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.

 

 

 

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.

 

ICLs Surpass 200,000 World Wide Implants

STAAR Surgical has announced that more than 200,000 of its implantable contact lenses (Visian Implantable Collamer Lens) have been implanted in patients worldwide.

Since 1994, these lenses have been used in refractive surgery as an alternative to LASIK.  I have been using the ICL for the past 4 years, since their introduction to the US, to effectively treat my myopic patients who either have a degree of myopia too high to be treated with LASIK, or who would not do well with corneal refractive surgery. 

Since it was introduced in 2006, the Visian ICL has been improving the vision of the bravest people in our nation under the harshest of conditions imaginable. In fact, to date surgeons in the US military have implanted over 3,000 ICLs with results that are nothing less of heroic. In a retrospective analysis of outcomes in 139 consecutive eyes of US military personnel implanted with the Visian ICL:

• 100% of patients believe the Visian ICL enables them to function and perform better
• More than 80% patients achieve UVCA on 20/15 or better
• 86% achieve UCVA the same or better than per-op BCVA

The bottom line? If the Visian ICL can meet the needs of US soldiers on the battlefield, one can be confident it will deliver excellent vision for demanding younger patients with active, fast-paced lifestyles – every day.

 

Vision Harvest 2010: From Tennessee to NJ With a Little Help From Her Friends..

So tomorrow is our second annual Vision Harvest free cataract surgery day!  I saw our final patient pre operatively today, and its a great story!  Shirley lives in Tennessee, can't see because of her cataracts, and can't afford surgery as she has no insurance.  Last year her daughter, Amanda heard about our program, after the fact, while surfing the web.  She called our office and was placed on this year's list.

When Amanda got the call about this year's program, she had only 1 concern, how to get her mom to New Jersey to get the free cataract surgery.  Her solution, a facebook campaign to raise money for transportation and hotel during Shirley's stay.  The campaign worked, raising the $600 necessary to make the trip!

I saw Shirley today, she is a good cataract surgery candidate, and will surely benefit from tomorrow's procedure.  We were even able to arrange for her to have free post op care back home in Tennessee.

As I told Shirley in the following video, "She has a great daughter!!"

 

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.

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.

Treating Astigmatism: No Distace Glasses After Cataract Surgery With Toric IOL

Paul Cooper was a nearsighted patient with astigmatism who developed cataracts.  He has spent much of his life dependent on glasses.  After consultation, Mr. Cooper opted to have a toric IOL implanted during his cataract surgery.  This allowed him the best possible spectacle free vision.  One day after the surgery, Mr Cooper is seeing 20/20 and anxiously awaiting surgery on the second eye.

Mr. Cooper was kind enough to share his experience with us at EyeCare 20/20: