NJ Lasik Surgeon Blog | Dr. Almallah

Half of the adults reading this column have a refractive error. This assertion is based
on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which
shows that about half of all U.S. adults are either nearsighted or farsighted or have an
irregular corneal curve known as astigmatism. These common eye-focusing problems,
known collectively as “refractive errors,” affect young, old, and middle-aged people of
all races. According to researchers, 3.6 percent of those surveyed were farsighted and
about one-third were nearsighted. Slightly more than 36 percent were found to have some
form of astigmatism. The high prevalence of refractive errors among the population may
be due to the heavier loads placed upon the eyes by TV, computers, and video games.
How refractive errors are treated or managed depends upon the amount and severity
of the condition. Do you need more information?

Just a reminder for those people with "Flexible Spending Accounts"(FSA)" through their employers, now is the time to allocate funds for 2009. This would be the time to approach your human resources department to inquire about 2009's allocation limits. FSA's can be used for out of pocket expenses such laser vision correction (LASIK). By allocating a determined amount through your FSA, you can put money in an account "pre-tax" for these reasons. Many patients use this arrangement to lower their annual income for tax purposes and have the opportunity to save money for something they really need and want. If you have any questions regarding FSA's start with your employer. It may just be the option you are looking for to change your life with laser vision correction!

With diabetes at epidemic proportions in the United States, this disease has emerged as the biggest threat to the eyesight of working-age Americans. While much attention is (correctly) directed at the havoc that erratic blood glucose levels have upon the blood vessels in the retina (diabetic retinopathy), there are also other potential problems. For instance, diabetics are 40% more likely to suffer from glaucoma than non-diabetics. This risk increases with age. In addition, diabetics are 60% more likely to develop cataracts. This clouding of the eye lens also occurs at earlier ages and progresses faster among people with diabetes. Because all of these complications can be either successfully treated or managed with early detection, regular comprehensive eye exams are mandatory.
November is American Diabetes Month. Diabetes is the number one cause of blindness in the United States. Your eyesight is a precious possession and should be protected with periodic professional eye examinations.

When children are farsighted, have astigmatism, or experience both of these refractive errors in both eyes, they may develop “bilateral refractive amblyopia.” Unlike single-eye amblyopia (or “lazy eye”), in which one eye presents an unclear image to the brain, bilateral amblyopia affects both eyes and is less common. If left untreated, bilateral amblyopia may result in permanent vision loss. The good news is that recent research shows that the condition can be successfully treated with corrective lenses, particularly when it is diagnosed and treated early. After one year of treatment, visual acuity among children between the ages of three and nine with bilateral refractive amblyopia had improved an average of about four lines on the traditional Snellen eye chart.
Amblyopia will not go away on its own, and untreated amblyopia can lead to permanent visual problems and poor depth perception. At SUSSKIND & ALMALAH EYE ASSOCIATES, P.A., we stress preventive health care for the entire family. When is the last time you had a thorough eye examination? We will discuss all your options with you. We’re currently accepting new patients and welcome you.

With the incidence of myopia (nearsightedness) rising worldwide,
researchers recently sought to look for possible causes, which remain
uncertain. While genetic factors probably play the biggest role, some
studies have suggested that there may be an association between this
refractive error and light exposure. With this in mind, Israeli researchers
looked at data on youths ranging in age from 16-23 specifically to see if
there is a relation between the incidence of nearsightedness and birth
months. To their surprise, the researchers found that the babies born in
June and July had a 24% greater chance of becoming severely myopic
than those born in December and January. This finding suggests that
early-life exposure to natural light may be linked with myopia.
Nearsightedness is a very common vision condition that affects
nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population.

While there seems to be an adequate supply of corneas (the transparent
covering at the front of the eye) for transplantation, there is some concern that there
may be a future shortage. With this in mind, researchers set out to see if there was
an age limit beyond which corneas should not be accepted from older donors.
Generally speaking, when it comes to most types of implants, younger tissue is
preferable to older. However, researchers found that corneas from donors as old
as 75 years can perform just as well as younger tissue. While other factors have a
bearing on the selection of corneas for transplantation, this new study shows that
age is not necessarily a limiting factor.

