I have a few questions about cataract surgery - please read!

1. 81

   Say Yes To Lifeposted 9 years ago

   I have a few questions about cataract surgery - please read!
   
   I'm having cataract surgery done in Hilo in a couple days, due to an injury 9 years ago. My doctor said if there is a complication, I will have to be flown to Honolulu 200 miles away for further surgery. My brother, who is also a doctor, says I should cancel and have the surgery done in Honolulu. Is he overreacting? After all, trauma patients are often flown to Honolulu.
   Also, I looked at ratings for my eye doctor, and he ranks 3.2 out of 5. He has had 6 reviews. This ranks as "fair". Should I still go to him, or run the other way?

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2. 88

   innerspinposted 9 years ago

   This is a hard one for other people to answer. My main reactions on reading this are 1) if this is a long standing problem then you don't need to rush the decision
   2) your brother is a doctor - he surely has your best interest at heart, plus he is medically trained. 3) you sound a little unsure about your eye doctor.
   
   I've had cataract surgery and am very pleased with the results. Best of luck for your operation.

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3. 0

   Larry Wallposted 9 years ago

   I had cataract surgery on one eye about eight weeks ago, with the other scheduled for a couple of weeks later but has been postponed twice for various reasons.
   
   I suggest you ask your doctor what complications could developed and could they be aggravated by the delay to the other hospital or by the actual trip. If the answer is yes to either, I would consider being closer to the specialist.
   
   As far as reviews go, I put little faith in them. All doctors do not have a great bedside manner and that get them a bad rating. Some seem to be in a rush when explaining things because their patient load is so high and that gets them a bad online review. If you have concerns about your doctor, check with your state Medical Society to see if there are any outstanding sanctions, complaints, etc. If they will not talk to you, go to the courthouse and have the civil suite section look up his name to see if there are any outstanding lawsuits. If you have been seeing him for years and trust him, go with that.
   
   Your problem is geography. If you were in a major mainland city, the needed specialist might be close by, but by being in Hawaii, physicians are scattered over a large area.
   
   As far as your brother possibly over-reacting--he just want the best care for his sister. You cannot fault him for that. Ask some more questions. Then decide.

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4. 81

   Say Yes To Lifeposted 9 years ago

   Thanks, you guys, for your responses.  I did some research, and realize people in emergency situations, whether through unforeseen surgery complications or accidents, are successfully medivac-ed to Oahu all the time, so I decided to go through the surgery on this island,   All went very well, and now my vision is almost as good as it was before I developed presbyopia.  I see colors with an intensity I never have before.
   P.S.  If you have a cataract, and believe you are colorblind to red, having the cataract removed may very well "cure" it!

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   1. 88

      innerspinposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent! Good to hear.

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   2. 0

      Larry Wallposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Congratulations. I am still waiting to do my second. Had some family issues and then some medical issues that have forced a delay. I hope to get my second one done in the next two or three weeks.

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   3. 81

      Say Yes To Lifeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, both of you!  Larry Wall - best of luck to you!

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