Refractive Surgery Blog

Fish Oil and Eye Health

May 15th, 2013

Fish oil contains the essential omega-3 fatty acids that the human body does not produce on its own. Fatty acids are found primarily in foods such as salmon, trout, sardines, herring and tuna and can also be taken in the form of daily supplements. DHA and EPA are the two fatty acids found in fish oil supplements and have many proven health benefits including those for patients who suffer from Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) or chronic dry eyes.

AMD is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 65. AMD results from abnormal blood vessel growth behind the retina of the eye and/or the degeneration of light-sensitive cells within the retina. More than 1.7 million Americans suffer from vision loss due to AMD. But, there is hope for your eyes. DHA and EPA have anti-inflammatory properties that are thought to reduce the inflammation associated with the AMD disease process.

In a recent study conducted at Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, researchers found a strong link between eye health and fish oil. A dietary analysis on over 38,000 women tested the potential benefits of taking fish oil to prevent AMD who have not yet been diagnosed with the disease. William G. Christen, the author of the study, found that there was in fact a strong correlation between fish oil, specifically the omega-3 fatty acids it contains, and preventing AMD in women.

Fish oil supplements have become increasingly popular in recent years because of research suggesting omega-3’s reduce the risk of heart disease. With an increased demand for supplements, there are number of brands of fish oil on the market, making the consumer’s choice more difficult. At Cherry Creek Physicians and Surgeons, we recommend Dr. Sears Zone OmegaRx® Fish Oil to our patients because of the guaranteed purity of the capsules. Keep in mind that, while the good omega-3’s reside in the fatty tissue of fish, so can bio-accumulated environmental contaminants. The key to picking a brand of fish oil is finding one that is free of dangerous toxins. Ask us about the benefits of fish oil for your eye health at Cherry Creek Eye Physicians and Surgeons and pick up Dr. Sears OmegaRx® Fish Oil at our office for a discounted price.

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Not a Good Candidate for LASIK? Consider Visian ICL

April 15th, 2013

Have you heard about the latest development in vision technology? At Cherry Creek Eye Physicians and Surgeons, we have been performing a breakthrough procedure called Visian ICL implantation. It provides an exciting option for nearsighted patients seeking a vision correction alternative to glasses, contact lenses, or lasik eye surgery.

The Visian ICL is an Implantable Collamer Lens made of a technologically advanced collagen-based material that is 100% compatible with your body’s natural chemistry. During this short 15 minute procedure, a micro-surgical opening is made in the cornea and the Visian lens is placed in front of the normal lens of the eye. When the procedure is complete, most patients experience immediate and dramatic vision improvement with a recovery period of just a few days!

Visian ICL After Implantation

The Benefits of Visian ICL:

• Corrects nearsightedness without removing corneal tissue

• Treats nearsighted patients who are not good candidates for Lasik — for example, those with extremely high refractive errors, thin corneas or dry eyes

• Patients experience an immediate improvement in vision

• Short recovery period

• Collamer lenses provide anti-reflectivity and UV protection

• Does not cause dry eye

• If necessary, the lens can be removed

• Because the Visian ICL is positioned between the iris and the natural lens, the lens is invisible to both the patient and any observer

If you are nearsighted and ready to move on from contacts and eyeglasses, contact Dr. Stuart Lewis at Cherry Creek Eye Physicians and Surgeons to find out more about Visian ICL implantation!

Meet Dr. Lewis in a Fox News segment about Visian ICL that aired recently:

http://kdvr.com/2012/09/25/cant-have-lasik-heres-a-new-procedure-that-may-work-for-you/

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Intacs for Keratoconus

April 5th, 2013

Good news from Cherry Creek Eye Physicians and Surgeons for patients with keratoconus! We have been experiencing tremendous success with the new Intacs for keratoconus procedure. It provides an exciting alternative for keratoconus patients who are intolerant to contact lenses and/or who are looking to avoid a more invasive corneal transplant procedure.

