The LASIK Blog

Give to the Valerie Fund & Save on LASIK!

Join EyeCare 20/20 in our continuing efforts to give back and help others in need in our community. Thru the month of March, we will be supporting The Valerie Fund, an organization that provides support for the comprehensive health care of children with cancer and blood disorders. Simply donate $50.00 to The Valerie Fund and we'll match it, and you will receive $500 off a bi-lateral LASIK procedure. It's our way of saying thanks for helping support this worthy cause.
 
Established in 1976 in memory of nine year old Valerie Goldstein, by her parents Ed and Sue, The Valerie Fund provides state-of-the-art outpatient health care throughout the tri-state area for children with cancer and blood disorders . Patients receive far more than treatment for their physical illnesses, as the philosophy of The Valerie Fund is to treat them emotionally, socially and developmentally, as well as medically.

Eye Drop to Prevent Cataracts?

For many, the formation of cataracts is a natural part of the aging process, causing the eye's natural lens to cloud and distort vision. The lens is held inside a capsule, and is made of mostly protein fibers and water arranged precisely so as to permit light to pass through without interference. Over time, these fibers begin to break down and cluster together, clouding the lens. As more fibers break down, the clouding becomes denser and covers a greater area of the lens. Cataract surgery becomes necessary to restore clear vision.

In China, there is a non-prescription eye drop that has been used for over 60 years to prevent and treat cataracts.  The active ingredient of this drop is caled pirenoxine (PRX).  There has been no scientific basis for the effectiveness of PRX, until now...

In last months issue of Inorganic Chemistry is an article titled Ditopic Complexation of Selenite Anions or Calcium Cations by Pirenoxine: An Implication for Anti-Cataractogenesis.  In the study, Tzu-Hua Wu and colleagues tested PRX on cloudy solutions that mimic the chemical composition of cataracts. The solutions contained crystallin -- a common lens protein -- combined with either calcium or selenite, two minerals whose increased levels appear to play key roles in the development of cataracts. Presence of PRX reduced the cloudiness of the lens solution containing calcium by 38 percent and reduced the cloudiness of the selenite solution by 11 percent.

"These results may provide a rationale for using PRX as an anti-cataract agent and warrant further biological studies," the article notes.  Who knows, there may be a time in the not to distant future when we will be prescribing these drops to ward off cataract surgery!

No More Glasses in the OR With the ReSTOR IOL!

I work in a very busy outpatient surgery center.  We have over 20 ophthalmologists performing thousands of cataract surgeries yearly.  Several months ago, one of our OR nurses, Linda, approached me.  She was sick and tired of wearing bifocals to drive, work on the computer, chart notes, and eat.  After speaking to many of my patients and their new abilities to function glasses free, Linda decided to pursue her options.  I told her to make an appointment at my office so that I could examine her and give her a recomendation.

It ends up that Linda was moderately farsighted, she needed glasses for all visual tasks.  She also had some small cataracts that were affecting her night driving.  After some more discussion, we decided that cataract surgery with the implantation of the ReSTOR IOL would give Linda the best chance of reducing her need for spectacles.

Linda had her surgery last month, and is now 20/20 both near and far without the need for glasses.  Needless to say, she is thrilled.  In fact today she told me she is bringing a "jealous" friend to my office next week to see what her options are.

 

Wear Red for LASIK a Huge Success!! (Not over yet)

This past Friday was National Wear Red Day.  Each year on the first Friday in February, thousands of hospitals, small businesses,multinational corporations, news broadcasters, schools, individuals and even landmarks “Go Red” to help raise crucial awareness and significant funds in the fight against heart disease in women.  We at EyeCare 20/20 did our part as well.

Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women, taking the life of 1 in 3 women each year.  This means women just like you — mothers, sisters, friends — are dying at the rate of one per minute. In fact, in the time it takes to read this, another woman will die from heart disease!

National Wear Red Day's mission to ensure we never have to deny research that could save a woman’s life. Funds are raised for lifesaving educational programs and the development of new treatments to fight heart disease.

To help raise these needed funds, thru the end of February, EyeCare 20/20 has teamed up with the American Heart Association and Go Red For Women on a mission to fight heart disease in women. Donate $50.00 to the EyeCare 20/20's Go Red fundraising page, we'll match it and you'll receive $500.00 off a bi-lateral LASIK surgery.  Its a win, win, win situation!

Go Pirates! Seton Hall Basketball Winner Loves Her LASIK...

Last year, Seton Hall's Mens Basketball Team offered a free LASIK surgery to their fans the final game of the season at the Rock.  Emilia Keen was the luck winner.  Emilia attends all Seton Hall games as her daughter is a cheer leader for the team.

Emilia was in the office yesterday for her 6 month post op visit.  She is quite happy with her results.  Since she opted for a monovision treatment, she is able to see both distance and close without the need for glasses or contact lenses.