How to Choose a Cataract Surgeon
Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the US. When the eye’s lens becomes clouded, cataract surgery is the only way to restore your vision. Nothing will make more difference in the results of your cataract surgery than your choice of cataract surgeon, so it’s important to choose carefully. Here are some basic tips for choosing the right cataract surgeon for you.
Get Referrals
If you have friends or family members who have undergone cataract surgery, talk to them about their experience and their results. It’s also important to ask family members how they selected their cataract surgeon, and give more weight to recommendations made by people who chose their surgeon with care.
Next, get a referral or two from your regular eye doctor. Your eye doctor likely knows many of the cataract surgeons in the area and can give an informed recommendation. Don’t forget to ask your doctor why the surgeon is recommended–hopefully your eye doctor will give you more insight into what separates a recommended surgeon from others.
Go Online
Going online allows you to research recommended doctors and find other potential candidates. Check the websites of potential cataract surgeons. You can learn more about their qualifications, their philosophy, and their practice. You are looking for:
- Patient-centered practice
- Small-incision, no-stitch technique reduces recovery time and risk of induced astigmatism
- Experience
- Expertise in working with patients like you (patients with prior eye injury, patients with glaucoma)
- Do they take insurance?
- Can they help with financing options?
You might eliminate a couple of surgeons here or you might add some.
You can also look for online reviews of surgeons. Remember that a single glowing or harsh review should be taken in the context of a surgeon’s overall reviews. Bring up reviews during a consultation but never base your decision on a single online review that may not be legitimate.
Schedule Consultations
Once you have identified a few potential cataract surgeons, schedule consultations with them. You should generally talk to more than one before making a decision. Make sure that you are happy and comfortable with the surgeon. Ask about qualifications and make sure that the responses match your research and that overall you trust the surgeon to handle your vision. If you are comfortable with none of the surgeons you talk to, don’t hesitate to start the process again. You need to find a cataract surgeon that you can trust without reservation.
We encourage you to consider your options carefully, and are confident that our office is one of the best in the New Orleans area. To learn whether our office is the right choice for you, please contact the Eye Surgery Center of Louisiana today for a consultation.