Herzig Eye Institute

Why “convenience” is too light a word

by Cherry Tabb | Be the first to add a comment »

If you haven’t had vision correction surgery, you probably think most patients are motivated by convenience: that they’re simply tired of dealing with the hassles of contact lenses and glasses.  But you’d only be seeing part of the picture.

Convenience is certainly a big factor, and it’s certainly something most patients rave about, but when it comes to what actually motivates people to move from thinking about vision correction to scheduling a surgery, convenience simply isn’t the primary motivation.

I know this because it’s my habit to ask new patients how and why they made the decision to have vision correction surgery; how long they took to finally decide and what the final factors were that moved them to come in for a consultation.

For most, it has to do with confidence – in the most important and basic sense of the word. In fact, I’ll never forget this one lady’s answer to my question.  Her answer rather dramatically illustrates this point, but the underlying emotions are common to most patients.

First you have to understand that with her uncorrected vision, this lady couldn’t see the big E on an eye chart.  And so she was on vacation in the Bahamas with 2 young kids and when she was on the beach with them and playing in the water, she ended up getting sand in her contacts.  Of course, she had to pull her contacts out right away and as a result she could no longer see her kids!

I’m a mother and my heart stopped a beat when she said that to me.  I’m sure any parent can empathize.  But the thing is, although in a less dramatic manner, most us have had similar moments – times when the hassle of glasses and contact lenses becomes more than a hassle or a distraction.  Times when you really feel unsafe because of it.

So for many of our patients, that really is both one of the big emotional benefits of, and primary motivations for having, vision correction surgery.  It’s not just the convenience of being free of a burden or hassle that you hate; it’s also feeling more confident and safe, knowing that you’re no longer dependent on what can be some often-unreliable aids in order to see well and negotiate the world around you, knowing that you’re not going to be caught off guard.

If you’re considering or even just curious about vision correction surgey and you’ve had – or would prefer not to have – an experience like that, I personally invite you to come in to Herzig Eye Institute for a complimentary consultation. You’ll get a complete eye-mapping and measurement, you’ll get to meet with the surgeon to discuss your situation and your recommended procedure, and you’ll leave knowing everything you need to in order to make the best decision possible.

Also, even though we’re located in beautiful downtown Toronto, we are well equipped to conduct a remote assessment and facilitate decisionmaking and surgery.  In fact, Since both the Institute and Dr. Herzig enjoy an international reputation, we’re actually quite accustomed to this process and have treated folks from all over Canada, the US and 20 different countries.

And the assessment, in all it’s forms, is entirely complimentary.  We feel compelled to provide prospective patients with the right information and to absorb the cost of doing it so everyone potential candidate knows they have access to that information without any strings being attached to it.

They’re your eyes – of course you have strong emotions!

by Cherry Tabb | Be the first to add a comment »

Imagine how you’d feel upon regaining your color vision, if (hypothetically) you ever had to experience the world in only black and white.   No longer needing help color-coordinating your clothes wouldn’t be anything close to your main point of excitement, would it?  That kind of practical effect would pale in comparison to the experience of having your world re-saturated with color.

If you’re not sure whether detail, texture, and clarity carry any less emotional impact as color, you need to watch this video…

But the delight that comes with improving clarity of vision is always preceded by the apprehension of scheduling eye surgery.  It’s more than an intellectual decision; your eyes are priceless.  And if you look at this same patient, Laurie McCurlie, just prior to her surgery, you’ll see just how much goes into that decision:

The Importance of a Thorough Consultation

What you may also have noticed was how important it was for Laurie to have met with her surgeon, to have confidence in him, and to have confidence in everything that went into the selection of the right procedure for her unique set of eyes.

Simply put, you have to resolve your apprehensions about eye surgery before you will feel confident enough to schedule your procedure.  And a simple “screening” process won’t address the emotion behind those apprehensions. You need a thorough consultation at a medical facility that understands what you’re going through.

Because I was a vision correction patient myself before co-founding The Herzig Eye Institute, I lived through the same anticipation you saw in Laurie.  So I have used that insight and empathy to ensure that our clients feel comfortable and cared for – that you will have the confidence that comes from knowing your eye surgeon has planned a procedure customized to your unique eyes and vision requirements.  If you review the video, you’ll notice Laurie talking about gaining comfort through understanding the procedure, seeing it first hand, and gaining confidence in her surgeon.

