The LASIK Blog

Colbert Pokes Fun at Board Certification & LASIK

Stephen Colbert had a great show yesterday, poking fun at Rand Paul's board certification in his own National Board of Ophthalmology instead of the American Board of Ophthalmology.  He then "performed" LASIK on his intern.  It was very funny!!

BTW, I am Board Certified in the ABO, and would love to do the intern's and Colbert's LASIK!  Hey Stephen, give me a call, my office is not far from Montclair, we already have the US Speedskating connection thru LASIK for the Gold, and I will do it for free!!

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
USA Board of Ophthalmological Freedom
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Fox News

Leave Fireworks to the Professionals this Fourth of July

Each Fourth of July, thousands of people are injured from using consumer fireworks. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 9,000 fireworks-related injuries happen each year. Of these, nearly half are head-related injuries with nearly 30 percent of these injuries to the eyes.  One-fourth of fireworks eye injuries result in permanent vision loss or blindness.

July is Fireworks Eye Safety Awareness Month, and we at EyeCare 20/20 want to remind you to leave fireworks to professionals. Too many Fourth of July celebrations are ruined because a child has to be rushed to the emergency room after a fireworks accident.  Potentially blinding injuries can be avoided if families attend a professional public fireworks display instead of putting on a home fireworks display.

Children are the most common victims of firework accidents, with those fifteen years old or younger accounting for half of all fireworks eye injuries in the United States. For children under the age of five, seemingly innocent sparklers account for one-third of all fireworks injuries. Sparklers can burn at nearly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to cause a third-degree burn.

 

Among the most serious injuries are abrupt trauma to the eye from bottle rockets.  The rockets fly erratically, often injuring bystanders. Injuries from bottle rockets can include eye lid lacerations, corneal abrasions, traumatic cataract,  retinal detachment, optic nerve damage, rupture of the eyeball, eye muscle damage, and complete blindness.

For a safe and healthy Independence Day celebration, follow of the following tips:

 

• Never let children play with fireworks of any type.
• View fireworks from a safe distance: at least 500 feet away, or up to a quarter of a mile for best viewing.

• Respect safety barriers set up to allow pyrotechnicians to do their jobs safely.
• Leave the lighting of fireworks to trained professionals.
• Follow directives given by event ushers or public safety personnel.
• If you find unexploded fireworks remains, do not touch them. Immediately contact your local fire or police departments.
• If you get an eye injury from fireworks, seek medical help immediately.

We at EyeCare 20/20 wish everyone a safe and happy 4th of July Holiday Weekend!

LASIK the Refs Program Offered to FIFA Refs Following Poor Performance at 2010 World Cup

This year's World Cup has showcased some of the world's best Soccer players and teams.  Unfortunately, it has also been marred by some of the worst officiating in years. 

Fans have been dismayed in seeing USA's Maurice Edu's goal dissallowed by a phanthom penalty, numerous questionable red cards, Brazil's Luis Fabiano's "hand ball" goal, offside goals by New Zealand's Shane Smeltz and Argentina's Carlos Tevez, and Frank Lambard of England's "missed goal."  All these bad calls, and we are only into the round of 16!

Much has been reported about the officiating inadequacies including:

1. The 10 worst calls of this year's World Cup
2. Referees requiring security following bad calls
3. FIFA ignoring bad calls
4. The need to add security to FIFA officiating

As the controversies mount, I have decided to extend EyeCare 20/20's LASIK the Refs Program to all FIFA refs participating in this year's World Cup.  After the tournament is concluded, any of thes refs can hop on a plane, fly to New Jersey, and get your free LASIK surgery.  In this way, maybe we can do our small part in making sure that the game is decided on the pitch, and not by the zebras!

Here is a copy of our most recent press release on the subject:

 

For Immediate Release: June 21, 2010

Media Contact: Keri Muli – 973-560-1500, ext. 111; info@eyecare2020.com

LOCAL SURGEON OFFERS FREE LASIK TO WORLD CUP SOCCER REFEREES

EAST HANOVER, NJ - As a result of the blown call by a World Cup soccer official in the United States’ last match versus Slovenia, local ophthalmologist Dr. Cary Silverman is offering free LASIK surgery to any World Cup or professional soccer referee.  As Medical Director of EyeCare 20/20, Cary M. Silverman, M.D., oversees one of the premier vision care facilities in the tri-state area, and the first practice in New Jersey to offer treatment using custom wavefront LASIK with the ALLEGRETTO WAVE® laser.

On Friday, June 18, referee Koman Coulibaly of Mali called a much-debated, late penalty against the United States that nullified a potential match-winning goal in Johannesburg.  The Americans, who ended up in a 2-2 tie with Slovenia, now need a victory Wednesday against Algeria to move out of Group C and into the Round of 16.

