EyeCare 20/20 NJ

A new study presented at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting found that patients who underwent cataract surgery with bilateral multifocal and bilateral accommodating IOLs reported high satisfaction.

The study involved 117 patients, 68 of which received a multifocal IOL and 49 of which received an accommodating IOL.

Why is this significant? Well, in the days before intraocular lenses (IOLs), patients who underwent cataract surgery still needed to wear thick glasses or special contact lenses to see after their surgery. Now, newer procedures actually replace your natural lens during cataract surgery, so that you can enjoy the improvements in your vision, many times without the need for glasses or contacts.

Monofocal lenses have been around for quite awhile and are prescribed for a fixed distance. The IOL is set for focus at a certain range, so if your IOL is set for distance vision, you’ll need to supplement it with reading glasses for close vision. Conversely, if your IOL is set for near vision, you will need glasses that enable long distance vision.

But multifocal or accommodative lenses are one of the options that patients can choose from that will reduce or eliminate the need for glasses after cataract surgery. The IOL is designed with a series of focal lenses, so that patients can see objects clearly both near and far away. These lenses are generally placed in both eyes, and allow certain eye muscles to move the IOL back and forth, much like a natural lens.

So you can see why it’s so important that the study has found high satisfaction rates among patients who went with multifocal or accommodating lenses. One of the risks of these lenses is the chance of side effects like halos around lights at night, depending on the size of the patient’s pupils. However, these are generally not as problematic as the halos caused by the cataracts themselves.

It was thought that the brain will learn to selectively ignore them after a period of time. This happens in the same way that we learn to ignore background noises like traffic or ocean waves, a process called neuroadaptation. This isn’t exactly what the study found, however.

Interestingly, Dr. John A. Hovanesian says that, “One of the takeaways for us is that the idea of neuroadaptation probably doesn’t really happen with multifocals. Patients may stop complaining because they stop complaining. Among both groups, even if they had glare and halos, patients would not have chosen a different lens.”

So even though they had to deal with the halos, after 5.4 years, 90% said that they were either “somewhat satisfied” or “very satisfied” and would be likely to recommend the procedure to family and friends.

The team at EyeCare2020 has improved the vision of countless people in New Jersey and the surrounding area, so why not you? Learn more about cataract surgery today to start your journey towards better, clearer vision.

When people with vision problems don’t want to wear glasses, they often turn to contacts to help them get the corrected vision they need. But why don’t they instead look into LASIK? One of the problems is simply with perception. LASIK is known as a surgery, and that sounds somewhat dangerous and expensive to someone who hasn’t done their research.

In fact, while LASIK may cost more upfront, you’re almost certainly going to spend more buying contacts for the next twenty years. And as the price of LASIK continues to fall, that difference is only going to increase. That’s not even mentioning the annual trips to the eye doctor to renew prescriptions and make sure you’re using the correct lenses.

But what about the dangers of LASIK you’ve heard about? When LASIK was first introduced, it was linked to a few different risks and side effects, but through improved screening and technology, those side effects have been greatly diminished. Halos and glare at night time sometimes occur, as does dry eye—usually within the first six months after having LASIK.

Contact lenses come with their own risks. There is always a risk for infection when using contact lenses, due to handling the lenses or pressure on the eye from rigid contacts or not replacing them often enough.

In a recent study presented at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, researchers found that when compared with daily contact lens wear, wavefront-guided LASIK resulted in better binocular uncorrected visual acuity and comparable subjective outcomes.

The study used contact lens wearers and post-LASIK patients one month after the procedure, as well as 5 years after the procedure. The study found that after an initial spike in complaints at one month, LASIK patients’ complaints abated, and after 6 months, 96% of patients in the study were satisfied with the outcome.

Compare that with 52% of the contact lens wearers who had complaints about their lenses – mostly dry eye, irritation, and red eye. And that’s because almost everyone who has contacts is going to forget to wash their hands, store them improperly, or forget to take them out at some point.

Postoperatively, 79.5% of LASIK patients had no complaints, compared with only 27.8% of contact lens wearers. Additionally, 98.5% of LASIK patients said that the surgery had increased their quality of life, just one month post-operation.

