What to expect during your LASIK consultation

Many patients ask me what is going to happen when they come in for a LASIK consultation and I wanted to take this blog to address those concerns in this blog.

Our LASIK consultation last about one hour. At Mann Eye Institute, we feel it is necessary to give our patients the best possible vision correction outcome. We perform multiple tests on our patients to ensure each person is a great candidate for LASIK.

The first test to be performed is mapping of the cornea. The cornea is the tissue at the front of the eye that is reshaped during LASIK. We must ensure that it has a normal shape and that it will not become too steep or too flat after surgery.

The next test is to determine the prescription of the eye. We also check the eye for any signs of diseases that could affect the outcome of LASIK such as dry eyes, cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Part of determining your prescription, is dilation as it is necessary to fully inspect every part of the eye. Dilating the eye also allows us to get a cycloplegic refraction. The cycloplegic refraction allows us to check the prescription of the eye once the lens is in its relaxed position. This is more important for patients who are getting in their forties. When patients reach their forties, glasses become needed for reading because the lens stays in that relaxed position more frequently. By checking the prescription in this way, we are able to predict how your vision needs will change through the years and account for that change when customizing your LASIK procedure.

Patients appreciate that we have one of the most thorough screening processes in town. Choosing a surgeon to trust with your eyes is a decision that is not to be taken lightly. We have the most advanced diagnostic equipment and lasers at Mann Eye Institute, and we strive to give every patient our complete attention and care. Call us today, 800-MY-VISION, to schedule your free consultation and experience Mann Eye Institute for yourself.

What does it take to be a candidate for LASIK?

You may be considering LASIK, but are curious as to weather or not you are a candidate. Most people are LASIK candidates, but even those who are not can often have their vision improved by another procedure.

The first criterion is that your vision must be correctable with glasses. Some people are not able to see well with glasses or contact lenses. When that is the case, there is a good chance that a different procedure may be more beneficial.

We will also want to make sure that your prescription hasn't changed much recently. If you wear glasses, be sure to bring them in so that we can measure them. If you wear contact lenses, write down the prescription or bring the contact lens package with you.

The thickness of your corneas will be measured as a part of your pre-op evaluation. Thickness is important because LASIK surgery reshapes and thins the corneas. We need to make sure that your corneas will have the thickness that they need to hold their shape after LASIK surgery.

Another important factor is the shape of the cornea. We will create a topographic map of your cornea to see if there are irregular peaks which are not treated well with LASIK.

Irregular areas of steepness may indicate that the cornea is not stable. In order for LASIK to have a lasting effect, the cornea needs to be thick, strong and stable.

Contact lenses will warp the cornea temporarily and distort the corneal topography mapping. It is important to take your contacts out prior to your screening evaluation to avoid making extra trips to the office. Normal soft contact lenses should be taken out one full week prior to your examination. Toric lenses should be out for two full weeks, and hard contact lenses should be out for at least one full month prior to the examination.

We use strict screening criteria because we want every patient to have a wonderful lasting result following LASIK surgery. Approximately 90% of the patients that we see are great LASIK candidates. Those who are not suited for LASIK surgery can still have lasting vision improvements with another procedure such as an Active Life Lens procedure, Intacs or collagen crosslinking depending on each persons individual needs.

If you're ready to schedule your free consultation and find out if you're a candidate for LASIK at Mann Eye Institute, give us a call today, 1-800-MY-VISION. I look forward to seeing many of you in the Austin office soon.

Advanced LASIK laser is coming to Austin

There is always something new and exciting happening at Mann Eye Institute. With so many advancements occurring in the field of refractive surgery, I and my fellow surgeons at Mann Eye Institute have been busy researching these new technologies and learning how they’ll improve outcomes for our patients.

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to perform a LASIK procedure with our new Wavelight FS 200, a femtosecond laser. The FS 200 laser is utilized to create the corneal flap during step one of the LASIK procedure. It was an awesome experience for both my patients and me! The FS 200 is faster than our previous laser, which means a more accurate and safer procedure for our patients as well.

One thing that stood out to me is that immediately following the procedure, my patient’s corneal flap was clearer. The precision of this procedure should allow for patients to have a quicker visual recovery and a greater “wow” factor when they first sit up and realize they can see.

I am very excited about the results we are going to be getting with this new femtosecond laser. We at Mann Eye Institute are excited to be the first practice in Austin with a laser of this kind. If you’re considering LASIK in Austin, give us a call at 800-MY-VISION and schedule your free consultation. Our team of surgeons is looking forward to helping you enjoy incredible vision with this breakthrough LASIK technology.

