How Masks Are Leading to More Eye Surgeries

Sarina Fazan speaks with Dr. Hunter Newsom, founder of Newsom Eye, to discuss how masks are leading to more eye surgeries.

Sarina describes her friend and financial advisor Dave Duquette’s inquiry about LASIK surgery to Dr. Newsom. She says, “He was wearing a mask at Disney Springs, and his glasses kept getting fogged up.”

Sarina then connected David to Dr. Newsom, who says that interest in LASIK surgery has been on the rise. “People wear their glasses and they just fog up, you see that all the time, patients come in and they are unhappy with their fogged up glasses with the mask on, so work for LASIK has really increased,” Dr. Newsom explains.

He also says that since people are at home more often it gives them more time to partake in LASIK and cosmetic surgeries and to recover from them.

“There is somewhat of a flux in the industry, the discount LASIK centers that I have, there are definitely some issues whether they’re in business or out of business now, where they will be in 6 months from now,” says Dr. Newsom, who advises those planning to undergo LASIK to be conscious of where they go to receive this surgery.

He continues, “That’s probably right now in the COVID world; things are changing who is the institution and physician, and surgeon that is going to be with you in the long term.”

Dr. Newsom emphasizes the importance of choosing the right eye surgeon. Sarina shares that she was a patient 10 years ago, and they often communicate about the status of her eye surgery.

“You want to make sure that you have something for longevity is a difference, someone who has been around in your community for a long time and those who are going to continue to be there,” Dr. Newsom advises.

Another aspect to look for in an institution is the types of surgery they perform that will be able to fit your needs.

Dr. Newsom says, “You want to have an institution that has the ability to do LASIK surgery, as well as lens replacement surgery. There are also internal contact lenses, and we can do other options for patients who have larger prescriptions.”

There’s also a concern about how institutions are able to fulfill successful surgeries with the low cost they offer to patients for LASIK surgery.
“Just like any business, you have the low price, so you want to maintain for your eyes, the vision you’re going to have for the rest of your life,” Dr. Newsom states.

Red flags should be raised when a low price is proposed, because it brings into question the validity of the equipment used to perform this surgery.

Dr. Newsom says, “We just say this is what we have that allows us to have the newest equipment, the best state of the art.”

During the pandemic, Newsom Eye performs surgeries in their ambulatory surgery center where they can follow COVID-19 guidelines efficiently and safely.

Dr. Newsom asserts, “It’s the cleanest environment you can do surgery in versus a doctor’s office that you try to make a laser suite. In the heightening awareness of infection, it is a plus for us as well.”

He reports that he has never had an infection after he has performed eye surgery.

“There are things in the community that want to infect humans and make us sick and that’s nothing new as a doctor, so what do we do to protect patients and especially their eyes form virus,” Dr. Newsom explains.

He says that, from his 20 years of practice, they do everything they can to prevent any type of infection. “We are doing the best we can to be as protective and as safe and possible,” Dr. Newsom confirms.

Sarina and Dr. Newsom plan delve deeper in this conversation about the flux in eye surgery due to masks in a future episode of her podcast, “On The Record With Sarina Fazan.”

“Plus, you and your wife can give us advice on what truly makes a successful marriage,” Sarina says lightheartedly.

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