This study really just confirms what most of us know—that LASIK is an affordable and comfortable procedure that eliminates the hassle of contact lenses.

And as laser vision correction technology continues to evolve, the already low risks of LASIK continue to diminish. At EyeCare2020, we offer custom LASIK that provides better, more accurate vision while reducing the complaint of night glare.

If you are interested in learning more about the many benefits that come with LASIK eye surgery, or you would like to know if you qualify for this beneficial procedure, be sure to sign up for EyeCare 20/20’s free vision consultation today.

A new study suggests that femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery could be beneficial for challenging cataract cases. The study showed that patients with shallow anterior chambers had less anterior chamber inflammation and less corneal edema the day after surgery when treated with the femtosecond laser. Those results were in comparison with patients treated with manual phacoemulsification in the randomized clinical trial.

For many patients, it’s essential that they have a quick recovery time, and all eye doctors want their patients to be as happy and comfortable as possible the day after surgery. And it appears that the femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery does just that, especially in more difficult cases.

Shail Vasavada, DO, from the Raghudeep Eye Hospital in Ahmedabad, India, explains that, “Shallow anterior chambers are known to pose surgical difficulties, including longer surgery time and longer postoperative recovery.”

Cataract surgery involves delicately cutting the outer layers of the eye and removing the lens, then replacing it with a new, synthetic intraocular lens (IOL). While it is one of the most common surgeries in the country, there are chances of complications or longer recovery times. So the study looked at whether femtosecond laser-assisted surgery could reduce those complications and lead to a shorter recovery.

After looking at the results of the study, Dr. Vasavada’s conclusion was that, “Femtosecond laser­-assisted cataract surgery definitely leads to less anterior segment inflammation and less corneal injury during surgery.”

The laser makes life easier for both the surgeon and the patient. When the femtosecond laser was first introduced, it was controversial—mainly due to the high cost of the laser. But as evidence like this study has continued to build and surgeons using the laser speak out, the case for using the femtosecond laser has grown stronger.

The femtosecond laser doesn’t just help make cataract surgery easier and more comfortable for both the patient and surgeon, but it also offers the chance to reduce and control astigmatism in cataract patients.

Femtosecond lasers operate at one-quadrillionth of a second, resulting in the ability to cut the eye’s outer layers at the molecular level. This allows surgeons to make the most precise and accurate incisions possible, while doing minimal damage to the surrounding tissue.

Here at EyeCare 20/20, our Dr. Cary Silverman was the first ophthalmologist in New Jersey to offer the new, state-of-the-art HD Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery with the Catalys Laser System. He is also one of a few surgeons worldwide who can offer surgery on multiple platforms (the Catalys and LenSx lasers)  Our goal is to always be on the cutting edge of eye health and surgery, and we’re happy to know that so many people are seeing the benefits of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery.

It’s no secret that pharmaceutical manufacturers have been raising drug prices on a variety of drugs in order to maximize their profits. Unfortunately, it’s patients that bear the brunt of this price gouging, and without low-cost alternatives, high priced drugs can have serious consequences for patients.

And these escalating drug prices aren’t just restricted to one segment of the medical world. They have even put patients undergoing eye procedures in a tough position. Bottles of eye drops, just a few mL each, have skyrocketed to hundreds of dollars. Generic brands are cheaper, but still quite pricey for a 5 mL bottle that patients need after cataract surgery. Until now, patients needed three different kinds of eye drops—a steroid, an antibiotic, and a non-steroidal. People could easily end up running through their savings to afford cataract surgery, or put it off altogether because they felt they couldn’t afford it.

The costs of these different drugs is prohibitive for some, and that’s not even mentioning the time and effort that it takes to put that many drops in each eye every day. For elderly patients, multiple applications a day for four to six weeks can be a hardship. Drops can be inconvenient or difficult to administer, meaning they might not be getting the benefits they need from all their different drops. Those patients need help administering their eye drops, and that help can be difficult to find multiple times a day for several weeks.