How lasers are revolutionizing cataract procedures

I am really excited! I spent last weekend in California at a medical meeting where we learned more about the latest breakthrough in cataract procedures. I know this may sound a bit boring, but I promise there are very exciting things ahead.

Within the next few months, we will be using a femtosecond laser in cataract surgery. The femtosecond technology is the same technology that we have trusted to perform blade-free LASIK procedures for about a decade, but we have not had a femtosecond laser for cataract surgery…. until now. This will revolutionize cataract surgery as we know it, increasing the accuracy and predictability of the procedure, as it eliminates the need for a blade.

What does this mean for you?

The number one way this impacts our patients is improved accuracy. The femtosecond lasers provide increased precision, which means a more predictable outcome for our patients. Cataract patients have been asking us for years when we’ll be able to use a laser for their procedure, because they trust the blade-free technology. We’re now excited to say the answer is very soon. We’re currently doing research on this new technology, but can honestly say that we’re looking forward to providing blade-free cataract procedures to our patients.

People choose Mann Eye Institute because of our experience and commitment to technological advancements. They feel safe knowing we’ve performed thousands of cataract procedures in the last three decades, always working to provide the most advanced technologies that we believe will provide the outcomes our patients demand. We are thrilled to take the next step in cataract procedure technology by offering our patients a femtosecond cataract laser.

Keratoconus: Dodging the cones

One in every 1,000 to 2,000 Americans is affected by Keratoconus, a degenerative disorder of the eye. Keratoconus causes the cornea to thin and change, resulting in a more conical shape instead of a gradual curve.

Keratoconus can cause vision distortion, streaking and sensitivity to light. It is typically diagnosed during childhood and gets worse into the twenties and thirties. The deterioration in vision can affect one’s ability to perform daily tasks like driving or reading.

The great news is that the treatment options for this debilitating disease have been progressing in the recent years. Previously, there were only two treatment options. A patient was given contact lenses to get the best possible vision. Once the contact lenses failed, the only option was a corneal transplant, which is less than optimal as there are serious long term complications, risks and vision issues associated with such a transplant.

Now at Mann Eye Institute, we offer several treatments to improve keratoconic patients’ vision and most importantly, prevent patients from having to undergo a corneal transplant. Our newest treatment option is collagen crosslinking.

Corneal collagen crosslinking (or CXR) is a procedure that is done to actually change the chemical make-up of the cornea. The cornea is exposed to a medicine (riboflavin) and then treated with a UV light. These two things combine to make new bonds within the cornea which strengthens it and creates a more rounded (less conical) shape.

CXR has been performed throughout the world for many years and is the primary surgical intervention in all European countries. It is newer in the US and has yet to be FDA approved, though studies are being performed to gain that approval and those of us who are passionate about doing what is best for our patients are offering the procedure with the proper informed consent.

CXR is just one of the treatments options available at Mann Eye Institute. If you are suffering from keratoconus, please schedule an appointment with us so we can help get your vision to its optimal state.

Photo credit: Eyerobics.com

Meet Dr. McIntire

Hello everyone, I am Dr. Lisa McIntire. I am one of the surgeons at Mann Eye Institute and am relatively new to the team. I joined Mann Eye Institute in January and spend most of my time treating patients in Austin. When Dr. Gus Stern introduced me to the other doctors at Mann Eye Institute, I knew right away that this was the right group for me. The doctors are genuine. The staff is phenomenal. And, they always have the latest and most advanced surgical equipment.

I feel very fortunate to be an Ophthalmologist. As medical students, we didn't have much exposure to Ophthalmology. Most of our time was spent in primary care and general surgery. Fortunately, I had friends in years ahead of me who were studying Ophthalmology. They showed me the light and helped me see that with Ophthalmology we are able to make these drastic positive changes in peoples lives, but not say goodbye to them after its done. We get to treat people throughout their life and sometimes their families too.

When I’m not working or talking about how awesome my job is, I like to bike ride and play outdoors. My husband and I met in college at the University of Southern Mississippi. We bonded instantly over our love of mountain biking. When it was time to start medical training, he pulled up his roots and traveled with me. Our first stop was LSU – Shreveport, where I went to medical school. Then we spent a year in Chattanooga where I did a transitional internship at UT - Chattanooga. (There is lots of great bike riding there!) Next, we headed over the Blue Ridge Mountains to Winston-Salem, where I did an Ophthalmology residency at Wake Forest. Then back to my hometown, New Orleans, where I did a Cornea and Refractive Surgery fellowship at Tulane. During all of that training I managed to have two sons. They are 7- and 4-years-old now and SO much fun!