 “This is maddening,” Silverman said, “These are the greatest athletes on the biggest stage in the world and they deserve to have the games officiated correctly.  Frankly, so many of these errors could be avoided if the officials had better eyesight.  LASIK is the best way to achieve that and I make an open offer to any World Cup official to utilize our service, for the good of the sport.”

Former NHL referee and current ECAC Director of Officiating Paul Stewart was the first to take advantage of Silverman’s “LASIK the Refs” program.

Silverman recently provided free LASIK to eight members of several United States Olympic teams, including winter medalists: Curt Tomasevicz (bobsled – gold), Chad Hedrick (speedskating – silver and bronze), Molly Engstrom (hockey – silver), Katherine Reutter (short track speed skating – silver and bronze), and Erin Pac (bobsled – bronze).  For more information on Dr. Silverman’s Olympic initiative, go to: www.lasikforthegold.com.

LASIK uses a computer-controlled laser to reshape the cornea and correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Dr. Silverman employs the latest advances in LASIK surgery to provide patients with the highest level of vision correction possible. With the ALLEGRETTO WAVE® laser technology, he is able to customize the LASIK procedure to the vision needs of each individual patient.

To learn more about EyeCare 20/20, visit: www.eyecare2020.com. For more information on recent blown calls and the LASIK THE REFS program, go to: www.lasiktherefs.com. 

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EyeCare 20/20 LASIK Story Runs in Atlanta

Fox Atlanta ran a story with my interview from FoxNY.  Here it is:

LASIK Alternatives Story on Fox5 Aired Today

As I mentioned last week, Fox5 visited EyeCare 20/20 to do a  story discussing alternatives to LASIK surgery.  It aired today.

Here it is:

LASIK Alternatives Story to Air on Fox5 This Monday

As I previously mentioned, Dr. Sapna Parikh, medical correspondent for Fox5 New York, paid a visit to EyeCare 20/20 to do a story about LASIK alternatives.  She interviewed several patients and me to do this story.

I just got word that the story will air on Fox5 this Monday during the 8 AM News hour.  Be sure to set those DVRs!

Traumatic Dislocation of LASIK Flaps 4 and 9 Years After Surgery

I have an article published in this month's Journal of Refractive Surgery titled: Traumatic Dislocation of LASIK Flaps 4 and 9 Years After Surgery.  With the help of UMDNJ ophthalmology resident, H. Jane Kim, we published two cases of traumatic flap dislocation following LASIK.  One of the cases occurred 9 years following LASIK, making it the longest reported case medical literature.  In this case the flap dislocated when my patient was struck in his eye with a dog's paw.  After treatment both of my patients vision improved to 20/20.

This article brings up an important point, there is a potential to dislocate the LASIK flap if one is hit at the right angle, years after LASIK surgery.  This is one of the reasons I advocate treating those patients who are involved in activities (boxers, special forces, etc) that may preclude them to get hit in the eye with surface treatments such as LASEK.  This procedure creates no flap, and thus minimizes future risk.

"Vodka Eyeballing": What's The Matter With Kids Today?

Now I've heard it all, the latest trend from the youth in England is called "Vodka Eyeballing."  It involves putting an open bottle of vodka in direct contact with one's open eye!  The claim is that it leads to a faster high, although it appears that those doing it on YouTube are already wasted!

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has issued a statement that I totally agree with:

A dangerous drinking game called "vodka eyeballing" is attracting public attention on YouTube. People need to be aware that anyone who pours vodka directly into his eye risks damaging the surface epithelial cells–often causing pain and infection. More seriously, "eyeballing" can also lead to permanent vision damage by killing endothelial cells in deeper layers of the eye's cornea. This is unlikely, but possible. The cornea is the clear outer part of the eye that focuses light and provides much of the optical power. Depending on the amount of alcohol and length of time it is in contact with the eye, epithelial cell loss could result in corneal ulcers or scarring, not to mention a great deal of pain. And if endothelial cells die off, vision recovery would be uncertain. "Eyeballers" do not even get a "quick high" as claimed, because the volume of vodka absorbed by the conjunctiva and cornea is too small to have that effect.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology strongly advises the public not to engage in "vodka eyeballing."

Treating Astigmatism: No Distace Glasses After Cataract Surgery With Toric IOL

Paul Cooper was a nearsighted patient with astigmatism who developed cataracts.  He has spent much of his life dependent on glasses.  After consultation, Mr. Cooper opted to have a toric IOL implanted during his cataract surgery.  This allowed him the best possible spectacle free vision.  One day after the surgery, Mr Cooper is seeing 20/20 and anxiously awaiting surgery on the second eye.

Mr. Cooper was kind enough to share his experience with us at EyeCare 20/20: