Mann Eye Institute and Laser Center of Houston Chosen As Site of U.S. Launch of New FDA-Approved All-Laser Custom Cataract Surgery

Mann Eye Institute and Laser Center, a leading vision care center headquartered in Houston, Texas, announced today the successful launch of the first U.S. introduction of an all-laser custom cataract surgery technology that will change the future of cataract treatment.

The Mann Eye Institute is the first vision care center in a worldwide rollout of the new Catalys Precision Laser System, an FDA-approved cataract laser technology designed by OptiMedica, a global ophthalmic company based in Santa Clara, CA.

The advanced technology delivers what Mike Mann, MD, FACS, founder of the Mann Eye Institute, calls an ultra-premium experience for cataract surgery patients that improves comfort, enhances results and delivers a custom, individually tailored procedure for each patient.

The noninvasive laser technology replaces the need for a manually held surgical blade and uses a combination of femtosecond laser pulses, pattern scanning recognition software and real-time 3D imaging guidance.

Specifically, the new technology improves cataract surgery in several major ways: 3D image guidance ensures that the laser energy reaches the exact target in the eye every single time, enhancing the precision and accuracy of the procedure.

The laser itself allows for even greater consistency over the most challenging aspects of cataract surgery: making the corneal incision, fragmenting and removing the old lens, and performing an anterior capsulotomy, an incision that opens the capsule that covers the lens.

Each year more than 2.5 million people undergo cataract surgery. It is one of the most common and successful procedures in the U.S. today. It is estimated that by age 80, more than half of all men and women will either have cataracts or have undergone surgery by then.

Cataracts are a clouding of the lens in the eye. The lens is responsible for focusing the light entering the eye on the retina, which then sends images to the brain. As the lens clouds, it blocks light from reaching the retina, making vision blurry. Eventually, vision will be lost without treatment.

During cataract surgery, a tiny incision is made in the eye and the damaged cloudy lens is removed. A new clear lens implant is then inserted into the eye. The incision self-seals, so no stitches are required. Recovery is quick with good vision usually expected the day following surgery.

The introduction of the new all-laser cataract surgery is a giant step forward from the early days, when removing a cataract meant patients would have to wear thick glasses in order to see. Lens implants were the next step in the continuum of progress and more recently, premium active life lens implants were introduced that give patients the ability to see at all distances while reducing or eliminating the need for glasses. Now the all-laser procedure is taking cataract surgery to the next level of experience for both surgeons and patients.

Mann Eye Institute chose the Catalys laser cataract surgery technology after a rigorous selection process in which Doctors Mike Mann and Paul Mann compared different laser cataract technologies. As part of this process, they observed and performed Catalys cases at sites in both the Dominican Republic and Germany.

“We’ve been looking forward to offering our patients laser cataract surgery but wanted to be sure that we selected the best technology available,” said Dr. Mike Mann. “Catalys represents what surely will become the gold standard in cataract surgery and is the type of innovation Mann Eye patients have come to expect.”

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.

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

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.

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.