The LASIK Blog

Piggy BackToric IOL Improves from -18.0 to 20/20 Witout Glasses

Christine was in my office today 1 week after her cataract surgery on her second eye.  She is already seeing 20/20 without glasses!  What makes this story unique is that she was an extremely nearsighted and astigmatic patient with cataracts.  Before surgery she had a correction of -18 myopia and -2 of astigmatism.  Her best correctied vision was a blurry 20/50.

After discussing cataract surgery, we decided that Christine's best chance of excellent vision was with a toric IOL.  There was only 1 problem, because of the amount of nearsightedness she had there was no toric IOL in her power.  The surgical plan I came up with was to piggy back to implants, one toric (to correct her astigmatism and most of her nearsightedness) and the other spherical (to correct the residual nearsightedness.

The results were better than expected, 20/20 vision 1 week after surgery!  Christine was kind enough to both donate her old glasses today and to discuss her results with me.

 

 

 

One Year after Gold Medal: Curt Tomasevicz Still Enjoying His New Vision!

 

Curt Tomasevicz, a member of Team USA's gold medal winning 4-man bobsled, Night Train, dropped us a note last week, thanking us for his LASIK results:

"Life is so much easier without the discomfort and annoyance of contacts and glasses. I love being able to train without vision impairment as a distraction. I can focus on simply improving my strength and speed to push the sled. This hassle-free training allowed me to reach my best at the 2010 Olympics and win the Gold medal. Thanks Dr. Silverman and staff for playing a key role in my success!"

He also sent along some awesome memorabilia including a signed copy of the Sports Illustrated cover featuring the Night Train.  I can't wait to have them framed and hanging on the office walls!  Thanks Curt!

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:

 

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.

 

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.

 

My Dad Turns 80 and I Find Out His ReSTOR Eyes Are Better Than Mine!

My dad turned 80 yesterday!  My sister and I decided to buy him an iPad for his birthday.  He constantly travels back and forth to Florida, and is always watching movies on a mini DVD player, or listening to a book on tape.  I figured an iPad would allow him to do all it in one.  Only one problem, he is technologically challenged.

So, yesterday, after giving him his present, I spent some time configuring the iPad.  He didn't even know if he had wireless in his house!  After finding the wireless router I had to figure out it's code and password.  Luckily they are printed on the router.

Now, at 54 years old, I consider myself lucky.  I have perfect distance vision, and generally don't wear readers.  This is certainly the exception.  The print on the router is quite small, and every time I entered the information onto the iPad it did not configure!  Finally I handed the router to my dad and asked him to read it.  He got it right the first time and the router was configured!

Now, he also has perfect distance vision and doesn't wear readers!  The difference?  I did cataract surgery on my dad 2 years ago and implanted the ReSTOR multifocal IOL.

I hate to admit it, but it appears that his 80 year old ReSTOR eyes work better than my 54 year old eyes!  Boy is that depressing...

Harvest Vision Once Again: The Music Video

I introduced Warren Barootajan back in August of this year.  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.

Warren was able to participate in this year's Vision Harvest free cataract program last month.  Besides being a carpenter, I also discovered he is a songwriter!  he was kind enough to write a song, "Harvest Vision", and produce a music video for our Vision Harvest Program!

He wrote:

It was almost 2 years ago I was declared legally blind in the state of New York and I was without work or health insurance. Now I have 20/20 vision in my right eye thanks to Dr Silverman and so many others. As a songwriter I thought it was my responsibility to thank everyone who volunteered their time,talents and supp...lies on that special day , Oct 28th-2010, hence "Harvest Vision Once Again"
It is all I can do at the moment. please accept this token of gratitude

-Warren E Barootjian

Well, here is the music video, "Harvest Vision Once Again."  I think he did a great job!~  Hope you all enjoy it!

 

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?

LASIK for the Gold Athlete Updates: Less then 2 Years Till London!!

With the 2010 Winter Olympics but a recent memory, our LASIK for the Gold program has been very quiet of late.  Just to recap, this program provides free LASIK surgery to our Olympic athletes in an effort to afford them the best oportunity for Gold.  The 2010 Games proved to be a success with our athletes taking home seven medals!

I thought I would share what some of our 2012 summer athletes have recently been up to or said about their experience:

Table Tennis sensation, Samson Dubina dropped us an e-mail last week:

Dear Dr. Silverman and the staff at eyecare 20/20,
 
I wanted to update you on my life and training.  My last tournament was the North American Championship.  I finished #6 in the continent which boosted my world ranking 80 positions and raised my national ranking.  Right now I'm training for the US National Championships (last year I finished 2nd in the country.)  In preparation, I'll be having one of the best Japanese players living out my house and training me 6 hours/day.
 
Thanks for you support!  I'll keep you posted when I have a competition in NJ sometime!
 

Samson Dubina

On Sunday, pole vaulter, Melinda Owen, wrote to her FaceBook Fans:

When I head to bed, and then again when I wake up. . . I am constantly reminded of how grateful I am to Cary Silverman for doing Lasik on me. His generosity really has made a huge impact on my life!!!o

BMXer, Arielle Martin responded to her with:

I'm with you buddy, nothing like waking up in the morning seeing clear and perfect! Dr. Silverman rocks! Hope your killing it over there...

Less than 2 years till the Summer Games in London.  Things will begin picking up here.  We are all looking forward to more Olympic glory!!

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.