The LASIK Blog

EyeCare 20/20 Supporting AmeriCares: Help Japan and Save on LASIK

With over 161,000 people still living in evacuation centers more than three weeks after the massive earthquake and tsunami, and thousands more who have nowhere to go and are living in their cars, the humanitarian condition in Japan is still dire.  According the World Health Organization, more than half of the hospitals located in the hardest hit cities of Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures have reached full capacity and are unable to accept new patients, and 33 hospitals are unable to accept any patients at all due to lack of resources and staff.  

The first emergency airlift of medical supplies from AmeriCares has arrived in Japan.  The more than 17 tons of critical aid is being received by Tohoku University Hospital in Sendai to support health care efforts in the devastated region.

AmeriCares is a nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs - and supports long-term humanitarian assistance programs - for all people around the world, irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion. AmeriCares has developed partnerships here in the U.S. and around the world that ensure that for every dollar you donate to AmeriCares, they can deliver $35 in lifesaving medicines, medical supplies and humanitarian aid to the people who need it the most.

From now until June, EyeCare 20/20 is supporting AmeriCares and their continuing relief efforts for those affected by the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. You can help too,  make a $50 donation to AmeriCares and we will match the donation and give you $500 off a bilateral LASIK procedure.

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.

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.

 

Make a Difference and Save: Go Red and Get LASIK!

 

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.
 
Go Red For Women has raised more than $200 million to benefit women's cardiovascular health. The American Heart Association uses revenue collected to support awareness, research, education and community programs to benefit women and to motivate them to reduce their risks.

Isn't it time you joined the thousands of people who have fallen in love with LASIK?  People from all facets of life who now share a common thread: Good Vision.

 

 

Warm Coats Warm Hearts Drive a Huge Success!

EyeCare 20/20's annual Warm Coats Warm Hearts Drive was a huge success.  This year, in exchange for bringing a coat into our office, patients received $500 off their LASIK procedure.  Over 50 coats were collected!

Today we dropped the coats off at our local Burlington Coat Factory.  Hopefully, these coats will find their way to those in need to help keep them warm this winter.

Thank you to everyone who made this year's coat drive possible.  Stay tuned to our next charitable endeavor...

My wife, Melissa, and I dropping the coats off at the Burlington Coat Factory.

What We Do With Your Glasses After LASIK

I have posted in the past about what we at EyeCare 20/20 do with old glasses following LASIK and Refractive Cataract Surgery.  Basically, we set up collection boxes in our reception area for our patient to donate their old glasses.  We must collect over 10 large boxes of glasses annually.  We then donate these glassses to those in need. 

Our last supply was given to Mike Kambourakis and the Rotary Club of the Caldwells, who arranged to help the people of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.  His story was told in a local paper, and reprinted below, along with a letter from Mike.

If you have glasses that you no longer use and would like to donate them, drop them in the mail to:

EyeCare 20/20
Glasses Donation
46 Eagle Rock Ave.
East Hanover, NJ  07936

We will be happy to make sure that they get to someone in need!

 

 

 

   

The Best Holiday Gift Yet!

Yesterday was EyeCare 20/20's annual holiday party. We had it at a local Hibatchi Steak House and it was a lot of fun. Each year the staff all chip in to buy me a nice present.  Past years I have gotten everything from a wine making class to fly fishing supplies to biking accessories.

This year was the best gift yet.  Everyone chipped in to buy a bag of toys for me to donate to our Toys for Tots Drive!  As they say, it always feels better to give than receive!

For those of you who missed my last post, EyeCare is partnering with both Toy's for Tots and Warm Coats Warm Hearts to collect toys and coats for the less fortunate.  If you are in the area, please drop something off.

I posted some pictures of the party on Flickr for anyone interested.

Have a Happy Holiday Season!!

Tis the Season: Give Us a Toy, Give Us a Coat, Let's Spread the Joy!!

In keeping with our new tradition of giving back, this month we at EyeCare 20/20, have decided to join forces with the Madison Police Department and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots, as well as Burlington Coat Factory and Good Morning America's Warm Coats, Warm Hearts Coat Drive. Bring in a new, unwrapped toy OR a new or gently used coat at the time of your initial LASIK consultation and receive a $500 gift certificate good towards a bi-lateral LASIK procedure*. As a special bonus, you'll also receive a second $500 gift certificate that you can use to give to that hard to buy for person on your list this year.

Don't need LASIK? Not to worry, Bring in a new, unwrapped toy OR a new or gently used coat and receive a $60 coupon good for any complete pair of prescription eyeglasses or $20 off any non-prescription sunglasses in our optical shop

Toy donations will be accepted until 12/20/10.
Coat and outerwear donations will be accepted until 1/10/11.

 

Have a happy and healthy holiday season!! 

ABOUT THE CHARITIES:

For over the 58 years of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Marines have distributed more than 351 million toys for 166 million needy children. This charitable endeavor has made the U.S. Marines the unchallenged leaders in looking after needy children at Christmas. In its second year of participation, the Madison Police Department is looking to beat last year's record of collecting 500 toys for needy children. Let's help them reach that goal. Even the smallest toy can help make a difference.

All coats and outerwear collected will be dropped off at the Burlington Coat Factory in Montville and then distributed to people in need. Other types of outwear are also being accepted, such as sweaters, jackets, sweatshirts and even hats and gloves.

 

2010 EyeCare 20/20 Open a Huge Success

L-R:  Geoff Mitchell, Scott Leighton (consulation winner), Faraz Kahn (winner), Naim Bulbulia (runner-up), and Cary Silverman

 

The annual EyeCare 20/20 Open was played at the Chatham Club this past weekend.  This event has traditionally been the first open squash tournament of the season in New Jersey.  Once again, Geoff Mitchell did a wonderful job organizing the tournament, with over 45 entries!

Today's men's 5.5 finals pitted experience vs youth.  This year, youth prevailed with 17 year old Faraz Kahn outdueling squash vereran Naim Bulbulia in 3 games, 11-2, 11-9, 11-3.  Faraz is one of the top junior players in the country, and will competing in both the US and British Opens later this year!

Those interested can view the entire tournament draw, or view more pictures of the event.