NJ Lasik Surgeon Blog | Dr. Almallah

Due to a growing number of requests for dermal fillers Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates is now offering JUVÉDERM® injectable gel to our patients. We are very fortunate to have Dr. Omar Almallah, a Board Certified surgeon, listed in the "Guide to America's Top Ophthalmologists" here to administer JUVÉDERM®.

Dr Almallah is Board Certified by both the American Board of Ophthalmology and the American Board of Eye Surgeons and has been practicing in Ocean and Monmouth Counties for over twenty years. Patients are aware of his knowledge and training in and around the eyes and face and now seek him out to help restore a refreshed appearance. He is known for his gentle touch and confident ability to put patients at ease.

JUVÉDERM® injectable gel is a doctor administered non-surgical facial procedure which is primarily used for "smile lines", nasolabial folds (around the nose) and lips. JUVÉDERM® is made of hyalronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in our skin that helps to add volume and fullness. After receiving approval in 2006, JUVÉDERM® has become one of the most popular injectable dermal fillers on the market.

One treatment could smooth out your lines for up to one full year. You should see immediate improvement after your treatment. Many patients will need an additional treatment to achieve optimal wrinkle smoothness, however results vary and the correction is temporary. Supplemental "touch-up" treatments may be required to maintain desired results.

Dr. Almallah offers complimentary evaluations for JUVÉDERM® injectable gel in any one of our five locations in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. Please call Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates at (732) 349-5622 ext. 37 for your free evaluation today.

Ocean and Monmouth Counties, NJ

BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments are the most popular way to reduce the appearance of aging in the face. Millions of people, both men and women, receive BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments to rejuvenate their skin and look younger.

How BOTOX® Cosmetic Works

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a doctor administered non-surgical facial procedure. In fact, it is the world’s number one cosmetic procedure. It involves placement of Botox, a purified protein, into selected muscles to improve facial lines and wrinkles. The toxin paralyzes the muscles beneath the injection site for a period of three to four months. In the days following the injection, the muscle weakens causing the skin to relax. The wrinkle then becomes less noticeable and in some cases can even disappear.

Anesthesia is not required for the injections and there is little discomfort. Side effects may include minor and temporary redness at the injection site. There is also little downtime, so you may return to your schedule after you leave our office. We recommend you avoid exercise for a few hours after your BOTOX® Cosmetic injections.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is useful for the treatment of:

• Forehead creases
• Frown lines between your eyes
• Crow's feet around your eyes
• Smile lines
• Neck bands

Botox® is the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure performed. For example: In the year 2003 there were 2,272,080 botox® injections performed.

Botox® is proven to be safe and effective. Over the past 20 years, Botulinum Toxin Type A has been evaluated in more than 200 studies. There are no documented systemic complications associated with Botox® injections. Botox® has been widely used for more than 11 years with over 1 million people. You should only receive BOTOX® Cosmetic injections from a certified professional like those at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates.

If you are interested in finding out more about BOTOX® Cosmetic in the Monmouth or Ocean County, New Jersey area, please contact the experienced BOTOX® Cosmetic professionals at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, P.A. for an initial consultation.

When did you last exhibit signs of contact lens overwear? Probably not so long ago. This condition continues to plague patients who wear lenses made from even the most advanced oxygen-permeable materials.

What causes contact lens overwear and more importantly, how can you help avoid it?
Contact lens overwear is caused by lack of oxygen to the cornea, which produces distinct symptoms. Patients may not realize they've overworn their lenses when they remove them because the presence of corneal abrasions is masked by reduced sensitivity secondary to oxygen deprivation. Unsuspecting patients often go to sleep only to awaken 1 to 2 hours later with severe, stabbing pain, extreme light sensitivity, tearing, cloudy, blurred vision and grittiness.

If early symptoms of overwear aren't identified and addressed quickly, patients risk developing long-term changes, such as:

• Neovascularization: Abnormal blood vessels growing in the clear cornea
• Polymegethism: Abnormalities of endothelial cell size
• Pleomorphism: Abnormalities of endothelial cell shape
• Epithelial microcysts
• Corneal thinning
• Reduced corneal sensitivity.

What's more, long-term adverse reactions ultimately may cause corneal exhaustion syndrome and contact lens intolerance.

Please schedule an appointment with one of the many qualified eye physicians in Ocean County, New Jersey at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates and see if you may be a contact lens overwearer.

At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, the physical health of your eyes is extremely important to us. Vision is the manner in which most of us make our first sensory perceptions of the things around us- our sight can extend far beyond our reach of touch, sense of smell, and range of hearing. Because of that, it is important to maintain the physical health of your eyes and make routine visits to have your eyes examined.

