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O P H T H A L M O L O G Y
out," says John Berdahl, MD, an ophthalmic surgeon with Vance
Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls, S.D. "Then the noise decreases, and
you can focus on the next imperfection," such as the variabilities
involved in selecting the type and power of the intraoperative lens.
• Innovative patient care. "It's a fundamental core belief of our practice, that if there's something we can do a little bit better for our
patients, we're going to do it," says Dr. Berdahl. He notes that the
advance appeal of the technology to patients and their perioperative
and post-discharge satisfaction with the results cannot be discounted.
"The biggest part is understanding the value proposition to the
patient. People are seeking us out for this technology," he says.
Approximately 30% to 40% of the practice's cataract patients go under
the laser. "But even if they don't choose to go with laser, we've found
they feel good that they had that as an available option. And patient
satisfaction means robust business."
"Patients are demanding more freedom from glasses," says Dr.
Rivera, whose practice's specialization in laser refractive procedures
led it to pursue laser cataracts. "The medical outcome [of eye surgery]
is to free patients from cataracts. The refractive outcome is to free
them from glasses. These 2 goals are merging. Femto-phaco is taking
us to that stage."
What are your options?
At present, 4 femtosecond laser platforms have received the U.S.
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | F E B R U A R Y 2013
