Posted by: Mann Eye in Cataracts, Eye Health, LASIK, News and Events
Is Now a Safe Time to Have Eye Surgery?
Things we didn’t see a lot of this spring and early summer: elaborate promposals, graduation parties and pictures of your friend’s vacation in the south of France. Things we did see a lot of: face masks in every pattern imaginable, empty toilet paper aisles at Target and press conferences with Texas Governor Greg Abbott explaining his latest executive order.
With several executive orders coming out of the Governor’s office this spring and summer, it can be hard to keep up with what we can and can’t, should and shouldn’t do during the year of COVID-19. Governor Greg Abbott has issued several executive orders surrounding the closing and opening, then the reclosing and reopening of Texas, as we attempt to figure out how to live and function in the days of the world health pandemic of 2020.
His recent executive order, Executive Order GA-27, was issued in response to the need for increased hospital capacity to help in managing COVID-19 cases in the state. GA-27 mandated that, until further notice, hospitals must postpone all surgeries/procedures which are not medically necessary to diagnose or correct a serious medical condition or to preserve the life of a patient in certain Texas counties.
The order has understandably caused some confusion around the issue of elective surgeries and we’d like to address it. The goal of the executive order is to preserve hospital bed capacity (and not because any procedures have been deemed unsafe). It does not apply to outpatient procedures performed in clinics, surgery centers, etc.
At Mann Eye Institute, we perform our modern cataract surgery procedures at certified Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC), not in hospitals. And we perform LASIK in our own in-office surgical suites. We adhere to the highest standards in every category, including cleanliness and safety. Two things we know are on everyone’s minds these days.
ASCs and In-Office Surgical Suites vs. Hospitals
If you have scheduled a medical procedure like cataract surgery at this time, an ASC might just be the safest place for you to receive the care you deserve. We’d even go so far as to say you’re safer at an ASC than in a hospital. Why? Because our ASCs do not treat sick patients.
Also, ASCs are held to extremely high safety standards. They are highly regulated healthcare facilities under normal circumstances and must comply with all kinds of statutes and regulations at the federal and state level. Thanks to COVID-19, ASCs are being held to even more stringent requirements for safety and infection prevention than before.
At Mann Eye Institute, we are pleased to perform all LASIK procedures in the comfort and safety of our on-site laser suites. Our LASIK suites in Houston and Austin have always been safe and clean places, and we’re taking additional measures during this time.
Eye Surgery in 2020—A Safe Choice
Advances in technology have made what are already safe and successful eye procedures safer than ever. Of course, no surgery is without risks, but cataract surgery and LASIK enjoy impressive track records.
More than two million men and women undergo cataract surgery every year, making the procedure one of the most common and most successful medical procedures in the U.S. today.
At Mann Eye Institute, we perform laser-assisted cataract surgery. This advanced approach improves the precision of many key surgical steps and customizes the procedure to provide the opportunity for more desirable visual outcomes and potentially make cataract surgery simpler, with fewer complications and faster recovery.
And LASIK? This is the most popular form of vision correction surgery in the world! It’s generally very safe and effective with very few side effects or downtime. From our state-of-the-art laser platforms and diagnostic tools to the experience of our surgeons, there’s never been a better time in history to have laser vision correction at Mann Eye Institute than today.
Need one more reason to consider eye surgery now? Time. If you’re like many Americans, you may find that you have a little more time on your hands than you normally do. With no sporting events, school functions and concerts to attend, no flights to catch and vacations to take, it just may be the ideal time to invest in yourself and take hold of the restored and improved vision you deserve.
Why Not See Life Better Now?
Please know that at Mann Eye Institute, your health and wellbeing is vitally important to us. Especially at this time, we are taking every precaution necessary and watching national, state and local orders closely.
If we may serve you at this time, we’d be honored. Schedule your cataract or LASIK evaluation today.