Pre- and Post-op Care
We work with many different eye surgeons (ophthalmologists) from many different practices for all surgical needs. Depending on the situation and what is best for the patient, we can provide the pre-op care, the post-op care, or both.
Overview
There are many different eye surgeries, some of which are medically necessary and some of which are elective. Regardless of the situation, we'll work to find the right surgeon for you and provide the right care for you before and after surgery.
LASIK
LASIK and other refractive surgeries such as SMILE, PRK, and ICLs, can be a great option for the right candidate. It all starts with the proper screening - the doctor will take non-routine, advanced measurements of your cornea including topography, pachymetry, wavefront analysis, cycloplegic refraction, and more. Along with relevant history and other data, they then can determine if you're a good candidate and refer you to one of the surgeons in our network. Post-op care is relatively short and straightforward, making sure the cornea is healing in the right direction and the new vision is close to 20/20.
Cataracts
Pre-op care for cataracts is similar to LASIK, where the doctor takes advanced measurements of your eye to determine how much prescription will need to be corrected. In addition, the doctor will also carefully look at eye health, medications, history, and more to determine if the procedure will go safely and smoothly, as well as the recovery. Post-op care looks at the implant placement, scarring, and healing response, and is usually done in 2-3 visits per procedure.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma can either be treated with medication eye drops or surgery, both of which lower the eye's pressure (IOP). There are many types of glaucoma surgery that are used based on severity, but all lower IOP. Post-op care assesses the new IOP, healing response, scarring, and stability.
Cross-Linking
Almost exclusively for corneal ectasia patients (i.e. keratoconus, etc.), cross-linking was a major breakthrough when it was FDA approved in 2015. Pre-op care makes sure threshold criteria are met such as age, progression amount, history, and others, and also takes baseline measurements for comparison. Post-op care compares those measurements to baseline, and also assesses healing, haziness, and overall comfort.
Cosmetic
The most common cosmetic surgery done for the eyes is blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Pre-op care uses special testing to determine what you qualify for, as insurance can possibly cover most of the procedure. Post-op care revolves around the healing process, and determining if any adjustments need to be made post-healing.
Minor Procedures
Some minor procedures can be done in office with just local anesthetic and no need for an operating room. Some procedures can be performed by our doctor such as foreign body removal, lacrimal I&R, and epilation, while others will be referred to a surgeon such as skin tag removal and chalazion injection. Recovery for these procedures is generally much easier and quicker than standard surgeries.