Keratoconus is a disease that causes a progressive thinning of the cornea, the clear front portion of the eye. As a result of this condition the normal pressure from within the eye causes the cornea to progressively bulge into a cone-like shape. Keratoconus rarely results in total blindness although it can significantly impair vision. According to some studies, keratoconus leads to the need for a corneal transplant in up to 20% of patients.

Keratoconus can be treated with rigid contact lenses which are contoured to address the bulging cornea and improve vision. A proper contact lens fit is crucial to obtain adequate vision and wearing comfort. Poorly fit or outdated contact lenses can be uncomfortable and lead to additional complications like corneal abrasions, scarring or infection. As the disease progresses, patients experience poorer vision and often develop and intolerance to contact lenses. Traditionally, the only remedy for these patients was to receive a corneal transplant which is a highly invasive surgery after which a patient may take months to recover.

How Intacs for keratoconus work:

Due to the onset and progression of keratoconus, the weakened cornea looses its natural dome-like shape. As a result, the light rays entering the eye are no longer focused properly, impairing one’s ability to see images clearly. Intacs for keratoconus are specially designed inserts, made of medical-grade plastic, which are surgically placed under the surface of the cornea. Due to their unique design, Intacs for keratoconus are able to remodel the architecture of the cornea re-establishing a more natural dome-like shape and improving one’s vision. Many patients who were unable to use vision correction prior to the procedure can comfortably wear contact lenses or even glasses after receiving Intacs for Keratoconus.

Intacs

A summary of the benefits of Intacs for keratoconus:

-         Intacs are safe, removable, and replaceable

-         Intacs reduce myopia and astigmatism associated with keratoconus

-         Intacs restore the cornea to a more natural dome shape

-         Minimally invasive surgical procedure

-         Recovery period is days, compared to months for a corneal transplant

-         Improved quality of life

-         May delay the need for a corneal transplant

If you have Keratoconus, visit Cherry Creek Eye Physicians and Surgeons today for an evaluation!

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Dr. Stuart Lewis Incorporates Cutting-Edge ORA Technololgy to Improve Visual Outcomes in Cataract Surgery Patients

March 26th, 2013

The ORA® Intraoperative Wavefront Aberrometer provides surgeons with information for more precise surgical procedures.

Denver, CO, March 26, 2013—Dr. Stuart Lewis of the Cherry Creek Eye Physicians and Surgeons in Denver has added a revolutionary first-in-class diagnostic device, the ORA® “ Optiwave Refractive Analysis” Intraoperative Wavefront Aberrometer, that provides on-demand real-time measurements of the patient’s eye during cataract surgery. Prior to ORA®, ophthalmologists were unable to assess the quality of vision during a cataract procedure, and would often have to wait until weeks or even months after the surgery to determine the accuracy of the surgical results.

“While the present method of calculating and choosing an intraocular lens (IOL) power before cataract or clear lens extraction is quite accurate, the ORA technology has undoubtedly refined that computation and lens selection. I have found this to be true not only for standard intraocular lenses, but especially for high technology implants. Using the ORA technology, we are able to precisely measure not only the implant and/or astigmatic power but also the lens position inside the eye in real time. In addition, for patients who have previously had refractive surgery of any kind (RK, LASIK, PRK, CK), this technology is the long sought-after answer to an ophthalmologist’s dream. I can safely predict that the state-of-the-art ORA technology will rapidly replace the present community standard way of calculating and evaluating intraocular lens power.” (Stuart Lewis, MD)

Using this revolutionary technology, eye surgeons can evaluate the optical conditions in the eye throughout the cataract surgery procedure and make surgical decisions at the precise moment that can best effect visual outcomes. The measurement occurs when and where it matters most– during the surgical procedure while the patient is on the table – not afterwards. ORA can assist surgeons in more accurately determining factors such as intraocular lens implant accuracy and astigmatism correction.

About Cataracts:

A cataract is a painless clouding of the eye’s natural crystalline lens. Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded natural lens of the eye (the cataract) and replacing it with an artificial lens implant. It is the most common surgical procedure in the world with 14 million procedures performed each year¹.

