Precision in Vision — Building a Stronger Pathway for Refractive Care

Every time I step onto a mountain—ice axe in hand, crampons biting into the slope—I’m reminded of a simple truth: precision saves lives, preparation shapes outcomes, and trust in your team makes the impossible possible.

It turns out refractive surgery isn’t very different.

In Spring 2026, I will have the opportunity to speak with our referring optometrists at Sightline Laser Eye Center about something I care deeply about: delivering refractive surgery with the same level of discipline, clarity, and partnership that I bring to my climbs.

This CE session is more than a lecture.
 It is a conversation about how we can work together to give our patients the freedom and clarity they deserve.

🔍 Why Refractive Surgery Matters More Than Ever

Many of the patients our ODs see every day are active, busy, and tired of fogging glasses or contact lens discomfort. Some don’t realize that decades of lens wear increase the risks of infection and inflammation. Others don’t know that surgery can actually become more cost-effective over time.

For many, refractive surgery isn’t just a convenience— It’s a chance to live, work, and play without limits.

👁️ Selecting the Right Candidate: Where Climbing Meets Clinical Judgment

Before climbing any mountain, I run through conditions, equipment checks, and risk assessments.
 In refractive surgery, the process is similar.

At Sightline, we use a structured pre-operative protocol to determine candidacy:

And we rely on our ODs to help us detect the little things that matter— dry eye patterns, subtle topographic changes, habitual eye rubbing— the “weather reports” that influence outcomes.

🔬 Our EVO ICL Workflow: Precision Worth Sharing

One highlight of the talk was our approach to EVO ICL, a procedure I truly love for high-myopes, thin corneas, or patients who simply want the best optical quality with a reversible option.

At Sightline, we have adopted a dual-precision system:

1️⃣ Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM)

Direct sulcus-to-sulcus imaging gives me a true understanding of where the lens will sit. It removes guesswork and provides details that traditional measurements miss.

2️⃣ ICL Guru (AI Vault Prediction Tool)

We integrate UBM + biometry into ICL Guru to model vault dynamics and select the optimal lens size. It’s modern refractive planning at its best:
 fast, data-driven, and precise.

This combination significantly reduces the risk of vault issues or lens exchanges— something my analytical, climber-brain deeply appreciates.

🤝 Stronger Together: Surgeon + OD Collaboration

One of my goals for the presentation was reinforcing how essential optometrists are in refractive care.

Together, we walk patients through:

When a surgeon and OD communicate well, patients feel it.
 They recover faster.
 They trust the process more.
 And their outcomes are consistently better.

🏔️ Looking Ahead

As I continue building EverestVisionMD, one of my greatest joys is seeing how refractive surgery can elevate a patient’s life. And just like climbing, this field keeps evolving—new technologies, new strategies, new ways to deliver clarity.

To every optometrist who refers patients to me:
 Thank you for being part of the rope team.
 Your involvement makes all the difference.

For any clinician who wants referral materials, co-management guides, or an opportunity to observe an EVO ICL or LASIK day in the OR, my door is always open.

Together, we can guide patients to the summit of clear, confident vision.