Eye surgery center now accepting patients
By COURTNEY KLEMM
DECATUR - Macon County Eye Center has a new and improved neighbor.
Advanced Eye Surgery and Laser Center LLC recently has opened directly behind Macon County Eye Center as a new facility that performs outpatient eye procedures, including advanced cataract surgery, eyelid surgery, glaucoma surgery and laser treatments, Lasik corrective vision surgery and more.
The mission of building the surgery center was to provide patients with a more convenient and economical alternative for eye surgeries, said Dr. Sushant Sinha, physician and medical director of both centers.
"We realized one inconvenience for our elderly patients, which is the majority of our patients, was going to the hospital, getting very confused and walking across a big parking lot," Sinha said. "We want to provide the utmost care and create a friendly, convenient and reliable facility."
Previously, patients had to go to Decatur Memorial Hospital or Central Illinois Surgery Center for cataract surgery, said Dawn Followell, clinic administrator of Macon County Eye Center. Now, patients have the option of being examined by an ophthalmologist at Macon County Eye Center and, if surgery is needed, going right next door and working with the same physician and technologists, which provides a level of comfort, she said.
Advanced Eye Surgery and Laser Center is equipped with two operating rooms and state-of-the-art cataract and laser surgical equipment. The center was approved by Medicare for licensure in May and is now accepting new and existing patients of Macon County Eye Center for surgical procedures.
The first surgery was performed on May 24, Followell said.
"It's been a long process; just to obtain approval to start was lengthy," she said. "And we wanted to start slow with just a few procedures. Now, this is a one-stop shop for all your eye care needs."
Thursday brought the highest number of procedures yet, with 10 performed, but Sinha stressed that numbers are much less important than quality.
"It's not about numbers; it's about individualized care," he said. "Everybody gets adequate care for their needs. We've been getting comfortable so we don't run into any difficulties."
A public open house has been planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, and will include tours of the surgery center, an opportunity to meet with the physicians, refreshments and prize drawings, Followell said.
"I've been doing this work for 16 to 17 years, and I always felt the need in creating this specialized care," Sinha said. "So far, it's been absolutely great."
Courtney Klemm can be reached at cklemm@herald-review.com or 421-6968.