Dr. Pham is not only a practicing ophthalmologist, practicing cataract surgery, but is also an instructor for other ophthalmologist's. He has received degrees and certificates from some of the best eye institutions in this country. He specializes in laser eye surgery, particularly laser cataract surgery. As of this writing he is the only ophthalmologist who performs laser cataract surgery in the Bay Area. He is an outstanding doctor both with the patient and with the technique. There are no handoffs here. He personally sees you during the evaluation and presents the evaluation results himself. He performs the surgery in his own offices, with a dedicated staff to assist him. He sees you afterwords to evaluate the results and make any adjustments if necessary. He also sees you on all followup visits, not like some 'assembly line' practices that hand you off to someone else. He puts safety and results first, not money.
He also uses the latest technology in replacement
lenses so that you will never need glasses or contacts again. This technique can also be used for patients that just want to permanently get rid of glasses or contacts. Lasik only lasts for several years in most cases. This is permanent. About the technique: Dr Pham uses a 2nd generation machine to do the procedure. He also acts as an advisory to them, suggesting changes to the machine to improve patient comfort, results, and ease of use. This machine resides in his office which was specifically designed to support it. Should the power go off? No problem, the machine has a backup to continue the procedure without interruption. Should their be an earthquake, the machine, unlike a surgeon with a scalpel, will instantly shut off if the beam approaches safety perimeter of the operating field. The actual cutting and disintegration of the lens takes around 42 seconds, at least in my case. The setup and this stage of the surgery takes less than 10 minutes. I felt nothing.
The second stage, lens removal and replacement takes around another 15 minutes. I had both eyes done - a day a part. My surgery dates started on a Monday, were over by noon Wednesday, and could see better than I ever did with contacts by Friday. I could have even driven back to the office for my after surgery that Thursday. I had mild pain in my left eye the first night, that was easily resolved with a couple of Tylenol. No pain at all from my right eye. I was wide awake during the entire procedure and immediately left the office after its conclusion. The advantage of this procedure is it cuts a perfect circle for lens removal and a much finer incision than any scalpel can do. No surgeons hand can be this accurate. This allows for more precise placement of the new lens and less complications. It also has a higher margin of safety than can be produced with a surgeons hand and with less scaring resulting from the finer cut. Also from what I understand, there is less risk to the patient.
The only drawback I have found so far is that it is somewhat more expensive as insurance plans may not cover the cost of the extra expense of using the laser machine. However if you have been told you have cataracts that have to be removed it it scares you as it did me, This is the best way to go as far as I am concerned. The reason: the combination of the 2nd generation machine combined with Dr. Pham's skill. One visit with him and it is likely most of your anxiety will be gone. There is simply no way that I can give Dr. Pham and his technique my absolute highest recommendation. FYI: I did not know or have any knowledge of him before I saw an advertisement for his services. I have received no kind of compensation for this review. I am just a well informed patient.