So it turns out that you need cataract surgery. Maybe you’ve known for a long time and delayed the decision to have surgery or perhaps you’ve recently been diagnosed and told you need to have surgery soon.
The prospect of having surgery on your eyes can seem very scary. You might ask yourself how you know you are doing the right thing, or wonder whether you should wait for better technology. Would it be a mistake to wait? Will your life be turned upside down by having surgery? Maybe your friend or relative has the same diagnosis but was offered different options and it’s got you questioning whether you have the right doctor. Here are a few tips that might help alleviate some worries and concerns about the prospect of eye surgery.
- Make sure you are comfortable with your eye surgeon.Trust is key in proceeeding with any type of care between patient and doctor. Do research on the surgeon and interview him/her. You should feel comfortable asking questions.
- Trust that the doctor knows what recommendations are best for your eye and your situation, but ask questions! What works for one set of eyes may not work as well for another. For example, one patient might be a candidate for a multifocal implant for their cataract surgery while another patient might not be ideal to receive that same implant.
- If there is more than one eye problem, such as cataracts and glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, or cataracts with corneal problems, you may want to make sure you are seeing the best doctor for that particular combination of problems. Sometimes it is best for a doctor with a certain subspecialty to perform the procedure. For example, Dr. Edmonds (cornea specialist) might recommend Dr. Frame (glaucoma specialist) as a more appropriate surgeon due to your glaucoma diagnosis and may refer you to him so that you can receive the best possible care for your situation.
- If your optometrist recommends a certain doctor over another, know that the optometrist gets no kick backs for referring to one over another. Your optometrist knows who may be able to help give your eyes their best potential outcome after surgery.
If choosing a surgeon at Milwaukee Eye Care, it is important to remember that we have cataract surgeons who also specialize in Cornea, Glaucoma and Retina care.
Written by Bart W., Technician with Milwaukee Eye Care
