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.

LASIK: "It's a Totally Different World"

Tristan Pittmann had LASIK this week.  Tristan has been wearing glasses for distance since he was 8 years old.  He's been thinking abut it for over 5 years.  But like many of our patients, he was nervous to undergo the procedure.  After the LASIK he commented to me, "I can't believe I waited so long to have it!"  I wish I had a dollar for every patient that has said that to me...

Tristan was kind enough to discuss his LASIK experience at EyeCare 20/20:

 

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.

 

 

My Top 10 LASIK Blog Posts of 2010

Hard to believe its the end of 2010.  Boy, has this year flown by...  It's time again to list my top 10 blog posts of the year.  Here they are:

1. One-Sided Reporting:  Diane Sawyer of ABC News Covers LASIK With Bias Reporting.  This was by far my most read blog post of the year.  It was very popular within the ophthalmology community and was discussed in a number of blogs and publications.
2. Vision Harvest 2010.  This is a series of posts promoting our second annual free cataract surgery initiative.  It was a great success with over 25 people receiving free cataract surgery this year.
3. Get LASIK and Help Build a Well. The Charity Water Project.  This was our first offer combining charitable giving with a discount for LASIK surgery.  These efforts have been quite successful with over $6,000 going to various charities since July!  We will continue to tie charitable giving with LASIK discount offers in 2011.  Stay tuned!
4. Avastin vs. Lucentis in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration  By: Wendy Bedale.  The Avastin:Lucentis controversy has also been a popular topic on my blog.  Wendy Bedale was kind enough to allow me to reprint her excellent paper describing the history of this treatment for macular degeneration.
5. Traumatic Dislocation of LASIK Flaps 4 and 9 Years After Surgery.  An article that I wrote about a rare late complication of LASIK that was published in the Journal of Refractive Surgery.
6. LASIK for the Gold.  Our LASIK for the Gold program allowed a number of winter athletes to receive LASIK surgery.  Our athletes won 7 medals in the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.  Several more will competing in the 2012 Summer Games in London!
7. An Ode to LASIK.  Another borrowed post from Sonja Johnson, who sings the praises for LASIK.
8. My Dad Turns 80 and I Find Out His ReSTOR Eyes Are Better Than Mine! An "aha" moment, when I discover my dad sees better without glasses than me..
9. Video Testimonials.  ANother ongoing category where I interview patients who discuss the results of their various surgical procedures.
10. 5 Reasons Not to Get LASIK at a Corporate LASIK Center.  This says it all, a case for personalized care..

 

I hope you all have enjoyed reading this blog.  I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you in 2011.  We at EyeCare 20/20 can only hope that the next year brings everyone much health and happiness.  If there is anything you would like me to discuss, please feel free to drop me a note at [email protected]

 

Pupil Size Not A Factor in LASIK Outcomes

There is an interesting article presented for publication in Ophthalmology titled:  Effect of Preoperative Pupil Size on Quality of Vision after Wavefront-Guided LASIK by Annie Chan MD and Edward E. Manche MD out of Stanford University.  This paper studies what I have noticed for a long time:  pre operative pupil size does not effect quality of vision in wavefront guided LASIK. 

Although large pupil size is viewed by some ophthalmologists as a relative contraindication to undergoing LASIK, preoperative pupil size does not affect quality of vision after wavefront-guided LASIK.  There is no doubt that with first generation lasers, pupil size was an important factor in determining night vision issues,.  However, I soon noticed that this was not the case when I upgraded to the Allegretto laser over 5 years ago.  This study supports my observations.

The study evaluated the effect of pupil size on quality of vision after wavefront-guided LASIK in a  study of 51 patients undergoing the procedure for mild to moderate myopia or astigmatism.  Pupil size was divided into 3 groups:

• 31 small pupils (up to 5.5 mm)
• 36 medium pupils (5.4-6.4 mm)
• 32 large pupils (at least 6.5 mm)

Night time glare, haze, and halo scores were increased for all pupil sizes in the first month, but improved over the folowing months. There was no significant differences among the 3 groups.   Visual clarity at night and day improved from baseline at all visits, and there was no association between pupil size and these measurements.

The authors conclude:

A number of previous studies found a strong correlation between the level of attempted correction and visual symptoms, particularly glare, after refractive surgery.  It is possible that the use of wavefront-guided ablations may play a role in reducing visual symptoms after refractive surgery, especially in eyes with higher levels of myopia and astigmatism.

Further comparative studies are needed to validate this hypothesis.

This paper supports what I have been telling my patients for a long time:  although it has been reported in the past that night vision issues may be related to pupil size, I do not see it with the Allegretto laser, in fact, I more commonly see an improvement in night vision as compared to glasses or contact lenses.

How $55 Can Buy 20 Meals and Save on 20/20 Vision

Join EyeCare 20/20 in our efforts to see that no one goes hungry this Thanksgiving season. Simply make a donation of $55 to the Market Street Mission.  This will provide 20 meals for the less fortunate. Than EyeCare 20/20 will match your donation and extend a $750 discount toward LASIK.

Since 1889, the Market Street Mission has been reaching out to the poor and needy in Morris County, New Jersey. Market Street assists individuals to overcome homelessness, addictions, and disabilities. Last year alone, the Market Street Mission served 88,067 meals to homeless and underprivileged individuals.

Want to do more?   Forward this link 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 (follow me), post about it on Facebook (become a fan), tell your friends. The more people involved, the more change we can make.

ObamaCare limits on FSA Accounts in Future: The Time to Get LASIK Is NOW!

It's that time of year again when patients are coming into our office to see if they are good candidates for LASIK.  If so, they are electing to put money away for their LASIK next year, usually in January.  Also known as medical and health care spending accounts, these are offered by about 85% of large employers and many smaller ones as well.  FSAs allow workers to set aside their own money to cover co-payments, deductibles and other uninsured medical expenses ranging from dentistry to prescriptions.  The advantage:  these expenses are paid with pre-tax dollars!  This amounts to a 20% to 30% cost savings.

You decide how much to contribute (up to the current $5,000 maximum); your company deducts a pro-rata share of that contribution from each paycheck throughout the year.  You do not have to wait for the money to accumulate, procedures may be performed at the beginning of the new year.  To use your FSA dollars, you’re usually given a debit card loaded with the entire year’s worth of savings that you have elected to set aside.

Up till now, there has been one catch: any amount you don’t use by year end is forfeited. This is why it is important to make sure you are a good LASIK candidate before putting that money aside.  I remember one patient several years ago who came in for LASIK surgery in December.  He was planning on using his FSA dollars he had previously set aside, but soon learned that he was not a good candidate.  He ended up scrambling to get a hair transplant to use those dollars before the end of the year!

With the ObamaCare "reform", two new changes will be made in FSA accounts:

1. Beginning in 2011, over-the-counter medicines will not be eligible, unless you have a prescription from your doctor.  This will have no effect on our LASIK patients.
2. Beginning in 2013, the new health care reform law will limit FSA accounts to $2,500 per year.  Compare this to the $5,000 limit now in effect.  What this means is that starting in 2013, FSAs will only be able to fund about half the cost of your LASIK surgery!  Obviously, this is another blatant attempt by the Obama administration to tax the middle class!

So, my advice to those with FSAs who are contemplating LASIK in the future:

• Find out now if you are a good LASIK candidate before setting aside your money.
• Have the surgery before 2013 so that you can fully fund the LASIK and take adsvantage of the tax advantages that you deserve, but are losing because of ObamaCare!