5th Avenue Eye Center

Choosing a cataract surgeon

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How to find the best cataract surgeon

Choose a cataract surgeon in New York New Jersey The process of choosing the right cataract surgeon can be daunting. It can be tough to know whether a doctor’s claims on paper or on a website are actually true. However, there are some sure-fire ways to research the track record of success of any cataract surgeon. Most surgeons will be able to refer you to former clients who have undergone surgical procedures at their facilities. You can also read Internet reviews about doctors to get an idea of what previous patients have experienced.

Often, though, you will have to make an office visit in order to get a feel for the professional nature of the cataract surgeon in whom you’re interested. When you visit, there are several things to keep in mind. It is important that the facility is clean and modern. It is also vital that the staff is courteous and knowledgeable right from the start. If you get a bad feeling sitting in the waiting room, you might want to visit additional offices in order to compare your experiences. A referral from a close friend or associate can also help you narrow your search and provide you with a detailed, personal account of a potential cataract surgeon.

Consultations and Testing

Most cataract surgeons will offer a free consultation in order for you to get an idea of what they would do to correct your vision. The surgeon may also choose to perform several tests to determine the best course of action, including:

a visual acuity test to test the sharpness of your vision,
a slit-lamp examination to allow the doctor to see structures of your eye highly magnified to look for abnormalities, and
a retinal examination using dilating drops to open the pupils to see all of your eye and to check for other conditions, such as glaucoma.

During this visit, you should ask several questions, including what type of procedure would be best for your condition, when the doctor is available for surgery, where the surgery would be performed (on-site or at a hospital) and how much you can expect to pay out of your pocket.

To get ideas about more questions to ask and find out how to search for the most qualified surgeons, visit our page about choosing a LASIK surgeon.

It May Not Be a Cataract

If you believe you have a cataract, it is important that you contact a qualified cataract surgeon to diagnose your particular condition. Sometimes, conditions that present themselves as cataracts may actually be other problems altogether. Cataracts, for example, don’t usually change the look of your actual eye. If you notice redness or other physical changes in your eye, contact your eye doctor for an examination. Similarly, if you experience pain or excessive itching (which are not usually symptoms of cataracts), you will need a professional medical opinion in order to correctly diagnose the issue.

Ilan Cohen MD and 5th Avenue Eye Center

Ilan Cohen MD, 5th Avenue Eye Center | Cataract Surgery Dr. Ilan Cohen is our expert surgeon at the 5th Avenue Eye Center in New York and New Jersey. He has more than 40 years of experience in the ophthalmologic field and is well respected throughout New York as a premier cataract surgeon. He is highly skilled and trained in the most advanced medical techniques to correct vision problems such as cataracts. In addition, Dr. Cohen has trained hundreds of laser eye surgeons through his teaching position at the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.