The LASIK Blog

Free Mini E-Book Download: Today's Facts About LASIK

Quoting Sir Francis Bacon, "Knowledge is power."  It has been our aim to supply knowledge to those interested in both eyecare and refractive surgery.  Several previous posts in this blog have been aimed in helping patients in the refractive surgery education process, including: 

• Free refractive surgery worksheet download
• 10 Things to Consider When Picking a LASIK Surgeon
• LASIK Costs
• You've Decided to Have LASIK, Now What?

In Today's Facts About LASIK we discuss 12 points that may help you in making an informed decision about getting refractive surgery:

1. What are the risks?
2. Can I finally get rid of my glasses?
3. Is LASIK right for me?
4. Will it hurt?  How long before I can return to work?
5. How do I choose a surgeon?
6. Does the type or brand of laser equipment matter?
7. What is the new tracking technology, why is it important?
8. How to know if your LASIK center uses the most advanced equipment available?
9. What is your personal eye condition?
10. Why you should meet the surgeon who will perform your procedure?
11. Can I afford it?
12. What does all this mean to you?

This mini E-Book answers all these questions.  Please feel free to download it, print it out, post it on your blog, or give it to an interested friend.  NO REGISTRATION IS NECESSARY!!

Download Today's Facts About LASIK

"Ask an Eye MD" Web Site Launched

As a member of the AAO, I received the following message this week concerning a new on-line service sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology:

As part of its EyeSmart campaign to empower Americans to take charge of their eye health, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO, San Francisco) has launched "Ask an Eye M.D.," a new online service through which the public can submit questions about their eyes to a panel of ophthalmologists. A number of questions will be selected for answers from among those submitted, with the responses posted online. “Our hope is that the service will educate the public about eye health issues, so that people can know their risks and save their sight,” said H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., M.D., executive vice president of the Academy. The EyeSmart campaign is sponsored by the Academy in partnership with EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the AAO. In addition, more than 80 state, local and specialty ophthalmology societies are lending their support to the campaign. People can submit questions here.

Olympic Short Track Speedskater Hopeful Katherine Reutter Has LASIK at EyeCare 20/20

Katherine Reutter, the number 1 ranked American Short Track Speedskater, made the trip from Utah to New Jersey last week for her LASIK surgery at EyeCare 20/20.  Katherine is a 5-time World Cup Medalist, 4-time American record holder, and ranked 7th in the overall World Championships.

With a breakout season in 2007-2008, Reutter’s performance has publicly fueled these comparisons with speedskating statistic lovers noting that at 19, Blair finished 8^th against the world’s best at the ’84 Olympics. At 19, Reutter was a regular in the top 5 against the best in the world including two individual World Cup silver medals, one bronze, two relay bronze medals, multiple American records and the smashing, by nearly two full seconds, of a world record*!

“I’m absolutely humbled by any comparison to Bonnie.  She’s one of the greatest Olympic Champions of all time and has been a huge inspiration to me.  I’ve got a long way to go simply to be worthy of carrying her skates!  If, someday, my mark on this sport can be a fraction of what she’s accomplished I’ll consider my career to have been a huge success.”  

Hopefully the new visual freedom that LASIK has afforded Katherine will help her skate her way to a gold metal in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver!  We will certainly be rooting for her!

Free Refractive Surgery Research Worksheet Download

While following #LASIK on Twitter I have noticed that many prospective patients have many questions about the procedure and where to go for the procedure.  I frequently send these people "10 Things to consider When Picking a LASIK Surgeon."  In this post I have a link to USAEye's 50 Tough Questions for Your LASIK Doctor.

Using some of the questions from USAEyes, I have developed a worksheet which will aid the prospective refractive surgery patient to compare the various LASIK doctors they interview during their education process.  My hope is that this will aid in the selection process for this very important decision.  Please feel free to download this worksheet and share it with your friends:

Download Refractive Surgery Research Worksheet

Menopause & Your Eyes

With age, many women are plagued by dry eyes. But did you know that more than 60% of women are affected by dry eyes during menopause? Dry eye is that disturbing condition that causes grittiness, tearing and a foreign body sensation.

 

Hormones play an important role in tear production and lubrication. During menopause the increased production of estrogen means less tear production. When your eyes stay dry for too long, they become red, itchy and swollen. 

 

The most common treatment for dry eye is “artificial tears” that can temporarily relieve symptoms by restoring fluid to the eye. But in most instances, tear drops to lubricate the eyes isn’t enough. Restasis® is a twice daily eye drop that is used in conjunction with tear drops. It’s the only prescription eye drop approved by the FDA that increases tear production and decreases the inflammation associated with dry eye.

