|Articles|March 10, 2015

Managing the dissatisfied multifocal IOL patient

Implant exchange in multifocal IOL recipients unhappy with their vision is better performed sooner rather than later. It is even better to avoid the exchange whenever possible by identifying and addressing a treatable cause for the patient’s complaints.The best strategy of all is to prevent dissatisfaction in the first place by attention to patient selection and preoperative management, said Stephen G. Slade, MD.

Houston-Implant exchange in multifocal IOL recipients unhappy with their vision is better performed sooner rather than later. It is even better to avoid the exchange whenever possible by identifying and addressing a treatable cause for the patient’s complaints.

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The best strategy of all is to prevent dissatisfaction in the first place by attention to patient selection and preoperative management, said Stephen G. Slade, MD.

“Some patients will never be satisfied with a multifocal IOL because of their visual needs or ocular comorbidities,” said Dr. Slade, private practice, Slade and Baker Vision, Houston.

“Therefore, it is important to determine a patient’s suitability preoperatively by taking a careful history and performing a comprehensive examination.

Further reading: Patient criteria vital to VMA success

“Thorough history and examination are also important when a patient presents with complaints after surgery to help the surgeon understand the nature of the problem and its possible cause,”

 he continued.

Dr. Slade also noted that surgeons might see multifocal IOL patients on referral that clearly should undergo IOL exchange.

 

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