Running a successful ophthalmology ambulatory surgery center (ASC) today can feel like trying to stay afloat in a storm. Costs are skyrocketing, staff are shorthanded and burnt out, and demand for eye surgeries is through the roof. But the biggest blind spot for ophthalmology ASCs isn’t staffing or costs—it’s fragmented workflows. In today’s ASC environment, every minute an ophthalmologist spends clicking through disjointed systems could mean hundreds in lost revenue. Multiply that across a week, and inefficiency isn’t just frustrating—it’s financially devastating.
The good news is, running a successful, financially sound ASC is possible with the right strategy, tools, and processes. Here’s a deep dive into the challenges your ASC might be facing and solutions you can implement to operate at peak efficiency.
The cost of running an ASC has risen three to six percent on average nationally since the COVID-19 pandemic. Inflation is a significant factor, with 69% of eye care providers reporting that inflation had an influence on their practices during the first half of 2025. Staffing is also a huge pain point for ASCs. Three out of four eye care practices struggle with staffing, according to a recent survey by The Vision Council, leaving surgeons, clinical staff, and administrative team members stretched thin.
Meanwhile, the demand for eye surgery is rapidly increasing. An aging population, rising diabetes rates, and worsening myopia are fueling an unprecedented demand. Approximately 4.2 million cataract surgeries were performed in 2020, with about 16,000 ophthalmologists available. By 2030, according to one industry report, the aging population will require 5.6 million cataract procedures, with only 16,500 ophthalmologists available. The growing gap between demand and the number of available surgeons underscores the need for ASCs to be as efficient as possible.
Many ophthalmology surgical centers use different systems in their clinic and their ASC. This means critical information isn’t easily transferable, and staff have to rely on faxes, emails, and phone calls. The risk of miscommunication or lost records can cause delays and unnecessary administrative burden. Technology like iO Link can make this information transfer seamless and instant.
Without technology that connects the clinic and the ASC in one consolidated system, staff start to rely on manual workarounds and quick fixes—sticky notes for pending authorizations, spreadsheets for tracking labs, or long email chains for surgery scheduling. Not only are these workarounds error-prone, but they can also slow down the entire surgical workflow.
Billing is a pain point for many ASCs due to:
Payers routinely underpay and make it as difficult as possible to get the maximum reimbursement. A single missing modifier, an unsigned op report, or an incomplete diagnosis code can tank reimbursement rates when margins are already tight for many ASCs.
Workflow inefficiencies and errors, from pre-op to post-op, can also significantly impact long-term outcomes and financial stability.
Some pre-op gaps include:
Some post-op gaps include:
These challenges result in cancellations, reduced reimbursements, delayed cash flow, and ultimately, unhappy patients.
Many ASCs have multiple surgeons who document procedures differently due to a lack of standardized templates. This variation makes performance tracking, quality reporting, and payor negotiations difficult. ASCs need standardized documentation and real-time reporting to identify areas for improvement.
Scaling surgical volume is a challenge for ASCs that don't have smooth, connected workflows. Your surgical center may operate smoothly at 25 cases per day, but manual and fragmented workflows will prevent you from scaling to 35 cases or more. Without streamlined processes, meeting rising demand becomes impossible.
The good news is that many of these challenges can be mitigated or overcome with smarter workflows, integrated technology, and more efficient processes. Let’s explore some practical solutions for your ASC.
An ASC platform integrated with your EHR and Practice Management system brings scheduling, intake, eligibility, documentation, and post-op workflows into one place. This eliminates the need to toggle between different systems and enter data twice. It can also reduce errors, remove manual work, and enable automation. By centralizing all your workflows into one platform, your ASC can:
For teams struggling with limited staff, fewer clicks and faster data entry can help prevent burnout. Instead of getting bogged down by frustrating and repetitive admin tasks, they can spend more time with patients. That’s why many leading ASCs are adopting platforms that are purpose-built for ophthalmology like Sightview. From scheduling to discharge, our integrated ASC module helps your team stay connected, compliant, and efficient.
