A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to shadow Dr. Schumer, Ophthalmologist, Founder and Medical Director of ReVision LASIK and Cataract Surgery. I spent some time with him in clinic and in the surgery suite where I was able to witness several procedures first hand.
I’ve worn glasses since I was in Kindergarten so I’ve met my share of optometrists over the years. I was thrilled to get the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see what the eye doctor life is all about. My first observation was that Dr. Schumer’s passion for Ophthalmology and his patients is evident in all of his encounters. I’ve never spent time with a corneal surgeon before and was immediately impressed with Dr. Schumer’s knowledge and experience. He has participated in over 30 FDA studies and is a global teacher, trainer and lecturer in his specialty.
While shadowing Dr. Schumer in the clinic I got to sit in during several follow-up appointments, watch a YAG laser procedure, and hear Dr. Schumer recommend procedures to improve the vision of his patients. I have been dreaming of having LASIK for years and loved getting to learn more about the process from start to finish. ReVision LASIK and Cataract Surgery offers free consultations so anyone can come in and learn about the practice and their options. options. During the visit, you work together with your doctor to determine if LASIK eye treatment is right for you.
After shadowing in the clinic for a few hours it was time to head into the surgery suite. ReVision Lasik and Cataract Surgery is located off Polaris Parkway. Patients come to the same beautiful building for their consultations, follow-ups, and procedures. ReVision specializes in LASIK, PRK, Implantable Contact Lenses, Intacs, Advanced Lens Exchange, Cataract Surgery, Dry Eyes, and Corneal Procedures.
I was surprised to learn that Dr. Schumer performs surgeries “head up”. In heads-up surgery, the surgeon performs microsurgical procedures, not by bending over and looking through the eyepiece of a surgical microscope, but by viewing images sent from a three-dimensional camera on a large flat panel display. This method provides better depth of field visual for Dr. Schumer when looking at the eye. It also minimizes stress on
his back and neck which makes performing surgery much more comfortable. When I entered the OR I was given a pair of 3D glasses so I could see exactly what Dr. Schumer was seeing on the large monitor.
The first few surgeries I got to see were cataract surgeries. A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens. Cataract surgery removes the cataract, and replaces it with a lens implant. As a cataract develops, light does not have a clear path to the back of the eye, and it becomes increasingly difficult for a person to see clearly. The photo below shows a patient with a cataract that has severely compromised his ability to see clearly!
Next up was LASIK surgery, I was particularly excited to see what happens during a LASIK procedure because I’ve been wanting to ditch my glasses and have LASIK myself. The patients are awake during the procedure but they don’t feel any pain or discomfort at all. There are no needles or injections. The procedure starts with a laser creating a flap around the cornea. Once that’s been completed, the patient is moved to another laser where the LASIK treatment begins. With LASIK, a laser is used to reshape the cornea to adjust your eye’s focusing ability. It only takes a few seconds for the laser to correct the vision and then Dr. Schumer puts the flap back in place. The entire procedure takes around 8 minutes per eye. Patients can see better immediately following the procedure and the recovery time is literally overnight.
The ReVision LASIK and Cataract surgery staff understands that your vision is everything. Each and every member of the team is compassionate and excited to assist patients on their journey to better vision. After spending the day with the team I decided to take the leap and scheduled a consultation to find out if I am a candidate for LASIK. I can’t wait to share my personal experience and answer questions about my journey to clear vision!
You can learn more about ReVision Lasik and Cataract Surgery by visiting www.revisioneyes.com