 

Fatty acids have been shown to naturally moderate inflammation and provide natural lubrication. A recent study reported that women with a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduced their risk of dry eye by 20% compared to women with low levels of omega-3. Omega-3’s are found in foods such as fish like tuna or salmon, or certain nuts like walnuts or in dietary supplements.

If considering LASIK, dry eye should be under control, as LASIK patients typically have an increase in dry eye symptoms during the postoperative healing period.

 

If you think you may have dry eye due to menopause symptoms, call your eye care professional and schedule an appointment.

Gloria Levine Cataract Surgery Video Testimonial

Gloria Levine had cataract surgery at EyeCare 20/20.  She discusses how thrilled she is with the results.

Happy Birthday Cataract IOL!

According to the Cataract Outsourcing Blog, yesterday was the 57th anniversary of the first intraoccular lens (IOL) implanted in the United States after cataract surgery:

"...a patient in Philadelphia received the first plastic lens for use after cataract surgery. The lens was made of Plexiglas, of a kind called polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). British surgeon Harold Ridley found during World War II that PMMA, then used to make aircraft canopies, didn’t harm the eyes of pilots when the canopies shattered. Eventual widespread use of the lenses meant that people didn’t have to wear heavy cataract glasses or thick contact lenses after cataract surgery. Surgeons eventually stopped using these lenses because of complications. Then Dutch surgeons redesigned Ridley’s original lens implant, making it smaller, lighter and safer."

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens.  Cataract surgery removes this lens, leaving the eye without a lens, called aphakia.  Prior to the introduction of the IOL, patients had to wear thick, "coke bottle", aphakic glasses to see.  

IOLs have certainly progressed over the years.   Original IOLs required a large 7 to 8 mm incision to insert,   several stitches were required and a large amount of astigmatism was induced.  Foldable IOLs reduced this incision to 3 mm, requiring no stitches and astigmatism neutral incisions.

The latest IOL advances have been multifocal and toric IOLs.  The multifocal IOL allows the patient to see both distance and near without glasses while the toric IOL allows for excellent distance vision without glasses in those patients with a large amount of pre-operative astigmatism.

Thank you Sir Harold Ridley!!

Olympic Bobsled Hopeful Erin Pac Has LASIK at EyeCare 20/20

Olympic hopeful, Erin Pac, recently made the trip down to New Jersey to have LASIK at EyeCare 20/20.  Erin began bobsled as a brakeman in 2002, joining the World Cup team to push for drivers Bakken, Rohbock, and Sprung.  In January 2005, Pac was recognized along with the U.S. Women's Bobsled Team as the USOC Team of the Month. During the 2005-2006 season, she learned to drive and made her World Cup driving debut just one year later during the 2006-2007 season.  Pac continues to climb in the international rankings, recently claiming a bronze medal at the inaugural World Cup race in Whistler, Canada.

Hopefully the visual freedom that LASIK has afforded Erin will help her win a gold metal in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver!  She will be racing on the same track where she won the Bronze this year...

Here is a note we just received from Erin:

Dear Eyecare 20/20,
 
Thank you for this great opportunity to experience the world without glasses or contacts.  As a bobsled driver, my job is to see and guide my sled down the icy track.  On many occasions my contacts would bother me while competing.  With each run only taking a minute to cross the finish, I couldn't afford to wait for my contacts to readjust.  Since the LASIK, I am now able to see 20/20 without my glasses or contacts.  It's a great feeling to know that for the upcoming Olympic season I don't have to worry about blurry vision.
 
The staff at Eyecare 20/20 was outstanding and Dr. Silverman is one of the kindness surgeons I have ever met.  I would highly recommend Eyecare 20/20 to anyone looking for a warm, inviting, caring atmosphere to have LASIK.
 
Thanks again!
Erin Pac
USA women's bobsled

Paul Stewart LASIK a Success

As I mentioned  yesterday, Paul Stewart was the first ref to take advantage of EyeCare 20/20's "LASIK the Refs!" program.  One of the most successful and respected individuals in hockey, Paul Stewart has done it all.  Player, Referee, and now Coach as he is the ECAC Director of Officiating.  Paul Stewart may be the only person to ever make it on the Ice in the NHL twice.Paul had his surgery yesterday, and is already seeing 20/20!!  

Here Paul briefly discusses his LASIK experience at EyeCare 20/20.

Paul Stewart's LASIK Video Testimonial I

As I mentioned earlier today, Paul Stewart is the first ref to take advantage of EyeCare 20/20's "LASIK the Refs!" program.  Here Paul briefly discusses why he has decided to undergo LASIK.