I’ve spent the last six months here in Austin and they have been great. Before I started at Mann Eye Institute, the Austin office treated mostly LASIK patients. Now, we’re able to treat patients with cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes or any other ocular problem, as well. It’s been exciting to open the practice up to a whole other segment of patients… not to mention, Austin rocks!

If you’re interested in LASIK, Active Life Lenses or another procedure, give us a call at 800-MY-VISION. I look forward to meeting many of you very soon.

Can I use my insurance to pay for LASIK?

I hope everyone is having a great summer. I have been busy starting my training plan for a triathlon in Austin at the beginning of September. When the sweat is pouring down my face in this heat, I am so glad I had Lasik surgery to get rid of my glasses and contacts. Lasik is definitely the best thing to do for yourself if you are into sports.

Mann Eye Institute recently ran a Groupon special in Houston. It became apparent after talking with our team, based on the hundreds of calls we received that there is some confusion out there on the financial aspects of LASIK surgery. I am going to attempt to clear up some of the confusion below, but remember you can call any of our Lasik specialists if you have any additional questions.

LASIK surgery is am incredible life-changing event, BUT most medical insurance companies don’t see it as a medically necessary procedure. There are few to no insurance companies that will pay for the complete LASIK procedure. To them, LASIK is an elective procedure. For an insurance company to pay for any surgery, they require the patient to have a disease or limiting condition, one example would be a cataract. Surgery can indeed fix the cataract diseased eye in almost every case. Unfortunately, being nearsighted or farsighted is not considered a disease, rather it is looked at more as an inconvenience.

That being said, there are vision insurance companies that offer discounts through their policies. Again, there are few to none that will cover the full cost of the procedure. Mann Eye Institute has agreements with several traditional and vision insurance companies so be sure to ask if you have any special pricing for your lasik with your individual insurance provider when you call for your complimentary screening appointment to learn if you could be a candidate for LASIK.

One silver lining is that there are financing options to help those who want to spread the payments over time. For example, you can request two years with ZERO PERCENT interest financing and pay around $150 a month if you meet the financing company's criteria.

Hopefully, some of your questions have been answered as it pertains to the non-medical side of LASIK. Please call 1-800-MY-VISION if you have any other questions.

LASIK for a friend

I was thrilled when Dr. Blackburn, a neurosurgeon and a good friend, called me about doing his LASIK, as it's quite an honor when another doctor trusts their vision to you. As expected everything went quite well, and Dr. Blackburn is thrilled that dry eyes and contacts are a thing of the past.

Here is a thank you video from him:

Summer Travel and Dry Eye Syndrome

For many dry eye sufferers, summer spells relief. As we turn off our indoor heating systems and the humidity level creeps up, often dry eye symptoms begin to wane. However, there are a few situations to be aware of that can dry your eyes and put a cramp in your summer plans.

Airplanes
Summer travelers should beware of the dry conditions in airplane cabins. Cabin air is continuously refreshed with outside air, which is very cold and has low water content. The cabin humidity ranges from 5-35%, which is about how dry the air is during the winter in a heated home! Preparing for this environmental change by drinking lots of water and using artificial tears preemptively will allow you to land with your eyes feeling fresh and ready to enjoy your summer vacation.

Click here for more information on the airplane cabin environment.

Allergies
One of the best things about summer is the chance to get out and enjoy nature. But for some allergy sufferers, the thought of grasses and pollen alone is enough to make their eyes itch. Dry eye symptoms, such as ocular irritation, foreign body sensation and light sensitivity, are aggravated by allergies. Itching eyes are an indication that allergies are playing a part in the ocular irritation. In this situation, it is important to treat both the dry eye and the allergies to get relief. Artificial tears are available over the counter, but most allergy eye drops are dispensed by prescription only.

Ceiling Fans
On those hot muggy nights when the ceiling fan is the only thing keeping you from sweating in bed, beware of the drying effect of all of that wind. Many people don’t close their eyes all of the way during sleep. This can be enough to dry the eyes alone, but add in the effect of the ceiling fan and you may wake up in the morning with dry eyes! If you can’t stand the thought of turning the ceiling fan off in the night, consider wearing sleep goggles like “Thera Eyes” or using a gel form of ocular surface lubricant, like Genteal gel prior to going to bed.

