Did you know that Medical Eye Center is one of Southern Oregon’s premier eye care centers? With a legacy spanning an impressive 100 years, we have provided our patients with an expert level of care and compassion for decades. However, you may not realize that we also offer surgical services in addition to traditional eye care (such as eye exams and optical services). If your eye doctor has recommended an upcoming eye surgery, you will likely want to know what surgery center might be the best option. Here are some questions for you to consider as you make this critical decision for your eye health:
1) Do I feel comfortable at the facility?
Many patients visit or interview multiple surgery centers before deciding where they will have their procedure. It’s important to note how you feel when you enter a surgery center…do you feel comfortable and welcomed? Did the staff greet you when you arrived and helped you understand where to go? Feeling rushed or overlooked are immediate red flags that set a frustrating precedent for your visit. Because the day of surgery can bring up natural feelings of anxiety or the unknown, you want your surgery center to feel calming.
2) Were my questions answered?
During your initial visit or consult, you may have questions about what to expect or the steps involved in the surgery. It is helpful to bring a written list on your phone or a piece of paper to cover your concerns. If you’re wondering what questions are helpful before booking a specific procedure, here are some suggestions:
- What are the risks and benefits of this procedure?
- Will you be in contact with my primary eye doctor (if you are typically seen elsewhere and were referred)?
- What doctors or staff will be doing my surgery and monitoring my recovery?
- What kind of follow-up care should I expect?
3) How often has the surgery center’s surgeon/eye care provider performed this surgery?
Experience is vital when achieving the best outcome possible for your vision. Many studies indicate that one of the primary determinants of a more positive surgical outcome is a surgeon who has done the procedure a significant amount of times. At Medical Eye Center, our expertly trained surgeons have performed over 17,000 successful cataract surgeries, which places them among the most experienced in the nation.
4) Did the eye care provider make promises they can’t guarantee?
It’s essential to be realistic about the risks and benefits of each procedure. If your eye care provider has promised you “perfect vision” or something similar, assessing whether they have given you all the information is essential. Eye surgeries are complex, and your provider should be able to recommend what kinds of results you might achieve (such as improved vision, etc.) but shouldn’t guarantee your after-surgery vision. This can be a red flag indicator that they may not be giving you everything you need to know.
5) Did you receive the information about lenses?
If you are undergoing cataract surgery, your eye care provider should help guide and consult you about which lens you will receive. After reviewing the overall health of your eyes, your surgeon will discuss your options and help you choose the intraocular lens (IOL) that best fits your individual needs and lifestyle. While no lens implant can re-create the vision of a 20-year-old, many patients report being able to read the newspaper, restaurant menus, and food labels without glasses after receiving Custom IOL implants—all in addition to the clearer distance vision that regular cataract surgery provides (Source). At Medical Eye Center, we also offer patients single-focus intraocular lenses. During your consultation, your eye doctor will work with you to decide which lens is best for you.
6) Is the facility accredited?
It’s crucial to entrust your eye health to a surgery center that has been vetted and is under the supervision of a governing body. This ensures that safety standards are being met and overseen regularly. Medical Eye Center opened its ambulatory surgical center in 1996 and was one of the first centers accredited by the AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care). The facilities have “demonstrated a commitment to providing safe, high-quality services to its patients— every day of the 1,095-day accreditation cycle. This is recognized by third-party payers, medical professional associations, liability insurance companies, state and federal agencies, and the public” (Source).
All eye surgery centers do not offer the same care. The surgery centers that will give you high-quality care will meet the standards listed above and make you feel like a priority as a patient. If you have upcoming eye surgery, consider Medical Eye Center and its outstanding, caring staff. Reach out today to get your consultation started.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-07838-5
https://www.aaahc.org/accreditation/
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