Posts Tagged ‘LASIK surgeon’

How Come Doctors who Perform LASIK Still Wear Glasses?

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

What an interesting question!

I had LASIK myself 9 years ago, and I’ve asked colleagues who never had it why they haven’t.  Most eye surgeons really believe in the procedure and would have it if they could.  I’ve discovered that most doctors who never had LASIK are not LASIK candidates and wish they were!  The LASIK surgeons I know who have never had the procedure have told me they are not LASIK candidates because their prescriptions are too high or their corneas are too thin.  This has happened enough times that I wonder if having an unusually high prescription or other eye condition is what attracted many people to becoming ophthalmologists in the first place.

Now with the implantable contact lens, there will be more and more people with high prescriptions, including eye surgeons, who are vision correction candidates.

I had LASIK myself 9 years ago, and I’m so glad I did.  I also performed LASIK on my husband and other relatives, so I truly believe that the procedure can change your life.  It certainly has changed mine!  If you’re thinking about LASIK, I’ve been in your shoes, and I can tell you all about my personal experience at your LASIK consultation.

San Diego LASIK Surgeon Makes Lives Better

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

I recently found a note from the wife of a patient, and it reminded me that even though I am a LASIK surgeon who is highly specialized, I am first and foremost a doctor. Because of this, I will often notice serious problems, even if they are not related to vision.

The note below is from the wife of a patient who came in for an eye exam, but after examining and talking to him, I called around and arranged some cardiac tests for him:

“Dear Dr. Nahl
My husband & I would like to thank you for your caring & concern. You were the only one that cared enough to help us get the right tests. Now we finally know what is the matter with him. He has endocarditis & is improving. He still has a long recovery but thanks to you at least he has a chance.”

So, when I say I am first and foremost a doctor, what I mean is that I want to be able to give people a chance—a chance to see better and ultimately to live better. When I became a doctor, I swore always to protect my patients from harm; and that means at the end of the day, I want to go home knowing I’ve improved the lives of my patients—whether that is through a LASIK procedure or making sure they get the tests they need.

For me, being a doctor means I have the honor and the privilege of changing lives for the better.