I had a stroke in May '09 and went to see Dr. Sifri six months later due to having some days with cloudy vision. He told me it was due to cataracts and scheduled me for surgery. He did not go over anything with me, no complications. I was given a brochure and a blue eye kit which was explained how to use by one of his 'girls.' On11/4 the right eye was done. Before the procedure I had a slight fever and high blood pressure. The nurse was concerned. She had Dr. Sifri come back and see me and he asked ME if I wanted to go ahead and I said yes. I should not have been the one making the decision. I was just six months from a stroke! Then the anesthesiologist told me my blood sugar was 348! I had just been diagnosed a diabetic when Dr. Hess was doing a gall bladder procedure. He cancelled the procedure. My A1 c was 9.1 The doctors were told this before the surgery, but they gave me insulin and went ahead with the procedure, which was painless. On 11/11 he did my left eye and things didn't seem right from the start. The drape over my eye was uncomfortable and during the procedure Dr. Sifri seemed rushed, and I saw lights I had not seen when the right eye was done. I had to tell him twice that he was hurting me. I had trouble with my left eye from the get go. I was not told that the surgery would take away my ability to see up close and read! I was a voracious reader. I only needed glasses to see far away. I could read the smallest print and go about my activities of daily living without glasses. The left eye has ptosis and the right eye is always swollen. I see halos around lights. When I complained to Dr. Sifri about this he was very brusque, and said, ""I can't tell you EVERY complication!"" Well, he didn't tell me about ANY complication. When I complained about the ptosis he said it was in the brochure! I don't see it in there. Now we know that the days I had cloudy vision was due to high Blood Sugar. Dr. Sifri said I had a secondary cataract and YAG surgery would 'fix it right up.' But, I have seen two other doctors who tell me that surgery could result in blindness! My quality of life has drastically been affected, depression and emotional distress. The other two doctors said it was a problem with 'communication.' If Dr. Sifri had spent the time telling me about all these possible complications and that I would lose my ability to read, I would NEVER have done this! My eyes are really dry -- tested a level 2. I am on Restasis. My eyes are weak and I can't be online or use them as needed. I am a webmaster and can no longer keep up the websites I administer as I need to do. Being just six months out from a stroke, my body was still healing and professionals should not have allowed me to make such decisions and they should have protected me. Knowing my Blood Sugar was that high and a newly diagnosed diabetic. With research I found that this secondary cataract is often a complication in diabetics. A BS of 348 should have cancelled my surgery. I am ruined for life, and it could have all been prevented had Dr. Sifri just told me about all the complications. And, I find the IOL material is vinyl! I avoid all plastics as much as possible. I will be writing this all in a letter and sending to Dr. Sifri as well as the other doctors, the medical board, and board of ophthalmology. I know Dr. Sifri has a great reputation, but even the best of us make mistakes. My advice is to slow down, and communicate. That is what the other doctors validated, a problem with communication. I am now stuck with my left eye ptosis, and right eye swelling. I am a vain woman, admittedly, I don't want to go around anyone looking as I do. Not even going to my family reunion this year. I saw his father for 30 years, and I think he would have handled my case differently. I came to Dr. Sifri only needing glasses to see far away, and wound up visually impaired and disfigured.
Cons: Poor communication Poor outcome
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