Surgeons need to expand, diversify in today's economy

ATLANTA — Ophthalmologists have options regarding what they can offer and what they can add to their practices in these hard economic times, a surgeon said here.

"Have as many available options as you possibly can to treat your patients. Don't try to fit every patient into one technique," Stephen G. Slade, MD, said at the Refractive Surgery Subspecialty Day preceding the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

"Take a hard look at what you have to offer," he said.

For surgeons who have stopped performing cataract surgeries, he suggested they start doing them again. Surgeons can also add phakic IOLs or LASIK to their armamentarium to reach a wider range of patients. Diversify and do not overlook therapeutic options, such as grafts and Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty, Dr. Slade said.

For surgeons who have not diversified their practice, "Go take a course. Go learn something," he said.