More than 24 million Americans aged 40 or older have cataracts, as do approximately half of all people aged 75 or older. If that includes you, you’ll need surgery to replace your cataract-damaged eye lens with an artificial lens implant, and for that, you’ll want to select one of the area’s top cataract surgeons.
To make an informed choice, start by asking your ophthalmologist these three questions:
1. What Can You Tell Me About Your Training and Certifications?
Becoming an ophthalmologist requires years of rigorous medical training. A qualified eye surgeon will gladly share with you where they attended medical school as well as where they completed their internship and residency. Once practicing, ophthalmologists undergo extensive continuing education throughout their careers to keep up to date with the latest advances in the field. You will also want to ensure your eye surgeon is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). As the industry’s leading accrediting body, the ABO holds its members to the highest professional standards.
2. How Many Successful Cataract Surgeries Have You Performed?
Having an experienced surgeon is crucial for any procedure, and especially for cataract surgery. Your eyes are extremely delicate and thus deserve to be cared for by the skilled hands and wise choices of a surgeon who has delivered successful outcomes for hundreds or even thousands of patients. Ask the ophthalmologist about his surgical outcome history. While cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures in the world, it never hurts to hear directly from the surgeon that he has a proven track record of success.
3. Do You Offer Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery?
Laser-assisted cataract surgery is more precise than a traditional cataract surgery procedure, but not every eye surgeon has the technology or training to offer it. A laser-assisted surgery system like LenSx uses half the ultrasonic energy required for traditional surgery, which translates to less risk and inflammation. Guided by the hands of an experienced cataract surgeon, patients who opt for laser-assisted cataract surgery can look forward to faster, pain-free recovery, with many reporting improved vision before even leaving the recovery room.
In Gainesville, Dr. Gregory Snodgrass and Dr. Todd J. Endicott of North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care have collectively performed more than 20,000 successful cataract surgeries, and Dr. Snodgrass was the first local surgeon to use the LenSx laser cataract surgical system.
If you or a loved one is suffering with cataracts, contact the top cataract surgeons of North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care today at 352-373-4300 to schedule a consultation.