Eye cataracts are named in accordance with their location. The
most common type, a “nuclear” cataract, occurs in the center of the
lens and may induce nearsightedness. As a result, there may be a
temporary improvement in reading vision, known as “second sight,”
which unfortunately disappears as the cataract worsens. A “cortical”
cataract begins as wedge-shaped spokes in the cortex of the lens
that extend from the outside of the lens toward the center. Although
it develops slowly, it may impair both distance and near vision to the
point where surgery is indicated at a relatively early stage. Lastly, a
“subcapsular” cataract slowly develops as a small opacity under the
capsule. Symptoms may not appear until it is well developed.
Cataracts are a common cause of vision loss, especially as we age,
but they are treatable.

Thanks!

The most common type of eye injury in the home and at work involves irritants
that contact the outer surface of the eye. For instance, sawdust may float into the
eye in a home workshop, or a chemical may splash up into the eyes in the kitchen.
In case of chemical irritation, the consequent pain may cause a person to close her
or her eyes, which may make matters worse because the eyelid traps the irritant
next to the eye. It is important to flush the affected eye as soon as possible with
lukewarm water. Flush for about fifteen minutes, checking every five to see if the
particle has been washed away. Seek medical advice and attention, if necessary.

Eye Surgery Cost: Insurance and Financing


Although most vision insurance plans consider LASIK (refractive surgery) cosmetic or elective, some companies do offer generous discounts to their members. Also, you may qualify for a tax deduction for refractive surgery, so check with an accountant.

Given today’s economy, patients may be tempted to choose a surgeon solely based on the fee charged, but this could be a costly mistake. It is wise to choose the best surgeon you can find, and then, if you need, find the most affordable financing available. Just think of it this way, if you choose Surgeon (A) because his charge is $400 less than Surgeon (B), but you know Surgeon (B) is the better choice, you’re risking your vision for the sake of $1 per day over the course of 13 months! Is it really worth the risk for the monetary savings?

At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates we offer Chase Health Advance financing to our patients. They have 12, 18, or 24 month NO interest payments for those patients who qualify or you may also choose and extended payment plan with a reasonable interest rate. We also use Chase Health Advance for Crystalens (cataract replacement lens) and Verisyse (High Myopia) lens implants as well. Please ask our Refractive Director for more information if you are interested.

Also, some large companies are now offering subsidized health plans that cover at least a portion of LASIK costs. If you work for a major company, ask about the possible benefits they offer that might cover elective corrective eye procedures.

Think that bladeless procedure will benefit you more so than traditional LASIK? Think again. A recent study compared the use of femtosecond lasers (used in bladeless LASIK) with the mechanical microkeratome. The results of the study did not suggest use of the femtosecond necessarily improved patient outcomes. In fact, the results six months post surgery showed that LASIK outcomes were comparable to those of the bladeless procedures.
The study's findings are important, especially considering bladeless surgery runs the risk of side effects, such as transient light sensitivity (TLS), a condition commonly associated with the use of the Intralase femtosecond laser, which can linger for a year after the surgery.
The study's findings will be presented to the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Blade vs. Bladeless Surgery_Traditional LASIK procedures can treat patients with various visual disturbances including nearsightedness, astigmatism and farsightedness. They work by allowing the surgeon to reshape the corneal surface by creating a flap in the cornea using a mechanical microkeratome.
Newer procedures, including IntraLase or bladeless LASIK offer surgeons the choice of creating the corneal flap with a new laser called the femtosecond laser. This type of lasik surgery is sometimes also referred to as "all laser" surgery because of this.
The results of this most recent study show that six months following surgery few differences if any are apparent among patients that had surgery using the femtosecond laser or the microkeratome.
That said, there are still some surgeons who prefer to use bladeless surgery because they believe it is safer. Even if outcomes following surgery may be equal, some surgeons believe using the femtosecond laser during bladeless procedures is safer because it allows more controlled precision. On the other hand, there is the issue of transient light sensitivity (TLS) to contend with along with post surgical swelling, which can delay visual clarity.
Of course, it is important to note there are also relatively few risks from surgery using the traditional microkeratome blade. Typically serious risks including vision loss following surgery occur in less than 1 percent of the population undergoing such procedures.
Which Surgery Is Best?_It is important to note this study followed patients during their long-term recovery. All findings reported represent results of this study six months or more following surgery. In the short term, there are a few differences between the two procedures. What is important to note however, as researchers point out, is the long-term effects any surgery will have on a patient.
When it comes to blade vs. bladeless surgery, it appears patients have an equal likelihood for successful surgery six months post operation. Talk with your eye care professional about the pros and cons of each surgery before deciding which may be best for you. Remember there are surgeons who still prefer to use the femtosecond, whereas others still believe the microkeratome is a superior tool for creating a precise corneal flap. Ultimately, the decision is yours.