If you are in the position that Laurie was in, I personally invite you to come in for a comprehensive, complimentary consultation.  At the end of it, you’ll have both the knowledge and the confidence to make the right decision for you.

P.S. It’s also worth noting that these video clips are excerpts from The Herzig Eye Institute’s 1999 television program educating viewers about Laser Vision Correction.  With technological advancements and innovations developed at The Herzig Eye Institute, people who were once deemed as non-candidates are being re-evaluated and learning they have new options.

Why Your Surgeon’s Work Environment Matters

by Cherry Tabb | Be the first to add a comment »

Dr. Herzig and I co-founded Herzig Eye Institute because we wanted to combine the very best vision-correction technology, the most skilled eye surgeons, and an organization/culture capable of bringing out the very best in the surgeons.  We knew that if we could create a great work environment for the staff, that the caliber of people we hired would respond by providing excellent visual outcomes in an incredibly comforting, reassuring atmosphere.

A lot of organizations get that one backwards and it never works; you simply can’t expect great customer service and patient care from staff that aren’t experiencing that same level of support from leadership.  Workplace culture ultimately determines quality of work, and any organization that’s known for world class customer service and operational excellence will tell you that, like The Four Seasons, the Ritz Carlton, Cleveland Clinic, for example.

For us, where this really comes through is in the way our surgeons and staff respect patients’ concerns and emotional sensitivity that are a natural and understandable part of eye surgery.  Your eyes are priceless, so of course you’re going to have lots of questions because you want the very best care for your vision.   You should have lots of questions!  And of course you’ll want to talk with the surgeon before hand, to go over everything and have confidence that you are in competent and compassionate hands.

Because our surgeons have access to the most advanced diagnostic and treatment planning technology, coupled with a consciencious support staff, optometrists and surgeons have the tools and the time they need to give patients personalized care.  They can re-check and double check your measurements, your vision history, and really ensure that you walk out with a recommendation that’s right for your unique situation, confident that you know everything needed to make the very best decision.

And you better believe that this matters to the surgeons.  Any eye surgeon capable of performing at the highest levels wants to:

• have control of his/her environment and schedule
• see the positive impact of his/her work on the patients
• know that he’s giving each patient the very best care possible

When great surgeons have those needs met, and know they’re working for a world-renowned institution and doing first-rate work… well, how could that NOT impact their work?  And vice versa.  I simply wouldn’t want to trust my eyesight to a surgeon who didn’t have this kind of work environment.  And I’d highly recommend that you refuse to trust your eyesight to anything less.

Best of all, this level of personal attention that is given to you, to your unique vision requirements, and to the safety of your eyesight is shared by every single member of my staff.  This is something that everyone who walks though the doors experiences at an emotional and visceral level.

At Herzig Eye Institute, we take your concerns and questions very seriously, and we do everything the way we’d want it done if we were the patient – which is why most of the staff have either chosen or recommended us for their own and for loved one’s vision correction.

In contrast, there are a fair number of vision or Lasik centers out there that operate with a high-volume, low-cost business model.  In order to keep their costs down, they often skip over important consultation processes that insure proper recommendations that match the right procedure with the right patient and provide only quick “screenings” to find out who might be candidates.  This can often result in patients not receiving the right treatment.

If you feel rushed through the process and end up with unanswered questions and concerns as a result, you will likely feel nervous.  And you should.  I believe that you owe it to yourself to investigate your options, have things thoroughly explained to you by the surgeon who will be performing the surgery, and have clarity about your options.  This is all part of a normal, informed consent process.

Dr. Herzig and I co-founded Herzig Eye Institute specifically to provide a place that does take you and your concerns seriously and that refuses to compromise on any aspect of that.   And this blog is designed to tackle many of the tough, frequently asked questions we come across.

So please let me extend to you the invitation to post your questions and comments, with that same understanding – we’re not here to dismiss your concerns; we’re here to answer them as respectfully as possible.  What would you like to know?  What worries you about vision correction?  Do you have a question about the differences between two procedures?  I’d love to hear from you.