For many people, the idea of getting laser eye surgery is nerve wracking. It is not because of any fear of technology but instead comes from the sense of protection we all have about an area of our bodies that is so delicate. For that reason alone, private hospitals offering laser procedures to treat eye conditions know that they must assure their patients that they care.
The truth is that providing the expected level of service, in particular for procedures like eye surgery, requires a properly structured and carefully considered system of aftercare. It is expected to such a degree that it is generally offered as standard, helping calm the nerves some may have over such procedures, while also projecting a sympathetic image.
Even experienced ophthalmologists will point out that, in providing full eye care to the general public, there is a need to provide psychological comforts that consumers want to provide a sense of certainty that helps them to feel better about procedures they might be fearful of.
If it comes to a choice between a public hospital with a comfortable bed, and a private hospital where a speedy service sees patients ushered out the door, then the most viable option is the former.
Importance of Aftercare
Of course, the importance of aftercare hardly needs to be pointed out. Everyone that has undergone a surgical procedure needs to be observed and assessed in order to ensure the best possible results. Put simply, the responsibilities of the ophthalmologist that performed laser surgery, and indeed the hospital where it occurred, do not end when the patient gets off the operating table.
Aftercare is available in a number of stages. First, for all post surgery patients, there is need to recuperate under supervision but while this once meant a night or more in a hospital bed, today it means an hour in a lounge. The fact that laser surgery only takes about 20 minutes per eye means that the procedure for the patient is very quickly finished.
But the need to observe matters after the procedure means that the patient must be allowed to wait in a lounge area, where they can relax before going home. It also gives the surgeon an opportunity to speak to the patient and examine the eye again.
The second stage involves returning to the hospital a few days after the procedure so that the surgeon can take another look at how recovery is progressing. Since the patient is able to return to work the day following the procedure, there is a need to maintain a level of vigilance. The surgeon will have already prescribed eye drops to counter the threat of dry eye and soothe any soreness there may be.
The third stage is an essential service, where the hospital provides a 24 hour emergency number so that should anything happen, like an accident or a sudden pain or ill feeling occur, the patient can make contact with their surgeon and be seen as close to immediately as possible.
Investment in Aftercare
The need to invest in a thorough aftercare service can be considered essential for the simple reason that the world of private health is unforgiving to those who fail to provide the peace of mind that all potential patients demand. When it comes to health, everyone wants to know that they are safe entrusting themselves to the surgeons. It is certainly no different when it comes to the eyes.
Providing aftercare service shows the eye hospital to be attentive to patient needs, professional in what they do and certain in their advice and explanation. With these aspects in place, a patient will feel comfortable and confident. For this reason, a leading eye hospital will invest as much in an aftercare service as they will in the state of the art equipment required to perform the surgical procedures.
For patients requiring laser eye surgery, there is every reason to expect the highest standards in service from what should be a well run and well equipped eye hospital. Whether the recommended procedure is refractive lens exchange to correct refractive errors, or cataract surgery to remove a clouded lens, there are clear distinctions between eye car that is excellent and eye care that is merely good.
Anyone seeking eye surgery is entitled to excellence in this field, and to look for it. If laser surgery on our eyes comes with such certainty of quality in aftercare, then it is the most viable option available.
Kate Dawson writes articles about Clarivu, an alternative to laser eye surgery that results in permanent vision correction. The eye surgery involves a procedure known as refractive lens exchange and is based upon cataract surgery. Patients are provided with post surgery eye care to ensure a fast recovery.
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