Dr. Arthur Benjamin joined Doug Stefan on the Good Day Show to demystify the realms of eye care. From clarifying professional titles to breaking down the technicalities of popular eye surgeries, Dr. Benjamin provided a comprehensive overview, ensuring listeners left with a clearer understanding of their eye care options.
Doug Stefan: “44 after the hour of Doug Stefan's Good day program with Jai Kershner. Okay, you've heard me talk any number of times over the past month or so about my eyes and what I had done. I was really, in a way, I was tired of the glasses, and they kept changing, and you get all kinds of different exams, and you are never satisfied.
I wasn't satisfied wearing glasses. So, I came across as a result… My people always ask me, why do you get all this stuff in Los Angeles? Well, it's because I have more time there to do these sorts of things, and my daughter put me on to Ryan Stybel, who is a great optometrist. What are they? Ophthalmologists. All right, here I'm going to ask Dr. Benjamin. I've asked many other eye doctors, and I still don't know the difference between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist. All right, you're on. Dr. Arthur Benjamin from the Benjamin Eye Institute here with us. What's the difference?”
Dr. Arthur Benjamin: “Good morning, friends, from Los Angeles. The difference is that optometrists are Doctors of Optometry. They really focus more on glasses and contact lenses. Ophthalmologists finished medical schools, residency programs. As a board certified ophthalmologist, I don't just treat disease medically, but also do surgery. And I had a chance to do yours, as you remember.”
Doug Stefan: “How could I forget?”
Dr. Arthur Benjamin: “Yeah, right. Cataract surgery is really something the most commonly performed procedure in the Medicare system, as far as I know. And by age 65, when most people become eligible for Medicare, I believe something like 50% of patients have already had surgery. So, it's a very common procedure and it's becoming more and more common. It's done at an earlier age now because it is such a quick and precise and safe procedure. We do it with the help of a femtosecond laser. So modern cataract surgery is done with a laser, and the recovery is so quick that as soon as we roll the patient out of the operating room, they can already see better than they did before. So a very satisfying procedure for both the surgeon and the patient. It's done under topical anesthesia. That means just eyedrops.”
Doug Stefan: “I was surprised when it was. You teased me because it took me three years. I'd known you for three years. It took us three years to get to this point. I don't make decisions like this quickly. And I was back and forth with a couple of different people, and you and your, I suppose, bedside manner much more than anything else. But the idea of having someone do this to your eye, I think, puts people off, even though, as you've said, lots of people have had this surgery or something similar to it. So, what's the difference? I guess a lot of people listening, they've heard of LASIK surgery. What's the difference between what you're talking about and LASIK?”
Dr. Arthur Benjamin: “So, LASIK is what we call a cornea refractive procedure. LASIK is a procedure that we do on a cornea. LASIK is actually an acronym. It stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. LASIK is done with a laser, but it's a different kind of laser, and it's on the surface of the eye. Cataract surgery involves actual removal of a cloudy lens and replacement with a lens implant.”
Doug Stefan: “That is what I’ve had.”
Dr. Arthur Benjamin: “Yeah, exactly. And LASIK is usually done in a laser suite. We have one in our office. You've probably seen it. This area is behind the glass. Cataract surgery is done in an operating room, so it's usually in a surgery center. Ambulatory surgery center.”
Doug Stefan: “We're running out of time. I wanted to acknowledge this and I want you to come back because I think this is something that a lot of people are considering. And by the way, if you are, call the best: Dr. Benjamin at the Benjamin Eye Institute. Go to Benjamineye.com. Dr. Arthur Benjamin here on “Good Day” at ten minutes before the hour.”
