Navigate your journey to clearer vision with expert pre and post-surgical care in Edmonton. Whether you are considering LASIK or preparing for cataract surgery, our team at Ambleside Family Optometry provides comprehensive co-management services. We work closely with Edmonton’s top surgeons to ensure your recovery is smooth, safe, and successful.
Many advanced vision corrections involve a collaborative care model known as co-management. This means that while a specialized surgeon (ophthalmologist) performs the procedure, your local optometrist handles the essential preparatory work and the majority of your recovery sessions. At Ambleside Family Optometry, we provide a convenient and familiar setting for your post-operative checkups, ensuring that your healing is monitored with the highest level of clinical detail.
LASIK and Laser Vision Correction
If you are tired of relying on glasses or contact lenses, laser vision correction may be an excellent option. However, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. Our optometrists act as your primary resource for:
- Candidacy Assessment: Not everyone is a candidate for LASIK. We evaluate your corneal thickness, prescription stability, and eye health to determine if you are a good fit.
- Education and Referrals: We discuss the various types of laser surgery, including LASIK and PRK, along with the potential benefits and risks. When you are ready to proceed, we provide a direct referral to a trusted Edmonton surgical center.
- Post-Operative Monitoring: Following a successful surgery, you will return to our Ambleside clinic for follow-up care. Approximately 3 to 6 weeks after your procedure, our optometrists will monitor your visual acuity and the overall health of your eyes to ensure the surgical outcomes meet expectations.
Cataract Surgery Co-Management
Cataracts are a natural part of aging where the eye's internal lens becomes cloudy, leading to blurred vision and increased glare. Surgery is the only way to restore clarity.
The Post-Surgical Process:
- Surgeon Transition: After an uneventful cataract surgery, your ophthalmologist may request that the remainder of your follow-up appointments be completed at our clinic.
- Healing Assessment: Approximately 3 to 6 weeks after your surgery, our optometrists perform a thorough examination to monitor the healing process and ensure there is no inflammation or elevated eye pressure.
- Post-Op Refraction: Once the eye has stabilized, we perform a precise refraction to determine your new vision requirements. Many patients find they only need light reading glasses or minimal correction after their cataracts are replaced with high-tech intraocular lenses (IOLs).
- Direct Communication: Results from every follow-up visit at Ambleside Family Optometry are communicated back to your surgeon to ensure your medical file is consistently updated.
Why Choose Co-Management at Ambleside?
Co-managing your surgery with your local optometrist offers several benefits:
- Convenience: You can attend the majority of your follow-up appointments at our Southwest Edmonton office, saving you travel time to specialized surgical centers.
- Familiarity: Our doctors already know your ocular history and baseline vision, allowing them to spot subtle changes in your recovery more easily.
- Integrated Care: We handle all the paperwork and communication with your surgeon, ensuring a seamless transition from the operating room back to primary care.
- Long-Term Health: We transition you back into your regular annual eye health routine once your surgical recovery is complete.
Surgical Care FAQs
Is the cost of surgical follow-ups covered? Post-operative care for cataract surgery is typically included as part of the medically necessary care partially covered by Alberta Health Care. For elective procedures like LASIK, the cost of follow-up care is often included in the total surgical fee you pay to the laser center.
How soon after surgery will I see clearly? For LASIK, many patients notice improved vision within 24 hours. For cataract surgery, it may take a few days for the vision to stabilize as the eye heals and the brain adjusts to the new lens.
What if I have complications after my surgery? As your primary eye care providers, we are trained to identify and manage common post-surgical issues. If a serious complication arises, we have emergency referral pathways to get you back to your surgeon or an eye hospital immediately.