As a cataract progresses, the possibility of cataract surgery should be strongly considered, as a cataract, if left untreated, could lead to blindness. In fact, cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 55. However, with the advances in cataract surgery, patients no longer have to wait until a cataract “ripens” to a certain point before it can be removed. Cloudy vision can now be corrected at an earlier stage without repercussions. Modern cataract eye surgery has a high success rate. After the removal of a cataract, patients tend to have a decreased dependence on corrective eyewear and are able once again to see colors vividly.

How ORA® Works:

ORA® works by directing a beam of low intensity laser light into the eye during the surgical procedure. The laser light reflects off of the patient’s retina, and sensors in the ORA® instrument analyze the reflected wave of light exiting the eye. This on-demand, real time analysis measures all of the eye’s unique optical characteristics, and gives the surgeon an accurate measurement of the eye’s focusing capabilities. ORA® is the first intraoperative wavefront aberrometer, made by WaveTec Vision of Aliso Viejo, CA. WaveTec is the leader in intraoperative wavefront measurement technology for refractive cataract surgeons, providing on-demand information that enables achievement of the best possible vision for their patients.

If you would like to know more about how your vision correction can be optimized by choosing ORA® as part of your procedure, ask Dr. Stuart Lewis for further details or go to our website at www.cherrycreekeye.com to learn how this innovative, new technology can help ensure the best results possible.

1. MarketScope. The Comprehensive Report on the IOL Market. St. Louis, Mo; MarketScope, LLC, 2004:27.

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Intraocular Contact Lens (Implantable Collamer Lens)

October 3rd, 2012

The Visian Implantable Collamer Lens (Staar Surgical) is an FDA approved lens that is considered by many as the next generation of vision correction technology.  The lens is designed to be implanted into the eye behind the pupil but in front of the normal lens of the eye. It is available in the U.S for the treatment of mild to high nearsightedness (myopia) and is an option for patients too myopic for lasik, with dry eyes and for those with corneas too thin for traditional refractive surgery.

The following properties of the lens make it unique:

• Optical Properties – The lens has a low incidence of glare and halos.
• Biocompatibility – It is unrecognized by the human immune system and is never rejected.
• Versatility – It offers a larger range of correction for the treatment of myopia than other forms of refractive surgery.
• Simplicity – It requires no maintenance once implanted and does not need to be replaced.
• Safety – It has been studied approved by the FDA and has been implanted in tens of thousands of patients worldwide.
• Placement - The ICL was designed to preserve the normal lens of the eye and to be implanted (piggybacked) over it.
• Removable - The lens can be removed or replaced if necessary even years after it is implanted.

At the Cherry Creek Eye Center, I have been implanting these lenses with astounding success and without complications.  This technology is changing the lives of patients who thought they might never be able to enjoy great vision without glasses or contact lenses.

Check out the Fox News piece done on this topic that was aired recently:

http://kdvr.com/2012/09/25/cant-have-lasik-heres-a-new-procedure-that-may-work-for-you/

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The Ex-PRESS Glaucoma Mini-Shunt

June 27th, 2010

Recently, I have added using Alcon’s Ex-PRESS Mini-Glaucoma Shunt to the list of surgical options available for our difficult glaucoma patients. The Mini-Shunt is a 400-um wide by 3-mm long stainless steel medical device (about the size of a grain of rice) that offers a minimally invasive approach to dealing with glaucoma cases that cannot be adequately controlled on maximal medical therapy and/or SLT laser treatment.

The shunt works by creating a pathway for intraocular fluid to flow from inside to outside of the eye bypassing the blocked or poorly functioning drain (trabecular meshwork). It provides excellent control of the amount of fluid draining out of the eye by standardizing the drainage opening. In controlled studies, the Ex-PRESS Mini-Shunt had a 94% success rate with a low complication rate compared to traditional glaucoma surgery (trabeculectomy).