There has to be a better way to avoid the high prices and make it easier for patients to administer their medications. That’s why at EyeCare 20/20, we now offer DropLess Cataract Surgery. Now, our premium refractive cataract surgery patients only need a non-steroidal eye drop, applied once a day for three weeks. That’s one drop in each eye every day, rather than multiple drops from three different bottles for up to six weeks. During your cataract surgery, a combination of a steroid and antibiotic is placed within the eye, which is designed to aid in the healing process and makes the two other eye drops unnecessary.

But we also offer a different way to cut down on your costs after cataract surgery. Formulated eye drops, Less Drops, combine all three medications into one. So you can now get a steroid, a non-steroidal, and an antibiotic drop all in one. Just one drop, three times a day, for three weeks.

There really is no reason to keep buying overpriced eye drops that are tough to administer yourself. As we get access to new and better technology, we pass it on to you, our patients, to make sure that you can get the treatment you need, at a price you can actually afford. There’s no longer any reason to put off the cataract surgery that will improve your vision and quality of life.

So what are you waiting for? Call the vision professionals at EyeCare 20/20 today. Make an appointment right now and see what you have been missing!

Our sight is our most important sense, and it makes sense that we would do anything to take care of our vision. LASIK surgery has been around in some form for over 20 years. For years, LASIK procedures involved a bladed cutting device called a microkeratome. The device was used to cut the cornea and create a flap. These blades were actually the leading cause of complications during LASIK procedures. By now, technology has moved on, and bladeless femtosecond lasers are used to create a perfect corneal flap.

That’s why at EyeCare 20/20, we’re so excited to have the newest, most advanced femtosecond laser on the market today—the Wavelight FS200. The laser creates standard corneal flaps in as little as six seconds, and allows for automated vacuum control of the patient interface for consistent suction. What this means is, the procedure is now even quicker and comes with even less risk for patients.

And the FS200 is a worry-free device for eye surgeons, as well. The two-stage suction application happens gradually, and without pain for the patient. Centering and docking the ring is a straightforward step for surgeons. The FS200 works with a precision of one trillionth of a second, and comes with a high resolution microscope so surgeons can maintain the absolute best vision during the procedure.

“I recall that when I was using a mechanical microkeratome for LASIK, I always had the feeling that I was at the end of a 3-meter diving board about to make a dive—there was a sense, however faint, of unease. Using a similar analogy, upgrading to femtosecond technology was like being on a 1-meter board, but performing a more difficult dive like a one-and-a-half. Upgrading to the new WaveLight FS200 femtosecond laser (Alcon, Fort Worth, Texas) was as simple as swimming laps. You just need to dive into the water from the starting block and apply steady effort and good turns to perform well.”

-Dr. James Davison of the Wolfe Eye Clinic, writing for EyeWorld.org.

EyeCare2020 is only one of two clinics in New Jersey to have the new FS200 laser, and we’re excited to be sharing the benefits with you. Right now the laser is in use for Lasik, and we’re only a month or two away from offering topo guided procedures with it.

Lasik surgery has come a long way over the years, and we’re dedicated to making our procedures as quick and painless as possible. We know how important your vision is to your daily life, and that’s why we make sure we have the best, most up-to-date equipment at our facilities. So don’t wait, schedule an exam with one of EyeCare 20/20’s experts today.

You know we place great value on providing up-to-the minute vision care for our customers. EyeCare 20/20 was the first to offer the Catalys® Precision Laser System in the entire state of New Jersey. Maybe you didn’t think we could top our new Dry Eye Care Center. Now, we’ve done it again!

This time, we are the first in the state to acquire the IOLMaster700 by Zeiss. It’s an incredible piece of equipment that will help us better calculate the correct IOL power following cataract surgery.

Meet the Newest Member of Our Team

Zeiss was the inventor of the first optical biometer that became available in 1999. The precise measurements it takes are used before cataract and refractive surgeries, and as such it is a very important tool for carrying out procedures successfully. The new IOLMaster700 promises to be just as incredible; this device handles three important steps in the process:

Finding Unusual Eye Geometries – The IOLMaster700 from Zeiss displays, as they say, “a full-length OCT image showing anatomical details on a longitudinal cut through the entire eye.” Any unique eye issues, like a decentration of the crystalline lens or even a tilt, can more easily be found.

