophthalmology, this entity is the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). The ABO certifies the surgeon has completed specific training and continuing education related to the specialty.
Fellowship Trained
If a LASIK surgeon is a “corneal sub specialist” or is “fellowship trained”, he or she has undergone an additional 1-2 years of formal academic training in corneal and refractive surgery. A general ophthalmologist can become certified to perform LASIK surgery. However, a corneal specialist has the additional, specialized training in diagnosing and treating corneal conditions and performing refractive surgery.
American College of Surgeons
The suffix FACS indicates that a surgeon is a “fellow” of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The ACS was established in 1913 with the mission to improve the quality of care for surgical patients. The organization sets high standards for surgical education and practice. A fellow of the ACS has passed rigorous evaluation and his or her education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct meet the high standards required by the College.
LASIK Sub-Investigator
Dr. Parker served as a member of the clinical trial team for Chiron Technologies to assure regulation compliance for FDA medical device approval.
Professional Affiliations
Dr. Parker has professional memberships with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), and The Cornea Society. These affiliations help Dr. Parker stay abreast of technological advancements in ophthalmology and corneal refractive surgery. In Addition, he has served as an instructor at the AAO’s annual meeting, training other physicians on microkeratome use in LASIK. Dr. Parker also participates in the EyeCare America volunteer program through the AAO providing vision care to older Americans in need.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Surgeon
Don’t be shy! When you are looking at spending $2.99 for an app on your phone, or even downloading a free app, you often do one thing first: read the reviews! It stands to reason, you want to do your research when choosing a LASIK doctor. Read reviews on Facebook, view testimonials, get your eye doctor’s recommendation, talk to friends, family, co-workers, your hair stylist, patrons in the nail salon, guys at the gym. Talk to the patient care professionals at the ophthalmology practice and do the research on your surgeon. Here are some aspects to consider:
Years of Experience
Some practices have optometrists on staff to perform the pre-operative exam, take your measurements, create your treatment plan, and conduct the post-operative care. Make sure the surgeon is well-established with the practice and is involved with your care from start to finish. Sometimes, a practice hires an outside surgeon using a “roll on / roll off” or portable laser for the day to perform their procedures and you may not even meet him or her until the day of your LASIK eye surgery. Be aware if a practice is advertising “combined” years of experience. Confirm the number of years the your surgeon has been performing LASIK, not the practice as a whole.
Dr. Parker's Experience
Eye surgery is daunting! With Dr. Parker, you meet with the SURGEON. Dr. Parker is involved from your very first visit to our office. He wants to meet you and personally answer any questions you may have to put you at ease and gain your confidence. The pre-operative exam is a thorough 1.5 to 2 hour exam where Dr. Parker reviews your history and checks the health of your eyes from the front part of the eye, the cornea, to the very back of the eye, the retina. As a sub specialist, Dr. Parker has additional specialized skill in refractive surgery and detecting corneal conditions.
Number of Procedures
Query a practice how many procedures the surgeon has performed, not the practice as a whole. How involved is the surgeon in the treatment plan for each procedure.
Dr. Parker's Procedures
Dr. Parker’s lead technician, Lori, has worked with him since his very first procedure! As his lead technician, Lori conducts all of the WaveScans for the treatment plans and meets with each patient to review concerns. On the evening prior to surgery, when the office is empty and quiet, Dr. Parker personally creates and fine-tunes each individual treatment plan. This care and concern Dr. Parker invests in each patient results in exceptional outcomes and very happy LASIK patients!
Surgical Outcomes
Inquire about surgical outcomes of the surgeon. Although 94% of iLASIK patients see 20/20 or better, LASIK does not guarantee 20/20 vision. To drive without vision correction, 20/40 vision or better is required.
Dr. Parker's Surgical Outcomes
Dr. Parker uses the most advanced LASIK technology with the iLASIK procedure. iLASIK has earned FDA approval to correct a broad range of vision imperfections. Before transitioning to a new procedure, Dr. Parker is very conservative and extensively reviews clinical trials and patient satisfaction prior to implementing a new system or method. The combination of iLASIK’s customized WaveScan measurements, accurate Iris Registration, precise IntraLase femtosecond laser, and detailed laser treatment results in Dr. Parker’s excellent outcomes and quality of vision.
Retreatment Rate
Sometimes a second surgery, called a retreatment, may be needed to “tweak” or fine tune your vision within one to two years of the original procedure. This is more likely for people who have a stronger nearsighted prescription, farsighted prescription, or have a higher astigmatism before LASIK — those whose vision originally needed more extensive correction. It is difficult to find an average retreatment or enhancement rate. It can range anywhere from 5 to 15 percent according to All About Vision.
Dr. Parker's Retreatment Rate
We closely track the success, satisfaction, and outcomes of our patients. Dr. Parker’s retreatment rate, the percentage of patients needing a laser touch up within two years of his or her LASIK procedure, is less than 3 percent over the past eight years! His retreatment rate since his very first surgery 17 years ago is under 5%! This rate of success is due to Dr. Parker’s involvement in each procedure from start to finish and the level of quality he demands from the skills and technology of our practice.
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SOURCES / REFERENCES:
† As of November 4, 2015;
* Results calculated from October 2007 to June 2015 patients;
^ Retreatment rate inclusive of patients from October 2007 to June 2015 who had a laser touchup within two years of their original procedure date.
