In the final episode of the cataract surgery series, Dr. Rupa Wong is joined by world-renowned cataract surgeon Dr. Uday Devgan for a candid conversation about what truly keeps patients safe before, during, and after cataract surgery. Together, they discuss how surgeons use surgical video to continuously learn and improve, why complications can still occur even in the most experienced hands, how emerging technologies like lasers and robotics may shape the future of cataract surgery, and how to have honest, clear conversations with patients about what cataract surgery can and cannot achieve. This thoughtful, practical episode is valuable for ophthalmologists at every stage of training and for anyone interested in what really goes into so-called routine cataract surgery.
Key Topics:
1. Mastering “Routine” Cataract Surgery
- Why a surgery that takes just a few minutes in the OR actually represents decades of training and practice.
- How watching real surgical videos (including mistakes) helps surgeons avoid learning painful lessons on their own patients.
- Why younger surgeons today can compress years of experience into a much shorter time with the right teaching tools.
2. When Things Don’t Go Perfectly: How Great Surgeons Think
- What early, subtle warning signs during surgery can mean—and why catching them quickly matters so much.
- How shifting from “this can’t be happening” to “okay, what’s the next right move?” protects the patient.
- Why the best surgeons treat a complication like a problem to be solved, not a personal failure.
3. Robots, Lasers, and New Tools: Help, Not Hype
- How robotic systems and guidance tech are being designed to keep instruments away from danger zones inside the eye.
- Why lasers and other devices are “extra tools,” not magic buttons that guarantee better results for everyone.
- How a thoughtful surgeon decides when high-tech options truly add safety or precision—and when simple, polished technique is best.
4. Expectations, “Young Vision,” and the Golden Rule
- Why many cataract patients quietly expect a 100% perfect result—and how that can clash with medical reality.
- How to ask your surgeon, in plain language, “For my eyes and my lifestyle, what would YOU choose?”
- Why Dr. Devgan’s core rule is to give every patient the same surgery and level of care he’d want for his own eyes.
Find Dr. Uday Devgan on Instagram - @uday.devgan
Visit His Website https://cataractcoach.com/
Want to receive my newsletter? Join our community of health-conscious parents and all-around eye enthusiasts! https://www.drrupawong.com/sign-up
If you haven’t already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every Wednesday. Plus, be sure to follow along on Instagram @drrupawong, check out Rupa’s YouTube channel Dr. Rupa Wong, and if you're interested in becoming a patient, check out Honolulu Eye Clinic.
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network! Learn more about Pinnacle at http://learnatpinnacle.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Show more...