If you plan for them, and treat the dry eye ahead of time, you can save yourself weeks of catch-up work with the artificial tears!

More information on dry eye syndrome and treatments.

Active Life Lenses not only fix cataracts, but can improve your vision

Jeanne J. after her Active Life Lens procedure. Read her
 thank you note to Dr. Wright here.

Quality of life is a big term in ophthalmology.  Luckily we rarely have to deal with life and death situations in our field, instead we are given the chance to improve a patient’s everyday life, which is just as exciting to me. It is what makes my job the best one in the world.

Nobody likes the news that they need surgery.  The same holds true for patients who come to me with decreased vision from cataracts.  Many patients hear that “s” word and become apprehensive.

What is great about ophthalmology is that I have the opportunity to not only fix a cataract, but to make the vision better than before the cataract.  Think about that for a second. Most of the time you go to the doctor with a problem. You get it fixed, which brings you back to the baseline you were at before the illness or problem.  With cataract surgery, I am able to remove the cataract, but take it a step further and actually improve the vision to better than before surgery.

At Mann Eye Institute, we perform the surgeries and use Active Life Lenses to improve your life.  There are lenses that can get rid of the astigmatism and prescription that has plagued some their whole lives.  These lenses can let you wake up in the morning and see in the distance without glasses in greater than 95% of people who receive them.  There is also a lens which can let you see distance and near without glasses the majority of the time.  Think about shaving, putting on make-up, and of course reading without using glasses.  Again, around 95% of people with Active Life Lens procedures can go the majority of their day without glasses. That’s pretty amazing if you ask me.

Come in and see if one of out Active Life Lens procedures may be able to help you see better and be less dependent on glasses.  It is an exciting opportunity for our patients, and we love to be a part of it.

Enjoy outdoor activities again

The weather is changing, and it is time to get out and enjoy the sun.  Along with the sun comes the active lifestyle we all enjoy.  At Mann Eye Institute, I get the pleasure of hearing my happy patients talk about all the activities they get to enjoy glasses-free after surgery.

For those out there who are on the fence about LASIK you should talk to someone who has already had surgery and ask them how happy they are (even if they were nervous about doing it beforehand!)

We all know we should be running, walking, biking, swimming, and more to stay healthy, look good, and live longer.  Think of how much easier is to do all these activities without glasses.

And even for those activities that require eyewear, my patients get excited when they no longer have to buy expensive prescription eyewear.  To be able to buy swim goggles, designer sunglasses, motorcycle goggles, and such without the restrictions of a prescription opens up a whole new world of designs and brands at a fraction of the cost.

We hope we can add you to the large contingent of happy patients at Mann Eye Institute. Call, email, or chat with us to set up a free appointment to see if you would benefit from Blade-free LASIK or if an Active Life Lens is right for you.

Brian Wright, MD
Mann Eye Institute
(713) 580-2500
www.MannEye.com

MS150 Recap

I thought I would take the opportunity to update all of you on our MS150 trip this last weekend.  We had a great time (and some mishaps) and raised money for the fight against multiple sclerosis.

The adventure started Saturday AM as our team met at 6:45 at Tully Stadium in Houston.  We picked this location to start because we were gluttons for punishment and wanted to ride the extra miles instead of leaving from Katy like most of the 13,000 riders.  Things started well despite the tough wind working against us for a good portion of the ride.  There were break points every 10-15 miles where you could refill your water and get a snack.  Half way through we stopped in Bastrop and had a lunch.  At that time we decided to break up into smaller teams as different riders wanted to go at different paces to finish the 102 mile day.

Troy (our PR guru) and I sped through the second portion and met our two volunteers in La Grange and waited for the other riders.  Next came in Dr. McIntire (Austin MD), her husband Jim, Christian (Main street office manager’s husband), and Joseph (Sugar Land technician.)  But John (my technician’s husband) was nowhere to be found. We waited in La Grange for a couple hours then started searching the medical tents and officials.  When we finally found him we learned that he had an asthma attack and ended up at the hospital getting fluid and breathing treatments.  An experience I am sure he won’t forget!

After we were all together again we headed to Giddings where we stayed the night and ate dinner at Camp Tejas.  My sister and her husband run the camp, so we enjoyed and appreciated their hospitality, soft beds, and warm showers.

