The LASIK Blog

Vision Harvest 2010: Jeff Discusses His Cataracts, Glare, and Inability to Work

Jeff made the trip to EyeCare 20/20 last week to participate in this year's Vision Harvest free cataract surgery day, set for October 22.  He has been complaining of decreased vision and extreme glare.  This has affected his ability to work as a carpenter....  And we see that vicious cycle again: 

• cataracts cause poor vision
• can't see well enough to work
• lose job
• lose insurance
• can't afford cataract surgery

This brings up one of my pet peeves about our current health insurance system, it is pegged to employment!  When one loses their job they also lose their insurance when it is most needed...  Obviously this system is broken and needs to be fixed.  What do you think?

Vision Harvest 2010: Waren Discusses His Cataract Troubles

With the date of this year's Vision Harvest set for October 22, we are starting to see many patients at EyeCare 20/20 in need of cataract surgery who are without the means to pay for it.  I will be posting many stories over the next several weeks.  Here is Warren's story. 

Warren is a 63 year cabinet maker from upstate NY. His poor vision from cataracts have contributed to his inability to work. Without insurance he is unable to seek treatment. He has become frustrated with trying to receive treatment thru a broken system..

Cataract surgery will be provided free of charge to those patients with cataracts, who do not have insurance, and cannot afford the surgery. If you or someone you know is in need of cataract surgery,  please call the Vision Harvest Hotline at: 973-200-8250.

First Vision Harvest Bike Ride: 120 Miles For Free Cataract Surgery

Next Saturday, I plan on riding my bicycle from Livingston to Margate New Jersey.  I figure the route will be about 120 miles, it should be quite challenging.  I have also decided to incorporate my biking passion with raising some money for the upcoming Vision Harvest event.  Since August is National Cataract Awareness Month, the timing couldn't be better!

As I have previously announced, Friday, October 22 will be the date for the second annual Vision Harvest free cataract surgery day at River Drive Surgery Center. Cataract surgery will be provided free of charge to those patients with cataracts, who do not have insurance, and cannot afford the surgery. Those interested should call the Vision Harvest Hotline at: 973-200-8250. Last year,in our inaugural event, we were able to provide free cataract surgery to 20 patients.

Doctors will be donating their time and skills, pharmaceutical companies will be donating medications, and surgical companies will be donating surgical supplies, but there will still be costs to incur.   I am hoping to increase awareness through this ride and raise some money.   Contributions will help defray hard costs, such as surgical center staffing, equipment, and supplies not donated by suppliers. We are currently in the process of applying for non-profit status, and therefore this cannot be considered a tax deductable donation at this time.  Your help is greatly appreciated!

Vision Harvest Free Cataract Surgery Press Release

Since August is Cataract Awareness Month, we decided to get an early start to this year's Vision Harvest initiative.  Here is a copy of our press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact: Keri Muli @ 20/20 Communications, Inc.

P: 973-560-1500

F: 973-560-0419

[email protected]

 

VISION HARVEST 2010

Local Area Eye Surgeons Will Be Giving Back Again This Fall

    Free Cataract Surgery Offered For Those Patients Who Are Uninsured And In Need Of Treatment

 

Elmwood Park, NJ, August 2, 2010- Doctors at the River Drive Surgery and Laser Center of Elmwood Park, New Jersey, will again offer FREE cataract surgery this year for those without health insurance during Vision Harvest 2010. During last year’s event, the vision of 20 patients was dramatically improved thanks to the program. On October 22, 2010, select physicians at the center will be performing cataract surgery procedures for those that are uninsured and can’t afford to pay.  According to the 2009 Gallup-Healthways Well-Bring Index, about one in six American adults are without health insurance. “While a large majority of Americans have health insurance coverage, roughly 16% are still uninsured. My colleagues and I all agree no one should go without needed cataract surgery due to finances,” said East Hanover ophthalmologist, Cary M. Silverman, M.D. who organized the event. “We want to make sure that any vision impaired person in New Jersey without insurance or financial resources learns about this remarkable program.”

 

Over the next few weeks, participating eye physicians will be evaluating prospective cataract patients and scheduling them for their free procedure.  Eligible patients will have all eye examinations, testing, medications, and surgery provided to them free of charge.

