6 Ophthalmology Business • September 2016
by Liz Hillman Staff Writer
When the doctor
becomes the patient
"I looked around at refractive
surgeons wearing glasses trying to re-
cruit patients, and it seemed absurd,"
said John Sheppard, MD, Virginia
Eye Consultants, Norfolk, Virginia,
who had PRK in the 1990s. He called
his decision to have refractive surgery
the "ultimate endorsement" for the
procedure.
But he did it first and foremost
to ditch his glasses.
"It was extremely annoying
wearing glasses in the operating
room. My glasses would fog up and
I would have to get right up against
O
phthalmologists
are no strangers
to comments like
these from happy
refractive surgery
patients, but these quotes come from
surgeons themselves who have made
the decision to become the patient.
Not only did these ophthalmolo-
gists have excellent outcomes freeing
them from glasses and contacts, but
they found turning the tables and
becoming the patient gave them
insight into the surgical experience,
not to mention a level of credibility.
Ophthalmologists
gain new insights,
empathy after
undergoing ocular
surgery themselves
"
One of the best decisions
that I've ever made.
"
"
I couldn't have done it
soon enough.
"
"
I was delighted to be rid
of the glasses.
"