Medical office staff spend an average of 34 hours per week on administrative tasks. That’s why many ASCs are turning to AI and automation to streamline workflows and reduce manual tasks—especially those using integrated technology. Some examples include:
AI and automation not only alleviate burnout and free up time for your staff, but they also flag gaps or errors so you can address them before they become serious issues. They also help you create a smoother, more engaging patient experience, without extra effort from your team.
Patient communication and engagement play a significant role in your ASC’s pre- and post-op efficiency, as well as your reputation. Automated reminders, patient portals, smooth payment processing, and digital forms all make the surgical experience easier for patients and reduce unnecessary phone calls and frustration. Strong communication also prevents last-minute cancellations, which have a massive impact on your bottom line. Not to mention, patients are increasingly expecting a personalized, digital-first experience. Efficient patient communication tools not only enhance outcomes but also build loyalty for your ASC.
Surgeons are your most valuable and limited asset at your ophthalmology ASC. Every minute they spend on administrative tasks is a minute they could spend with patients and generate revenue. Try to offload any tasks that you can in the documentation, pre-op, and post-op processes. Higher surgeon productivity means you can increase case volume and reduce burnout, which is critical in today’s environment of surging demand.
Efficient revenue cycle management should be one of the highest priorities in your ASC. It’s something often overlooked, and many surgery centers focus on staffing or increasing case volume to the point of burnout, without taking a closer look at receivables.
Quick and accurate billing, diligent follow-up on denials or unpaid claims, and efficient payment processes are all critical for reducing the time to collect payments. In a world where inflation and costs are rising, every dollar and every delayed payment count. An optimized revenue cycle means a healthier bottom line.
Sightview’s RCM services reduce claim denials and ensure revenue is collected quickly. From eligibility verification and claim submission to payment posting and A/R management, we handle it all so your surgical team can focus on seeing more patients, not billing tasks.
With the demand for surgery rising, maintaining a steady case volume might seem like a given, but that’s not always the case. Steady case volume depends on efficient scheduling, documentation, and cancellation prevention. Late authorizations, missing documentation, and poor patient communication can quickly derail your schedule and create costly gaps. This is where an integrated ASC module comes in to ensure every case stays on track from pre-op to post-op without delays.
“Flipping rooms” is a strategy some ASCs use to increase surgical volume for larger teams. It involves equipping a second OR, so surgeons can move from one room to the next instead of waiting for a single room to be prepped. For some teams, this can almost double surgical volume. However, it's difficult for practices that may not have the manpower to manage more than one OR. Flipping rooms is justified in some ASCs but not in others, so it’s important to analyze financials and OR data to see if your surgery center could benefit.
In modern-day eye care, ophthalmology ASCs can no longer rely on the same workflows and technology as they did 10 or even 5 years ago. With increasing demand and a shortage of ophthalmologists, ASCs need to be on their A-game. From pre-op gaps to inefficient workflows and delayed revenue, missed opportunities can quickly add up to financial strain, staff burnout, and frustrated patients.
Take this scenario, for example: A surgery is running late, causing the patient to wait anxiously while staff scramble to locate missing consents—all because of one unchecked authorization field. In another room, a scheduler double-books a slot after receiving outdated information from the clinic, forcing a last-minute reshuffle. These everyday inefficiencies drain time, energy, and revenue. They also prevent you from providing the best possible patient care.
The good news is that these challenges can be solved with integrated technology, automation, and optimized operations. With Sightview’s integrated ASC module, surgery centers can capture missed revenue, improve efficiency, and give patients a smooth experience.
By centralizing workflows and automating routine tasks, Sightview also directly reduces staffing pressure, helping ASCs accomplish more without adding team members. Real-time dashboards and automation reduce administrative load and repetitive work, allowing staff to focus on patient care. In turn, this eases burnout and keeps your team more productive.
When costs rise and staff are limited, efficiency becomes your greatest advantage. But efficiency isn't just about saving time; it's about giving your surgeons more moments that matter with their patients. With Sightview, you don't have to choose between quality care and financial performance. You can have both.
See how top ophthalmology ASCs are capturing missed revenue and reducing burnout with Sightview. Schedule a demo today.