The Mini-Shunt is attractive to both patients and surgeons because:
1. It is minimally invasive – No tissue is removed as in traditional glaucoma surgery.
2. Because of this minimally invasive approach, any post-operative inflamatory response is blunted.
3. Post-operatively, eyes are quieter, less red, more comfortable and have better vision sooner.
4. The results appear to be more predictable and complications related to over-filtration in the early post-operative period are lessened.

My experience with the Ex-Press Mini-Shunt has been nothing but positive. And, that same experience holds true from the patient’s point of view. I believe this device is a giant step forward in the surgical treatment of glaucoma.

Tags: Ex-PRESS Glaucoma Mini-Shunt
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Got a Pet Tarantula? Better Protect your Eyes

January 4th, 2010

Thu Dec 31, 6:31 pm ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Here’s some advice stemming from the unusual case of a man who had spider hairs stuck in his cornea: Be sure to cover your eyes when hanging around with your pet tarantula.
Ophthalmologists at St. James’s University Hospital in Leeds, England, used high magnification lenses to find out what made the man’s eye red, watery and light-sensitive, according to a study reported in the British medical journal The Lancet on Thursday.
They discovered hair-like projections stuck in the man’s cornea.
It was a light bulb moment for the patient, who remembered that three weeks earlier he had been cleaning a stubborn stain on the glass tank of his pet, a Chilean Rose tarantula.
“He sensed movement in the terrarium. He turned his head and found that the tarantula, which was in close proximity, had released ‘a mist of hairs’ which hit his eyes and face,” the doctors wrote.
They said the man’s condition was rare.
The authors noted that the Chilean Rose tarantula releases the barbed hair on the back of its body to defend against predators.
“We suggest that tarantula keepers be advised to routinely wear eye protection when handling these animals,” the doctors said.
(Editing by Mohammad Zargham)

Tags: Spiders
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Contact Lenses Display Information Using LEDs

September 18th, 2009

From goodideassalon.com
September 1, 2009

Forget sitting too close to the television, its just a matter of time before a screen can literally rest on the eyeball. Scientists at the University of Washington are working on a new breed of contact lenses with embedded LEDs which allow information to be displayed to the wearer. This human machine interface will use custom-built transparent circuitry in a polymer lens that is roughly 1.2 millimeters in diameter.
The technology still faces a few hurdles (the need for custom parts, physical constraints, and user safety) but has already proven itself with single pixel visual cues for both gamers and the hearing impaired.

Tags: Contact Lenses
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Cirrus HD-OCT

May 5th, 2009

Technology in ophthalmology continues to advance at breakneck speed. At the Cherry Creek Eye Center, we are committed to offering the most technologically advanced therapeutic and diagnostic options for our patients.

We have just purchased the Cirrus HD-OCT (Ocular Coherence Tomograph). This is a clear upgrade from the Stratus OCT 3 that we have had for the past several years in that the images it provides are in high definition. For example, instead of having the capacity to perform 3,072 A-scans with the Stratus OCT 3, we are able to obtain 27,000 A-scans with the new technology. The image quality is markedly enhanced with the Cirrus HD-OCT and the scan patterns provide more viewing options.

The bottom line is that the Cirrus HD-OCT will be a valuable instrument in our armamentarium to help us diagnose macular disorders (macular degeneration) and optic nerve (glaucoma) diseases.

Tags: Technology
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Welcome Dr. Perry Umlauf

May 4th, 2009

In an attempt to be even more available to our patients, I have hired Dr. Perry Umlauf to work in our office on a regular basis. Dr. Umlauf is both a board certified and fully licensed optometrist who has been in practice since 1989. Due to a job opportunity, he and his wife recently relocated to the Denver area from Central Pennsylvania.

Dr. Umlauf’s experience is in the area of medical optometry having worked closely with an ophthalmology practice in Lebanon, PA for the last 20 years. He is also skilled in the fitting of multiple kinds of contact lenses. Dr. Umlauf was voted Central Pennsylvania’s Optometrist of the year by the Optometric Society there in 1997 and 2008. He was also voted Optometric Association’s optometrist of the year in Pennsylvania in 2009.

We think Dr. Umlauf will be a great addition to our experienced staff.

Tags: Optometry
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