Dealing with the anxious postop patient

I am known for being good with anxious patients. Work for an ophthalmologist. However, we just did cataract surgery on a patient who tops any patient ever as far as anxiety. He has a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder.

I have spoken to him probably 15 times in the 4 days since surgery. He has been seen 3 of those 4 days. Yesterday, he called three times in the morning. Vision seemed a little blurry at times, the contact lens we put in didn’t seem 100% right, occasional blur. Everything seems so different since surgery, hard for him to adjust to the change in his vision. All very normal. Told him that. Twice. Third time he called, scheduled him to come in that afternoon for reassurance and just to check and be absolutely sure there was nothing to his repeated calls. He felt the need to call 30 minutes before his scheduled appointment with the EXACT SAME complaints. Told him to keep his appointment. He was seen, doctor told him he was fine.

Today, he called again. Vision seemed a little blurry when he woke up. Have explained to him multiple times this is normal for the vision to fluctuate in early postop period. Tried again. Eventually scheduled him for a late morning appointment. He was seen, reassured he was fine after exam to confirm. He called again an hour after he was seen. Vision seemed a little blurry for 15 MINUTES. Would not accept reassurance. Insisted on being seen a second time. We had a technician check his vision, it was the same, he was sent home without seeing the doctor.

This patient is the most difficult I have dealt with in 11 years. I am normally very good with anxious patients. I offered to make him a standing daily appointment to be seen once per day to check on things and be reassured, but he declined. I can’t keep talking to him multiple times per day. What do I do? Help!