 

Participating ophthalmologists in this year’s Vision Harvest program include:

 

·       Philip Eichler, M.D.- Eye Institute of Essex, Belleville/ Verona, NJ

·       Michael Farbowitz, M.D.- Short Hills Ophthalmology, Short Hills, NJ

·       Kenneth Miller, M.D.- Miller Ophthalmology Associates, LLC, West Orange, NJ

·       Scott Pomerantz, M.D.- Metropolitan Eye Care, Paramus, NJ

·       Cary M Silverman, M.D.- EyeCare 20/20, East Hanover, NJ

For more information, interested patients should call 973-200-8250 to set up a free evaluation to determine their candidacy.

 

Cataracts are a progressive condition that cause the eye's lens to become cloudy, and eventually opaque leading to a progressive dimming of your vision. The exact cause of cataracts is unclear, but they occur in everyone as they age. Cataracts may be the result of a lifetime of exposure to ultraviolet rays, and other factors such as cigarette smoking, diet, and alcohol consumption. Cataracts can also occur at any age as a result of other causes such as eye injury, exposure to toxic substances or radiation, certain medications or as a result of other diseases such as diabetes.

 

About River Drive: Located in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, River Drive Surgery and Laser Center was created as an ophthalmic ambulatory surgery facility dedicated to providing patients with excellence in eye care in a warm and caring environment. The center is designed as a facility which is planned and administered to render a safe, comfortable, effective environment for patients and personnel, and to give assistance to the medical staff in meeting certain restorative health needs of patients without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin.

 

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Vision Harvest 2010: Free Cararact Surgery Date Set

Friday, October 22 will be the date for the second annual Vision Harvest free cataract surgery day at River Drive Surgery Center.  Cataract surgery will be provided free of charge to those patients with cataracts, who do not have insurance, and cannot afford the surgery.  Those interested should call the Vision Harvest Hotline at:

973-200-8250

Last year,in our inaugural event, we were able to provide free cataract surgery to 20 patients.  Here is part 1 of interviews with some of the patients we were able to help last year.

I am hoping to treat many more this year.  If you know someone who can benefit from this program, please call or pass it along.

Over the next few months I will blog about more information concerning Vision Harvest as it comes available.

See Water: Donate $100, Have it Matched, and Save $1,000 on LASIK

Last week I posted about Charity:Water and its manifesto:

It’s hard not to think about water today. In the western world, we face growing concerns about our stewardship of the world’s most precious resource. There’s talk of shortages, evidence of reservoirs and aquifers drying up, and of course, plenty of people who simply don’t care.

But forget about us.

Most of us have never really been thirsty. We’ve never had to leave our houses and walk 5 miles to fetch water. We simply turn on the tap, and water comes out. Clean. Yet there are a billion people on the planet who don’t have clean water.
It’s hard to imagine what a billion people looks like really, but one in eight might be easier. One in eight people in our world don’t have access to the most basic of human needs. Something we can’t imagine going 12 hours without.
Here, we’d like to introduce you to a few of those billion people. They are very real, and they need our help. They didn’t choose to be born into a village where the only source of water is a polluted swamp. And we didn’t choose to be born in a country where even the homeless have access to clean water and a toilet.
We invite you to put yourself in their shoes. Follow them on their daily journey. Carry 80 pounds of water in yellow fuel cans. Dig with their children in sand for water. Line up at a well and wait 8 hours for a turn.
Now, make a decision to help. We’re not offering grand solutions and billion dollar schemes, but instead, simple things that work. Things like freshwater wells, rainwater catchments and sand filters. For about $20 a person, we know how to help millions.

Start by helping one.

What a worthwhile cause.  Last week I mentioned that EyeCare 20/20 will donate $50 for every LASIK procedure we perform through Labor Day.  I have decided to take it a step further:

See : Water

To encourage others to donate, in addition to the $50 per eye that we are donating, EyeCare 20/20 will also give a $500 discount per eye for every $50 donated by our patients before surgery.  We are encouraging our patients, both past, present, and future, to get their friends who are considering LASIK involved as well.  Here is a copy of an e-mail blast going out to all out patients, please pass it on:

SEE: THE GOOD IN WATER

 

Did you know? Right now, almost a billion people don't have access to clean, safe drinking water. 

