Assignment #25: Abstract

My name is Kaitlyn Brown and I am a part of the Honors Mentorship Program at West Forsyth High School. This year, I had the privilege to mentor with Kim Birch at Milan Eye Center where I have been shadowing their ophthalmic technicians, optometrists, and surgeons. After viewing multiple eye surgeries, I began to question the level of anxiety these patients may feel leading up to their procedure and how the surgeon can work to minimize their concerns, as this is crucial to increasing patient-base. Preoperative anxiety within the field of ophthalmology stems mainly from patients’ fear that they are at risk of losing their vision. It is important that preoperative anxiety is reduced in order to diminish the risk for its associated complications during and after surgery. Patients going under general anesthesia, with younger age, female gender, and little family support are susceptible to the highest levels and these predictors can be assessed prior to the procedure so appropriate measures are taken to decrease anxiety early on. I have been able to conclude that patient education is the most effective method in reducing patients’ concerns. I discovered that the best way to communicate this information is through informational videos, a technique that Milan Eye Center has implemented. Additional approaches to treatment of preoperative anxiety include empathizing with patients, conveying confidence, creating a positive atmosphere, answering questions in full, and providing patient testimonials.