OTHER PROCEDURES

MonoVision LASIK

MonoVision LASIK is an alternative option to glasses for people with presbyopia. With MonoVision, one eye is corrected for distance and one for near. Typically in MonoVision, the eye that is corrected for distance is the dominant eye. With this procedure, when you look in the distance, your distance eye is at work. When you are reading, the eye corrected for near is working.

Many patients enjoy this option because it can eliminate the need for reading glasses or bifocals. However, a very small percentage of patients do not adjust well to MonoVision. A trial basis can help determine if MonoVision LASIK is right for you through contacts or glasses.

PRK

PRK (Photo Refractive Keratectomy) was the first procedure performed using the Excimer laser. It corrects vision by reshaping the cornea. In the first step, the epithelium, a thin layer of clear protective skin that covers the cornea, is completely removed. After the Excimer laser reshapes the surface (as in LASIK), the epithelium grows back over the treated area, usually within three to seven days. Functional vision typically returns within the first week.

For those patients who are not candidates for LASIK because of larger pupils or thin corneas, PRK can be an alternative procedure. And, in certain cases, your surgeon may recommend PRK as a better procedure for you than LASIK. PRK has provided many patients with outstanding results. However, even though numbing drops are used during the procedure, PRK patients often encounter moderate discomfort and occasionally experience hazy vision for a time after their procedure and may need to take a few days off from work.

Cataract Removal

Understanding Cataracts
A cataract is a vision problem caused by a clouding of the eye’s lens. The most common type is related to aging. More than half of the American population ages 60 and older have cataracts.

What is the lens?
The lens is the part of the eye that helps focus light on the retina. In a normal eye, light passes through the lens and is focused on the retina. To help produce a clear image, the lens must remain clear.
The lens is made mostly of water and protein. As you age, the protein can clump together and start to cloud small areas of the lens that blocks light from reaching the retina, interfering with vision. This is a cataract.
In its early stages, a cataract may not cause a problem. However, over time the cataract may grow larger, making it harder to see. Because less light reaches the retina, your vision may become dull and blurry.

How do I know if I have a cataract?
* Cloudy or blurred vision
* Nighttime glare from headlights.
* Sensitivity to light
* Difficulty reading fine print
* Faded colors

About Cataract Surgery
More than 2 million people have cataract surgery each year, making it one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States. It is an outpatient procedure, which typically takes about 10-15 minutes to complete.

At Progressive EyeCare, cataract removal is performed through a procedure called phacoemulsification. In this procedure, high-energy ultrasound waves are used to gently remove your cataract. In most cases, we use only eye drop anesthesia, allowing our patients the fastest possible recovery. Once the cataract is removed, a permanent, artificial lens is inserted. It is not uncommon for our patients to have the benefit of dramatically improved vision within a few hours of their procedure.

	Step 1 – The first step is to make a small hole in the front of the capsule that holds the natural lens or cataract.
	Step 2 – The next step is to insert the small ultrasonic probe into the eye. The probe breaks up the lens into tiny pieces and removes them.
	Step 3 – A permanent, artificial lens is then folded and inserted into the eye.
	Step 4 – The new lens then unfolds and is positioned permanently into place.

After surgery with traditional monofocal lenses, most people experience very good vision either near or at a distance. In most cases, the monofocal lens provides good distance vision for driving, walking and some everyday activities. However, most people receiving monofocal lenses still require reading glasses or bifocals to have a full range of vision.

Multifocal Intraocular lens (IOL)

For those patients with presbyopia wanting to reduce or possibly eliminate their dependence from glasses, we offer two FDA-approved lenses; ReSTOR® and ReZoom®. Offering both lens options means our patients are given the highest possibility of achieving the goal of better vision. These procedures, which are also known as refractive lensectomy, are performed the same safe way we remove cataracts. In the third step of the procedure, one of the advanced IOLs designed to improve vision at all distances is implanted instead of the standard monofocal IOL.  And best of all, having ReSTOR® or ReZoom® now means you will never develop cataracts! Everyone’s needs are different; a personal consultation with one of our surgeons will help determine which is the best procedure for you.
www.readclearlyagain.com

ReSTOR®:
The ReSTOR® lens was designed by combining the strength of apodized, diffractive and refractive technologies. ReSTOR®, similar to multiple lenses in one, can provide quality near and distance vision.

In a clinical trial, four out of five ReSTOR® patients reported never wearing glasses following their procedure.

www.acrysofrestor.com

ReZoom:
The ReZoom™ Multifocal Lens has a new design called Balanced View Optics™ Technology that creates multiple focal points so you can see well at a variety of distances. The lens is divided into five zones, each designed for different light and distances. For example, some zones have been designed to offer greater low light/distance vision support during night driving.
In clinical studies, 92% of those who received the ReZoom™ Multifocal lens reported wearing glasses either “never” or “occasionally.”

www.visioninfocus.com/423.asp

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty, or more commonly known as eyelid surgery or an eyelid lift, is a procedure to remove the excess skin or fat from the upper and lower eyelids. As people age, the eyelid skin tends to stretch and fat builds up around the eyes creating “bags”. Eyelid surgery is designed to remove those puffy bags that make someone look older and more tired than they really are. An eyelid lift can also be helpful with those who have excess upper eyelid skin that interferes with their vision.

A common misconception is that eyelid surgery will help eliminate crow’s feet or other wrinkles, help eliminate or reduce dark circles, or lift sagging eyebrows. This is untrue. Eyelid surgery is only performed to remove the pouches of fat or excess skin on the upper or lower lids.

Blepharoplasty is normally performed on healthy adults ages 35 and older. It is an outpatient procedure, typically taking one to three hours and is performed under local or general anesthesia. Patients often return to work within 7-10 days and swelling usually goes away within two weeks. If eyelid surgery is being done to improve your field of vision, the procedure may be covered by insurance. Otherwise, the surgery is considered cosmetic, and insurance normally will not cover the procedure.