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PHACO HANDPIECE
REPAIR
Complete
handpiece
rebuild on most
major brands
Call AOI for Information
800.576.1266 or 949.580.1266
O P H T H A L M O L O G Y
how many patients would opt for the
procedure upgrades.
The Center for Sight has been performing
laser cataract surgery for about a year now,
with nearly 70% of patients opting for upgraded refractive packages that include the laser,
which has exceeded Mr. Dawes's expectations.
You can't charge patients out of pocket for
using the laser platform during cataract surgery, unless it's used in conjunction with presbyopia-correcting IOLs or the treatment of
astigmatism. But patients know femtosecond
lasers are the top-of-the-line technology, so
they seek it out.
"It has a 'wow' factor that really helps our
marketing efforts," says Mr. Dawes. The laser
component of surgery is set up in an area of
his facility where patients' escorts can
observe the action. "We're very much into
allowing friends and families to share the surgical experience. It goes a long way in selling
our services to potential patients."
Mr. Dawes points out that laser cataract surgery hasn't yet been proven to be safer than
conventional manual surgery — cataract surgery is already the safest procedure performed in the United States, he says. "But we
believe lasers help produce better visual outcomes for patients who want to reduce their
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 | O C T O B E R 2013
