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.