Discovering Poor Fixation Easily – It’s important to note the optical biometry. The Fixation Check enables EyeCare 20/20 to more clearly detect poor fixation, or how well the eye can maintain a visual gaze on a specific spot.

Visually Viewing Your Eye Measurement – The full-length OCT image leaves no room for error. It’s easy to see what part of the eye was measured.

Cataract Surgery: Then and Now

Cataract surgery is one of the oldest surgeries in the entire world; evidence of cataract surgery dates back to the fifth century, B.C. As one of the most common vision issues, and a natural part of the aging process, cataracts can affect those with good or bad vision, affecting roughly half of all people in the United States over the age of 65. Cataract symptoms appear slowly, but regular comprehensive eye exams can help catch the problem.

If you have experienced any of the typical symptoms, like night glares, much more frequent changes in your prescription, or the halo effect around bright objects, it may be a sign that you have cataracts.

That’s where cataract surgery comes in. As the first New Jersey medical office to possess laser cataract surgery, you know our patients have always undergone the safest and most reliable treatment.

If you’ve been putting off your cataract surgery, there’s no better time to schedule an appointment with EyeCare 20/20 than now. Meet the newest member of our team, the IOLMaster700 –and enjoy a return to clear vision.

The New Jersey Vision Experts

Thankfully, the technology revolving around cataract surgery has grown in leaps and bounds over the last twenty years, and at EyeCare 20/20, we take pride in offering the best of what’s available.

At EyeCare 20/20 we have the dedication, the experience, and the state-of-the-art tools to make your cataract surgery as stress-free as possible.

There’s no avoiding presbyopia as we get older. This condition, more commonly known as farsightedness, occurs as we age and the eye’s lens begins to stiffen. This stiffening results in a loss of the eye’s ability to focus on things up close. That’s why you’ve most likely seen your grandparents or any older members of your family holding a newspaper far from their face. They were probably also mentioning something about needing their reading glasses.

Reading glasses used to be the only way to deal with presbyopia as people got older. But that example shows why they aren’t always a great option—you have to have them on you wherever you go if you want to read anything. No one is going to remember their reading glasses 100% of the time, especially for a condition that accompanies aging.

But now you may not have to remember to bring those reading glasses anymore. A new treatment, called the KAMRA inlay, can give you the ability to see clearly even without your reading glasses. Here’s how it works.

The KAMRA inlay is a tiny ring that sits in the first few layers of the eye, known as the cornea. Because of the opening in the center of the ring, there is a pinhole effect that focuses incoming light and helps restore near vision—without disrupting your distance vision. You’ll actually only get a KAMRA inlay in one eye because you naturally have a less dominant eye for reading things up close. The KAMRA inlay will go in that eye, leaving your other eye untouched for distance vision.

One important fact about the KAMRA inlay is that it can be given to those who have previously had LASIK. While LASIK can correct many types of vision problems, it can’t stop the onset of presbyopia as the lenses in your eyes begin to stiffen. The treatment can also be used on patients that have had cataracts removed. The procedure typically takes about 20 minutes, and numbing eye drops provide a pain free experience. Most patients can return to work and their normal activities within one to two days.

One thing to remember about KAMRA is that it’s only available for people who don’t need glasses or contacts for clear distance vision. LASIK may be combined with the KAMRAto achieve good distnce and near vision. And it’s also important to understand that while it will greatly improve your near vision, it may not totally eliminate the need for reading glasses. You may find that you still need reading glasses in situations with dim light or very small print.

With the amount of handheld technology and reading that most adults want to enjoy, there’s a huge demand for a better alternative to reading glasses. The KAMRA inlay can give those who suffer from presbyopia their freedom from reading glasses. As life expectancy increases and older generations stay active for longer, there’s plenty of reasons to think about a permanent solution to your presbyopia.

So don’t wait. Dr Silverman is one of a few eye surgeons nationally who is certified with the Kamra inlay. Contact EyeCare 20/20 today to schedule a consultation and find out if the KAMRA inlay is right for you.