The LASIK Blog

The LASIK Blog is Moving to Our New Web Site!

I started The LASIK Blog over 3 years ago as a seperate entity from my office's main web site, EyeCare2020.com.  I have been very happy by the response, you, my readers have given it.  Thank you.

I am please to announce that we have launched our new and improved web site last night!  Although I got many complements concerning the old site, I had many issues with it.  It was created with old technology, it was static and difficult to update, and it was not able to keep up with the rapidly changing technology of both ophthalmology and social media.  The new site will be a constantly evolving site; new features will be constantly added to the site as the world of ophtalmology changes.  In addition, The LASIK Blog will be moving directly onto the site!

I hope you all will continue to read my posts, and drop me a note if there is something you want to talk about!!

Good Guys Wear White Coats (Lab Coats)

I am one of the surgeons featured in an article in this month's issue of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today!  Good Guys Wear White Coats (Lab Coats) talks about "social capatilism."  The Premium Practice section editor, and a friend, Shareef Mahdavi describes it best:

There is a change underway in how companies do business. This so-called social capitalism in which social entrepreneurs give back to the community is as essential to the enterprise as the profit motive. TOMS Shoes (www.toms.com; Santa Monica, CA) is a great example, having given away over 1 million pairs of shoes to children around the world as part of its “one for one” program. One pair of shoes is donated for every pair sold (these shoes are very cool looking and comfortable, by the way).

Eye care has long been known for eyeglasses donations and surgical mission trips, and the need for today’s premium practice to have its own version of social entrepreneurship has never been greater. Why? Because today’s consumer is spending money more carefully and paying much more attention to whom they do business with—including their health care providers. Being perceived as “authentic” in the eyes of your patient is the goal, and those practices that take a sincere and serious approach to giving back will be recognized and rewarded by patients. This month, we feature surgeons whose practices are “walking the talk” when it comes to giving back. I trust that they will serve as inspiration for you to get started or do even more to use your skills toward making the world a better place.

The article goes on to describe how several ophthalmologists are giving back.  My efforrts with Vision Harvest and Charity:Water are discussed.  Hope you enjoy reading it.  Here is a PDF of the full article:  Download Good Guys Wear White

By the way, I don't wear a white lab coat, never have.  I feel it seperates me from my patients.  I like to be really comfortable, don't wear a jacket or tie either!  I often bike to the office and take a shower, you can usually catch me wearing scrubs!

2 EyeCare 20/20 Docs Named Inside New Jersey's 2010 Top Doctors

Inside New Jersey Magazine came out with their 2010 Top Doctor List this past weekend.  EyeCare 20/20 had 2 on the list:

• Dr. Joel Eichler for retinal surgery.

• Dr. Cary Silverman for LASIK and refractive cataract surgery.

According to Inside New Jersey:

This year’s lineup of Top Doctors is IJ’s largest, covering the entire state, north and south.

IJ’s continuing partnership with Castle Connolly Medical, the gold standard for medical ratings research, provides consumers with the most authoritative and informed assessment of doctors in the region.

The selection process for IJ’s Top Doctors edition is conducted by Castle Connolly’s physician-led research team.

It begins by asking thousands of physicians and health care professionals to identify excellent doctors in every specialty in their region and throughout the nation.

Doctors do not, and cannot, pay to be selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor. The screening process Castle Connolly follows a rigorous survey, research and screening processes.

Here is how it works. Castle Connolly . . .

★ Selects only physicians who are board certified and for whom the company has validated that the board certifications are current.

★ Uses “minimum years in practice” standards, based on the medical specialty, because studies show quality increases with clinical experience.

★ Surveys, by mail and online, thousands of physicians and other health care professionals and asks them to identify excellent doctors in every specialty in their region and throughout the nation. While the nomination process is anonymous and confidential, each invitee has a unique access code to the nomination website. This code helps ensure doctors do not nominate themselves.

★ Makes thousands of phone calls each year, talking with leading specialists, chairs of clinical departments and vice presidents of medical affairs, seeking to identify top specialists for most diseases and procedures.

★ Reviews the credentials of every physician under consideration, including his or her medical education, training, hospital appointments, administrative posts, professional achievements, and malpractice and disciplinary history. Information on outcomes, procedure volume and malpractice is becoming increasingly available, but the public disclosure varies from state to state. Castle Connolly uses its best efforts to gather the information that is available and use it effectively. Ultimately, however, it is the professional judgment of the Castle Connolly editors, the chief medical and research officer and the research staff that determines Castle Connolly Top Doctors selection.

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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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; [email protected]

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.

Nora Kirk Loves Her New Vision Following ICL

Dr. Sapna Parikh interviewing Nora Kirk for Fox 5 News.

As I mentioned yesterday, Fox 5 was at EyeCare 20/20 this week for an upcoming story.  Nora Kirk was one of our patients who was interviewed.  Nora sent us an e-mail today about her experience:

Hi Kerrie.

How are you . I just wanted to say thank you for thinking of me for the fox 5 news interview.  It was very exciting. I really have not given Dr. Silverman, you & your staff the proper thank you for all you have done.  I've been pretty busy with my family & work all of this time,  I have never forgotten the gift of sight that was made possible through Dr, Silverman and your staff.  I have very high regards for all of you and I always try to encourage those I come into contact with about the services you provide. I have and always will have the upmost respect and confidence in Dr. Silverman and his associates. Again if I may be of any service in the near future, please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
 
Yours truly,
 
Nora Kirk