When choosing an eye surgeon, you will want to know the following:
Surgeon’s qualifications – In Singapore ALL eye doctors or ophthalmologists are certified to perform cataract surgery. There is no additional training needed to perform cataract removal.Although additional training or subspecialization in certain surgical fields such as retina, glaucoma and anterior segment surgery may put the surgeon in a better position to perform more complicated cataract cases. When considering how good the ‘extra’ training your doctor received in these areas of subspecialty is, you may want to know the duration of his/her training overseas and which eye hospital in which country was it done. This will allow you to have an idea of how much surgical hands-on experience your doctor has accumulated.
Surgeon’s characteristics – A few essential characteristics you should look for in your doctor is patience, meticulousness and genuine concern. Your eye doctor should be patient enough to explain to you the procedure, risks and what to expect. If he/she is meticulous enough in your eye examination and consultation, he/she will likely do a meticulous job during surgery. Your eye surgeon should also take extra time to find out your daily activities and personal preferences. In doing so, it shows his/her genuine concern and care towards you and in wanting to get your lens implant fitted to your exact visual needs.
Other patient’s experiences – It would be ideal if you had a relative or friend who has had a good experience undergoing cataract surgery with a particular doctor. However, if you have not, you can search for relevant patient reviews on the internet.
Most importantly, you must feel comfortable with your surgeon and feel safe enough to trust him/her with our eyes.
