We started Puppeteer to solve a simple problem: healthcare is full of critical conversations that need to happen perfectly, but we don't have enough humans to have them all. For cataract surgery, this problem is particularly acute. While the operation is routine, patients need constant guidance about everything from pre-surgery fasting to post-operative care.

What makes cataract surgery special is the combination of high volume and low margin for error. Large clinics often perform 20-30 surgeries per day. Each one needs the same careful preparation and follow-up, and one missed instruction can mean a cancelled surgery or compromised recovery. This creates a real challenge: how do you give thorough, personalized attention to every patient when you're doing thousands of procedures a year?

The usual solution is to push patients toward web portals and email. But this doesn't work well for cataract patients. They often have limited vision before and immediately after surgery, making it hard to use websites or read instructions. They need voice and conversation, but clinics can't handle that volume of phone calls.

How Our AI Agents Help

Here's how our AI agents handle the journey through phone conversations:

1. Pre-op Preparation

   • Confirming patients have stopped blood thinners.

   • Reminding them about fasting requirements.

   • Walking them through their pre-operative eye-drop schedule.
     
     

2. Logistics Management

   • Arranging transport to the clinic.

   • Ensuring a family member is available to take them home—crucial when they can’t see well enough to use a ride-share app or drive themselves.
     
     

3. Post-Operative Support

   • Patients can call or text anytime to check if their recovery is on track.

   • Automated reminders about their eye-drop schedule.

   • Ability to report symptoms, with responses tailored to their specific recovery timeline.

Every conversation is natural but follows the clinic’s exact protocols. When a patient calls to say, "I'm seeing more redness than yesterday," the agent knows their complete timeline and can distinguish normal healing from potential complications. If they message, "I forgot when to start the new drops," the AI understands their exact protocol and surgical date to provide an accurate answer.

Why This Matters

Most attempts to improve cataract surgery focus on the operation itself. But managing the human experience around the surgery is just as important. Patients recover better when they feel supported at every step, and surgeons get better results when patients follow pre-op and post-op instructions carefully.

Partner With Us

We’re looking for forward-thinking eye surgery clinics to pilot this system. We will work closely with you to configure the AI to match your exact protocols and workflow. If you run a high-volume cataract surgery practice and this resonates with you, I'd love to talk.

Email me at federico@puppeteer.ai or book a call!