The patient comes first

Article

Ever wondered what it must be like for today's refractive surgeon, having to perform a job to the best of their ability whilst sometimes facing criticism for being "too commercial"? The refractive surgery industry has suffered its fair share of setbacks over recent years and certainly, some clinics have deservedly earned this criticism for not performing the job adequately.

If you treat your patient well and give them the correct support, both before and after surgery, your practice will inevitably gain a good reputation. Suddenly you will find prospective patients arriving at your surgery because their friend or their relative recommended you to them. Not only does this instil patient trust but it will also go towards securing the longevity of your practice. Isn't this how every business wants to operate?

This month I spoke with two inspirational Italian, refractive surgeons who are truly passionate about their trade. Please go to page 19 to find out what Roberto Pinelli and Paolo Fazio had to say about the issues relating to their industry today and how they are making progress towards improving the situation in their wonderful home country of Italy.

Newsletter

Join ophthalmologists across Europe—sign up for exclusive updates and innovations in surgical techniques and clinical care.

Recent Videos
At the Retina World Congress, Siegfried Priglinger, MD, speaks about ensuring the best outcomes for preschool-aged patients
At the 2025 ASCRS meeting, Robert Ang, MD said small aperture IOLs can benefit all patients, especially those with complex corneas or who have undergone previous corneal refractive surgery
Viha Vig, MBChB graduate student at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, discusses her poster presentation on the relationship between mitochondiral disease, Alzheimer disease, and other types of dementia.
Alfredo Sadun, MD, PhD, chief of Ophthalmology at the Doheny Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, shared exciting new research with the Eye Care Network during the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting on the subject of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).
At this year's Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, Nitish Mehta, MD, shared highlights from his research documenting real-world results of aflibercept 8 mg for patients with diabetic macular oedema.
ARVO 2025: Anat Loewenstein, MD, shares data from herself and her colleagues on meeting needs of patients with diabetic retinopathy
At the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons annual meeting, Sheng Lim, MD, FRCOphth discusses the benefit of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation for patients with primary open angle glaucoma and cataracts in the CONCEPT study
A photo of Seville, Spain, with the Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology logo superimposed on it. Image credit: ©francovolpato – stock.adobe.com; logo courtesy COPHy
Anat Loewenstein, MD, Professor and Director, Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, discusses the Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology (COPHy)
Anat Loewenstein, MD, speaks about the 22nd Annual Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration Meeting in February 2025 and shares her global forecast for AI-driven home OCT
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.