That's one in eight of us. 

Charity: Water is a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 

They use 100% of public donations to directly fund sustainable water solutions in areas of greatest need.  Just $20 can give one person clean water for 20 years!

Right now, EyeCare 20/20 is partnering with our friend Andy Sernowitz and the folks at GasPedal to use the power of recommendations and referrals to bring clean, safe drinking water to developing nations, we call it See: Water.

Donate $50 per eye to Charity: Water now through Labor Day and EyeCare 20/20 will match it, and extend a $500.00 per eye discount towards LASIK*. 

So pass this water bottle and coupon along to a friend or family member who is interested in LASIK and have them do the same, and then encourage them to do the same, get the picture?! Blog it, tweet it, post about it on Facebook, tell your friends. The more people involved, the more change we can make.

For more information about Charity: Water and for donation information, log on to: www.mycharitywater.org/wom 

*LASIK discount maximum not to exceed $1000.00- $500 per eye. Not to be combined with any other coupon or discount. Offer expires 9/6/10. Proof of donation amount/ receipt required to obtain discount.

Get LASIK and Help Build a Well: The Charity Water Project

Andy Sernovitz is a friend of mine who runs an excellent conference called "The How to be Great at Word of Mouth Marketing Conference".  The next conference is next week on July 20 in NYC.  I have worked with Andy in the past and highly recommend this conference.  In conjunction with this conference, Andy is attempting to raise $50,000 for Charity Water

Right now, almost a billion people don't have access to clean, safe drinking water.  That's one in eight of us.  charity:water is a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.  They use 100% of public donations to directly fund sustainable water solutions in areas of greatest need.  Just $20 can give one person clean water for 20 years!

Watch this video, I am sure you will be enlightened and moved:

In an attempt to help Andy to reach his goal to raise $50,000, EyeCare 20/20 will donate $50 for every LASIK procedure that we preform from today through Labor Day.  I also invite any of our patients or readers to donate directly towards Andy's campaign.

 

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!

The Seeing Eye Free LASIK Auction Ends Thursday!

The Seeing Eye is one of EyeCare 20/20's favorite charities.  Once again, EyeCare 20/20 has donated a LASIK surgery to the Seeing Eye's current on-line auction.

Since 1929, The Seeing Eye, Inc., located in Morristown, N.J., has been assisting people who are blind to enhance their independence and self-confidence through the use of Seeing Eye dogs.

This auction is your chance to assist them in their mission to help people transform challenges into opportunities, obstacles into victories, and Seeing Eye Dogs into partners in life's triumphs.  Your participation will ensure that The Seeing Eye continues to provide its pioneering and innovative services for generations to come.  

Click here to bid on this auction. But hurry, bidding closes at 11:59 PM EDT on May 13!

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

 

Today was an exciting day here at EyeCare 20/20.  We were fortunate to host the olympic Bronze Medal USA Bobsled team of Erin Pac and Elana Meyers.  They were in town for two reasons. 

First, they were here to let the public get a look at their Bronze Medals, sign autographed pictures, and talk about their Olympic experiences.  About 100 people came in to take advantage of this unique opportunity.  I posted photos of the event on our Flickr site.

Second, Elana was in town to join Erin as a member of the LASIK for the Gold team.  Before an athlete can qualify for LASIK for the Gold, we have them get some preliminary testing at home so that I can review the results.  If everything looks OK, they are scheduled to come to New Jersey for additional testing and undergo LASIK surgery.  Unfortunately, this additional testing showed that Elana was not a good LASIK candidate, and the surgery was canceled.  I think I was as disappointed as Elana!

This brings me to an important point:  I truly believe you can tell how good a LASIK surgeon is NOT by the difficult cases he claims to perform, but by those cases he doesn't do.  Most of the complications I see on consultation could have been avoided by never doing the surgery!  The key to excellent results is in preoperative screening and avoiding those patients who are not good candidates for the procedure!