Recommended cataract surgeon

The best cataract surgeons

Ahead of cataract surgery it is advisable to make sure that whoever performs the surgery is a recommended cataract surgeon with extensive experience in performing the procedure, since after all this is an ocular operation with risks (like any medical procedure). It is hard to say who the best cataract surgeons are, since surgeons do not publish their results to the general public.

I was told that cataract surgery is an easy and safe operation — is it important to be operated on by a cataract specialist?

Cataract surgery is a common operation during which the cloudy lens of the eye (the cataract) is removed and replaced with a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL), which allows light rays to enter and reach the back of the eye – the retina. The retina is the neural layer that converts the light it receives into an output the brain can read to build the image we see. Even though this is a common operation, every operation has complications, and it is important to choose the right surgeon to perform the procedure so that it is successful and accompanied by as few side effects as possible. Today the market offers many options, including ophthalmologists who work with the health funds, with private insurance companies, and privately. Beyond the financial consideration, there are several considerations in choosing the right surgeon, including experience, geographic location and the technologies they use and are skilled in. The surgeon must tailor the treatment personally to the patient – in terms of medical background and the condition of the eye – thereby ensuring better outcomes and reducing the risk of complications.

Recommended cataract surgeon

One of the common ways today to find a recommended operating physician is the internet. A search in the various search engines returns plenty of results with comprehensive and accessible information, including information about specialist ophthalmologists. You can check where they acquired their education and completed their residency and fellowship (if they specialize in a specific field), details of the positions they held, and reviews and recommendations from other patients.

When setting out to choose a surgeon, there are several details worth checking and taking into account:

Online reviews – Today we increasingly rely on reviews regarding service providers, and the information is plentiful and accessible. It is worth remembering that reviews are written based on the personal and subjective experiences of patients, so relying on them alone may be misleading when choosing a surgeon. That said, reviews can provide a sense of patient satisfaction regarding particular surgeons and serve as a good basis for selecting candidates for further inquiry.

Recommendations – You can check with family members and friends who have undergone cataract surgery. Given how common the operation is, it is very likely that acquaintances will be found who have already been operated on in one eye or both and can recommend the surgeon.

The technology the surgeon uses – In an era when technology is advancing and developing rapidly, the surgeon's ability to use it may be an important parameter in decision-making. First, it is worth deciding whether you want a traditional intraocular lens – monofocal, which will require eyeglasses after surgery, or a multifocal lens that may spare the need for them, according to the patient's needs. Also, not all surgeons offer cylinder (astigmatism) correction by means of a dedicated lens or by laser, or the performance of cataract surgery with laser technology, which improves the precision and the outcomes of the operation and reduces the risk of developing complications – and this too should be taken into account.

Consultation – As part of the stages of the process, a pre-surgery consultation is held in which there is an opportunity to form an impression of the surgeon and their personal manner, and in this way one can get an impression of several surgeons in order to choose the most suitable one. This meeting also provides an opportunity to form an impression of the medical center where the service will be provided and to meet the entire team. An unsuitable or inattentive team can make the treatment experience and the post-surgery follow-ups unpleasant regardless of the outcome of the surgery itself, and therefore a good feeling with the whole treating team, and not only with the surgeon, is important.

Cost, private medical insurance or a health fund – These are important considerations. The health funds offer the operation in its basic format at no cost, but if the patient wants add-ons such as laser-technology surgery or more advanced lenses, a co-payment by the patient will be required, and the costs vary from fund to fund according to its terms as well as according to the type of insurance within the fund (for example Meushlam, Platinum, Gold, etc.). If the patient chooses to be operated on privately, they may receive a monetary reimbursement up to a certain amount from private insurance, if insured. Here too the terms vary between the different insurance companies. The location of the clinic is also a parameter that will affect the pricing of the surgery, as in the periphery the cost may be lower. For this reason it is important to conduct market research and evaluate all the available options. Some patients will prefer to travel farther, while for others convenience and proximity are more important than cost. It should also be taken into account that there may be additional costs later on beyond the cost of the procedure itself, such as follow-up visits, or, if complications arise that require further treatment. It is advisable to clarify in advance what follow-up is required, its cost, and how matters are handled if further interventions are indeed needed later.