| "I
am solely concerned with the long-term ocular health and general
well being of my patients, which is why I do not exclusively perform
surgery."
Since starting my general practice in 1980, refraction
and visual issues have been a primary concern of mine. As a general
ophthalmologist, my practice has always had a broad emphasis on
contact lenses, external and corneal diseases and cataract surgery.
Since completion of my residency and chief residency, I have studied,
investigated and conservatively embraced new technologies, always
using as my guiding principal how would I want myself or a member
of my family treated. Technological breakthroughs have been extraordinary
and have given physicians wonderful opportunities to help their
patients.
With my strong aversion to creating problems
by not being the first one on the block, I have been early (but
not the first in New York) to convert to small incision cataract
surgery, PRK, and then LASIK. By carefully studying the procedures,
attending multiple courses, attending
minifellowships here and abroad, I have been
able to bring my patients these advances with their extraordinary
advantages while achieving an extremely low surgical complication
rate.
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"There is no advantage to anyone
to go to a surgeon who performs 40-80 LASIKs a day."
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My intraocular surgical and refractive laser
practices have developed through referrals of patients and referring
physicians whose referral behavior is determined by one thing—outstanding
results—I am solely concerned with the long-term ocular
health and general well being of my patients, which is why I do
not exclusively perform surgery.
LASIK is technically not a difficult operation.
It takes little time and compared to intraocular surgery, it demands
significantly less dexterity. What it does demand is extreme attention
to detail, i.e. the laser room temperature, the laser room humidity,
the calibration of the laser, follow-up by the surgeon in the
postoperative period, and if necessary aggressive treatment of
postoperative problems. Attention to all these details and performance
of all these actions is not particularly difficult, but it requires
a dedicated, caring, physician who carefully paces himself and
his team. There is no advantage to anyone to go to a surgeon who
performs 40-80 LASIKs a day. One wrong step by a technician or
other staff member could create a very difficult to impossible
problem to correct. An attentive physician will never have this
problem.
LASIK is a wonderful procedure. Its inherent
complication rate is very low as it must be when performing an
elective procedure on healthy eyes. However, under the most ideal
of circumstances, problems can arise which must be handled appropriately
and in a timely manner so adverse results do not occur. It is
the responsibility of the operating surgeon to explain the procedure,
the risks, the benefits and the limitations in a clear manner.
LASIK is only for the motivated
patient. Once someone fully understands the procedure,
experiences no surprises in the operating room and is given careful,
timely postoperative care, the odds of a superb result are outstanding.
Laser
Vision Correction >
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