The next morning we headed out at 6 to get back to La Grange again for day 2 of the ride.  To John’s credit, he was equipped with his inhaler and ready to ride!  Once again we broke up into groups of varying speeds.  I joined Troy again as we were intent on breaking land speed records on our bikes.  Lisa and her husband formed the second group which was followed by Christian and Joseph.  In the rear was John going his own pace to avoid any further ER trips.

The day was beautiful and we had an uneventful ride….. save one mishap.  Troy and I were drafting other riders and going around 20-25 mph when it happened.  Troy’s front tire hit my back tire and I heard a loud crash.  I looked back and Troy had crashed with resulting road rash (abrasions) all along the left side of his body.  A medic assisted cleaning off his wounds and putting on some bandages.  Then, like the warrior that he is, he climbed back on his bike and we finished the race.  In fact, we all finished alive.

I want to thank the great volunteers who helped us along the way and fed us and hydrated us at the tent after.  We had a great time and perhaps will try again next year if everyone dares….

Don’t Let Itchy Eyes Hinder your Spring Activities

Spring is the season that many people start experiencing “Itchy Eyes,” usually caused by pollens and grasses that are most prevalent at this time of year. This problem can be exacerbated by contact lens use as the contacts often collect allergens and cause constant exposure to these irritating plant particles.

There are multiple ways to deal with the “Itchy Eye” problem, including artificial tears and switching from contact lenses to prescription glasses. Additionally, many of our patients report significant relief following their Blade-Free LASIK procedures at Mann Eye Institute. When a patient is able to eliminate the need for contacts, he or she is also eliminating the constant exposure to allergens caused by those contacts.

This a great time of year to be outside, and we want to help you enjoy your outdoor activities and the many beautiful aspects of nature with clear vision and without discomfort or itching. I invite you to visit us at Mann Eye Institute to learn more about Blade-Free LASIK and our other vision correction solutions.

Brian Wright, MD

Mann Eye Institute

(713) 580-2500

www.MannEye.com

MS150: Eyes on a Cure

One of the exciting things going on at Mann Eye is our participation in the MS150. We have started our first annual MS150 team called Eyes on a Cure. As you may know, the MS150 is a bike ride from Houston to Austin to raise money for research to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. If you have a family member or friend who suffers from this condition, you know that it can be a devastating disease.

From the MS Society website:

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease.

We will post some pictures of our training and let you know if we are all going to survive the bike ride or not. :)

If you wish to donate to our team, all donations go to the MS Society:

Click here to visit my personal page.

Click here to visit the team page for Eyes on a Cure.

Click here to view the company page for Mann Eye Institute.

Why should I choose Mann Eye for my surgery?

With my second blog I thought I would address a question I commonly receive when a patient comes in for a LASIK screening.  And if they don’t ask, I am sure they are thinking it. “Why should I choose Mann Eye for my surgery?”  I believe several points should be considered when choosing a surgeon, and I will address the first today as it pertains to Mann Eye.

In my opinion, one of the most important aspects when choosing your surgeon / practice to get rid of glasses and contacts is to check if they are proficient in all the different refractive options available to surgically change your vision for the better.  Your vision is as unique as your fingerprint, and the appropriate vision correction option can vary from patient to patient. But as the saying goes, “When all you have is a hammer, all the world looks like a nail.”  For patients, this means you should want a practice that offers all possible options.  For instance, if a practice only offers LASIK, that practice cannot and should not adequately serve a patient with certain vision conditions that make the patient a poor LASIK candidate.

At Mann Eye we are able to fix, improve, or stabilize a range of vision issues with the latest technology and surgeries.  For the majority of the public that is 60 or below, LASIK is a great option to improve your vision. The following four examples demonstrate various patient needs in which a different surgery may be better than LASIK for the best results.

For patients above 60 years old and /or those with cataract changes in their lens, LASIK is sometimes the correct course of treatment, but many times a lens exchange or cataract surgery is needed in order to get the best results.  Our surgeons at Mann Eye Institute specialize in both types of surgery, and we will be able to decide which option is best for you.

Additionally, LASIK may not be the best surgery for those with significant corneal scarring or recurrent erosions of their cornea.  Not only can the results from LASIK not be optimal, but complications are more likely to occur with these conditions.  Again, this is not an issue at Mann Eye because we are able to offer Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA), which can remove superficial scarring WHILE removing a prescription. In some cases, ASA can actually treat the erosions themselves, possibly ridding the patient of glasses AND their disease.  This is one reason why our screening process is so extensive so that any issues that are present are found and addressed properly either surgically or medically.

