“Do we practice medicine in the spirit of Hippocrates, or do we sell used cars?”  Douglas D. Koch, MD

LASIK advertising has become an embarrassment to the field of ophthalmology. Patients are enticed into a risky, unnecessary surgery by aggressive and deceptive advertising. LASIK advertising portrays the surgery as virtually perfect and risk-free. When patients call LASIK providers for information or to schedule a consultation, they are subjected to high-pressure sales tactics. Some LASIK surgeons violate AMA ethics rules by offering financial incentives for referrals.