Surgical co-management means your optometrist works with your eye surgeon to provide appropriate care before and after a procedure. The surgeon performs the operation. Your optometrist handles pre-operative evaluation and post-operative follow-up and communicates with the surgical team on your behalf.
Surgical Co-Management
Cataract and Refractive Surgery Co-Management in Weslaco
QUICK LINKS
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. In a co-management arrangement, your optometrist typically provides pre-operative evaluation appointments and post-operative follow-up care. The surgeon focuses on the procedure itself, while your optometrist monitors your recovery and communicates findings back to the surgical team.
Post-operative appointments typically include a check of your visual acuity, an examination of your eye health, a review of any symptoms you have noticed, and a determination of whether your recovery is progressing as expected. Your optometrist will let you know if anything needs to be communicated to your surgeon.
Contact your optometrist or surgeon promptly if you notice significant pain, sudden changes in vision, new floaters or flashes of light, redness that is worsening, or any symptom that feels unexpected or concerning. Your care team can help determine whether you need to be seen right away.
Once the immediate post-operative period has passed and your surgeon confirms your recovery is stable, ongoing eye care typically returns to your optometrist for prescription monitoring, eye health evaluations, and continued management of any existing conditions.
What to Expect Before and After Eye Surgery
What is Surgical Co-Management?
If you are preparing for cataract surgery or refractive surgery, or if you have already had a procedure and need follow-up care, surgical co-management means your optometrist works alongside your surgeon to support your care before and after the procedure.
The surgeon performs the operation. Your optometrist handles appropriate pre-operative evaluation and post-operative follow-up, communicates with the surgical team, and monitors your recovery over time. This arrangement allows you to receive much of your ongoing care from a provider you already know, closer to home.
At Weslaco Eye Professionals, our optometrist is a Therapeutic Optometrist with training in primary eye care and ocular disease management. If you are considering surgery or have been referred for post-operative care, contact our eye clinic to discuss whether co-management is appropriate for your situation.
Before Surgery: What Your Optometrist Does
Before eye surgery, your optometrist may evaluate your overall eye health, review your prescription, assess your candidacy for the procedure with the surgical team, and prepare documentation to support your surgical plan.
The goal of the pre-operative phase is to ensure the surgeon has an accurate picture of your eye health before the procedure and that any existing conditions are noted and communicated appropriately.
Cataract Surgery Co-Management
If you have been told you have cataracts and surgery has been recommended, your optometrist can help coordinate the referral, support pre-operative evaluation, and provide follow-up care during your recovery. Post-operative appointments are focused on monitoring your vision, checking for changes in your eye health, and addressing any concerns that come up during healing.
Refractive Surgery Co-Management
For patients considering LASIK, PRK, or another refractive procedure, pre-operative appointments may include a thorough evaluation of your eye health and prescription to help the surgical team assess whether you are a candidate. After surgery, follow-up appointments monitor how your eyes heal and whether your vision stabilizes as expected.
Your optometrist does not perform the surgery and cannot guarantee a specific visual outcome. The goal of co-management is to support your care and keep your recovery on track through consistent follow-up.
After Surgery: What Follow-Up Care Involves
Post-operative appointments give your optometrist the opportunity to check how your eye is healing, monitor your vision, and identify any changes that may need attention or communication with your surgeon.
During these appointments, you can expect your optometrist to assess your visual acuity, examine your eye's health, review any symptoms you have noticed, and determine whether your recovery is progressing as expected.
What to Report During Recovery
Contact your optometrist or surgeon promptly if you notice any of the following during your recovery: significant pain or increased discomfort, sudden changes in vision, new floaters or flashes of light, redness that is getting worse rather than better, or any other symptom that feels unexpected or concerning. Your care team can help you determine whether a symptom requires same-day attention.
Schedule Your Surgical Co-Management Appointment
If cataract or refractive surgery is your next step, your optometrist can help you understand what to expect before the procedure and what follow-up care you will need afterward. Schedule an appointment with Weslaco Eye Professionals to review your eye health, discuss the co-management process, and confirm your care plan.