Question:
Do you know about Pacific Care Vision?
Answer:
Optometrists are writing a controversial new role for themselves in the
lucrative boom in laser eye surgery rather than risk losing patients eager
to ditch their eyeglasses for good.
Though they can't perform the surgery, some optometrists are teaming with
ophthalmologists who can, referring patients for the procedure, then
handling the patients' postoperative care in exchange for a cut of the fee.
The trend is called co-management, and as demand for the pricey laser vision
correction procedure grows, so does the motivation to form such alliances.
Americans have lined up for laser in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK, among
them golfer Tiger Woods, supermodel Cindy Crawford, actress Courteney Cox
Arquette, and Atlanta Braves pitcher Greg Maddux. More than 800,000
Americans are expected to have the surgery this year on both eyes, up from
just 210,000 in 1997.
Thrilled with their newfound vision, patients, by and large, have been
unaware of the controversial alliances and the potential for conflicts of
interest.
Optometrist Randy Fuerst, co-owner and chief executive of the Pacific Laser
Eye Center in Gold River, said the arrangement is both legal and practical.