A third example would be a patient who is extremely nearsightedness.  Once a prescription gets around -10.00 diopters, it is possible that the cornea is not thick enough to allow for a LASIK laser treatment. Performing LASIK in these instances could put a patient at risk for complications due to the thinness of the cornea.  Therefore, an Implantable Collamer Lens (or ICL) may be the best option.  We are blessed at Mann Eye to have our own surgery centers where these lens implantations (along with other surgeries) can be done. You can always feel safe in knowing that we do extensive screening to look for these risk factors and that we will only recommend the procedure that, in our opinion, is safest and will provide optimal results. Make sure any practice you consider for your vision correction procedure can say the same thing.

One last example (though there are many more) would be someone with irregular astigmatism who wishes to have surgery as his or her vision is deteriorating.  At Mann Eye we are able to offer a solution with INTACS corneal implants.  INTACS are medical grade plastic implants that are placed in the cornea to give it a more natural spherical shape, which is sometimes lost from diseases like keratoconus.

As new procedures become available, our surgical team here at Mann Eye evaluates the new technologies to determine which will be beneficial to our patients. We strive to constantly offer a wide variety of safe, effective, proven procedures for the unique vision conditions of each of our patients.

This is just my first blog on why Mann Eye is the right choice for your eye care needs.  Stay tuned next month more information and updates.

--Dr. Wright

Introducing Brian Wright, MD

Monday, January 17th, 2011

Hello everyone.  I am Brian Wright, MD, one of the two newest members of Mann Eye Institute.  Myself and Lisa McIntire, MD joined the practice at the beginning of the new year.  I will be located primarily in Katy and Sugar Land, while Dr. McIntire will be located primarily in Austin, though you may see us around the other offices from time to time.

I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce myself while I have your attention.  I grew up in Plano, TX which is a suburb in northern Dallas.  Growing up there I was involved in many sports including basketball, baseball, football, and soccer.  As the years went by I started getting more serious in soccer and that was my main sport I played in high school.  I even continued to play at Texas A&M my first year before I gave it up competitively and just played for fun.  While at A&M for four years I studied Biomedical Science which is basically pre-med.  I knew going into college I wanted to be a doctor, though at the time I wasn’t sure what kind.  I also had the fortune of meeting my wife while in college, though we didn’t get married until years later when she graduated from Physician Assistant school.  After all, one of us had to be making money before we could support a place together. J

After graduating college, I attended UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.  It was a great four years of studying hard and learning what it means to be a physician.  Some of my best friends came from those tough years.  I also was able to meet mentors who molded my future.  One physician in particular got me interested in ophthalmology.  I am thankful for his guidance as at the time I was thinking of doing orthopedic surgery.  I couldn’t be happier with my choice as I love what I do.  There is no happier job than helping people see.  What could be more rewarding?

Upon completion of medical school I moved on to my internship.  I was lucky to have a wonderful experience as many physicians consider this is one of the hardest years of their lives.  My internship was in Roanoke, VA where I did a transitional year.  A transitional year is designed for physicians who plan on going into a specialty (such as ophthalmology).  During the year you rotate through different fields such as general surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency room, family practice, etc.  While I did work hard, I also had a great time and made great friends.  The city was beautiful and right on the Appalachian Trail.  I had some great hikes and fun ski trips when I got out of the hospital.  I also ran my first marathon that year in Richmond, VA.

The next step in training was my residency.  I was blessed to be able to get a spot at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.  It was a tough and highly rewarding three years.  I saw some great pathology and learned even more than I hoped from the local population and from those flown in for treatment.  Because our hospital was the major trauma center and place for specialized care in the Great Northwest, I saw patients from Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and other areas of Washington.

After my training was complete, I returned to Texas where my wife and I wanted to settle for good.  My wife Kelli grew up in Houston so we decided the Houston area was where we wanted to be.  I joined a practice in the Katy area and practiced there for a little over two years.  While it was a good experience and I loved my patients, it was time to move to something new.  Fortune was on my side though as I soon talked to the Mann Eye Institute and decided we would be a great fit.  The Katy office was completed in October of last year and is so new and beautiful.  And best of all, I can now offer my patients a clinic that has its own laser center and its own surgery center, which no other practice in Katy can offer.  I am excited about growing our practice in Sugar Land as well, which is in a great location in the Town Center and has its own laser center as well.

That is enough about my story, though.  In my next blogs I will address health topics and how the Mann Eye Institute can help you see to your full potential.  I look forward to talking with any of you in the clinic or feel free to contact me or any other doctor through our website.  Have a great day and come see us soon.