More than one-
third (35.5%) of our
respondents say
they're already offer-
ing femto surgery at
their facilities. And
among those who
aren't, one-third
(33.1%) say they're
either very or some-
what likely to join
the movement in the next 2 years. Only about one-fifth (21.8%) say
they're "not at all likely" to make femto an offering during that time
period.
"The verdict is still out as far as whether the outcome is better for
patients versus traditional phaco cataract removal," says Christy Lee,
RN, BSN, CASC, NE-BC, administrator and clinical director of Surgery
Center at the Forum in Columbia, Mo., but, she says, it's still "some-
what likely" that her center will take the plunge before long.
Clinical data is lacking, largely because the technology is so new,
but the proponents of femto are increasingly convinced and increas-
ingly enthusiastic. When we asked our panelists to name the most sig-
nificant innovation or development in cataract surgery in the last 2 to
3 years, femto far outdistanced the rest of the field.
But there are still perceived obstacles, primarily the cost of the
machine, the out-of-pocket costs for patients and surgeon acceptance.
The fact is, not all steely nerved, highly experienced surgeons are will-
ing to acknowledge that even the steadiest of hands may not be as
precise as a laser.
"We have older surgeons," says Steven McCormack, DO, MHSA, an
9 8
O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | A U G U S T 2 0 1 5
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
z PAIN MANAGEMENT Ergonomic improvements for surgeons, includ-
ing heads-up displays and adjustable oculars, are becoming the norm.