The Importance Of Consistency And Communication

By Author: Lizwana
Total Articles: 11
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During a recent talk in Chicago, I spoke to a number of doctors to educate them on how to achieve the best results from premium lens surgery. Premium lenses are a main component of my anterior segment practice, with about 70% of my patients choosing a premium lens over a standard lens. As with many of my colleagues, the challenge always exists to build confidence and enthusiasm in the technology while balancing appropriate expectations. However, I believe that there are several things you can do to achieve high patient satisfaction rates and build a successful referral network.
The Only Constant is Consistency
In real estate there's location, location, location. In premium cataract surgery, it's consistency, consistency, consistency. It's not about performing procedures quickly. By being absolutely uniform with your surgical technique - from a correctly placed incision and management of astigmatism to a well-centered capsulorhexis and safe phacoemulsification, you'll achieve reliable visual outcomes.
I have implanted all the presbyopia-correcting lenses on the US market, including the TECNIS Multifocal ...
... 1-Piece IOL, with which I have been achieving phenomenal and consistent results. This is the first lens that I've been truly excited about in a long, long time. My results with the TECNIS Multifocal 1-Piece IOL are the best I've achieved to date with premium IOLs - 94% of patients achieved 20/20 or better uncorrected distance and J2 or better uncorrected near. These are some of my happiest patients because they see so well both at distance and near. I've even found that the intermediate is slightly better than with the ReSTOR IOL.
Time Well Spent
Allocating more time for premium lens consultations is critical to achieve better patient satisfaction. In my practice, initial consultations are grouped together on specific days. I begin by reviewing refraction, topography, and IOLMaster calculations, but spend a majority of the time performing my exam and talking about my patients' visual needs, lifestyle requirements, and expectations.
I also use this time to communicate confidence in the advanced technology and outcomes, while setting realistic expectations. I personally discuss the potential need for reading glasses or a second procedure with the patient rather than leaving those conversations to a technician. This also includes discussing the potential for halos and glare with a multifocal lens, and that this should diminish over time. Additionally, it's also important not to ignore astigmatism, even mild cases, and educate patients that this additional procedure is very crucial to achieving the best results possible.
Let Your Patients Do The Talking
We typically schedule consults and postop appointments on the same day, so that new patients are sitting in the waiting room with the current ones who have already had surgery. Often, the postop patients will discuss how happy they are with their vision.
Ask your patients for permission to have new patients contact them about their experience. We now have a few hundred presbyopia-correcting lens patients who are willing to share their experiences with new patients.
Today, a large percentage of my practice consists of referrals. By focusing on consistent surgical technique, and spending some additional time with your patients, they will be happy to refer you to others as well.

For more information about presbyopia-correcting lens please visit www.beverlyhillsvision.com