Eye Conditions

Eyes can exhibit a wide variety of symptoms that can indicate a possible problem with their physical health. Some symptoms, such as itchiness, may just be an indicator of allergies, however other symptoms should be treated as warning signs and you should consult with an eye physician right away. Common indicators of poor physical health of your eyes are:

• Swelling
• Burning
• Trauma
• Pain
• Blurred Vision
• Spots/Halos

If you do experience any of these symptoms come in and talk with us as soon as possible. Make sure you make a note of how long the symptoms have been persisting and if you have any ideas of what may be causing them. Once in our office we'll check for a variety of conditions including:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Dry eyes
• Floaters
• Myopia
• Macular degeneration
• Presbyopia

Many of these conditions are treatable/curable if they are caught early on. That is why the most important thing you can do to prevent these conditions is to get your eyes routinely checked, at least once a year. If you do exhibit any symptoms or have had any trauma in between check-ups, it is always better to be safe than sorry and come in and have us check your eyes out.

Schedule an appointment with one of the many qualified eye physicians in Ocean County, New Jersey at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates.

If you make routine visits to have your eyes examined, chances are your familiar with the procedure and have formed a trusting relationship with your eye physician. You and your physician should have a mutual relationship, one where information is passed back and forth between the two of you. At Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, we want you to feel like an integral part of keeping your eyes healthy and that is why it is important that you keep the physical health of your eyes a top priority.

During your eye exams, we will check not just for your prescription and whether or not you need glasses, but also for:

Crossed or lazy eyes
Eye tearing problems
Focusing problems
Glaucoma and cataracts

If we do find anything out of the ordinary during an eye exam we will discuss with you the possible treatment options.

If you are getting routine eye exams, chances are that you are having them once a year. If you notice any symptoms that seem out of the ordinary to you leading up to your eye exam, make sure you write them down and bring them in to us. Ask us why your vision is the way it is and what options you have for preventing further vision degeneration.

Remember, your comfort and understanding are important to us and we want to equip you with the right tools and knowledge to take care of your eyes and their health.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our eye physicians in Ocean County, please contact us at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates.

The vast majority of our patients who seek LASIK surgery are good candidates. If they are not, then in some cases it may only be necessary to let some time pass. An ideal candidate is in good general health, has an active and healthy lifestyle, has no pre-existing eye diseases, and has realistic expectations for the outcome of the procedure. This being said, your candidacy can only be determined after a thorough eye examination from one of our ophthalmologists.

As of now, you must be at least 18 years old to undergo the procedure. However, we often recommend that our patients wait until after the age of 21, as the eye is still changing during this time. If you have unhealthy, scarred, or thin corneas, cataracts, glaucoma, extreme dry eye, a history of herpes infection in the eye, or any other recent eye infection or injury, you will not be a good candidate. Sufferers of lupus, HIV, or other autoimmune disorders are not good candidates. LASIK is also not recommended for women who are pregnant due to the effect fluctuating hormones have on refractive errors. Furthermore, we do not like to perform LASIK on anyone who has had a considerable increase in their prescription over the previous year.

Certain careers, occupations, and employers prohibit LASIK surgery. Be sure to check your employer's rules and regulations regarding LASIK before choosing to get the surgery. LASIK is irreversible, so if you aspire toward a career that may prohibit the procedure, be sure to do your research. Our doctors know which occupations do not allow LASIK and will be able to help you make your decision. If your current or future occupation does not allow LASIK, then there may be other options available to reduce your dependency on glasses or contacts.

A thorough eye exam will be necessary in order to determine your candidacy for LASIK. If you live in the New Jersey area and want to reduce your dependency on glasses or contacts, please contact us today to schedule an exam.

At Susskind and Almallah Eye Associates, PA we help answer the age old question, "why is it that when we get older, our near vision gets worse?" The answer is Presbyopia. Presbyopia is an age related condition that affects the lens of the eye in a way that keeps the eye from accommodating or focusing clearly up close.

A quick fix may be a cheap pair of reading glasses or cheaters as they are also know, but most people find it an inconvenience to keep multiple pairs around the house and in their car. There is another option though. Crystalens® is a "premium" intraocular accommodating lens implant commonly associated with cataract surgery, but can also be used to treat Presbyopia. Crystalens is the ONLY FDA-approved accommodating lens available in the United States. More than twice the number of patients implanted with the Crystalens can see at all distances compared to standard lens implants, giving patients that otherwise would have had to wear reading glasses a youthful way to see the world again.

"As a successful interior designer with a very active lifestyle, my eyes are very important to me. I also enjoy traveling and spending time outdoors. I can't believe how well my vision is now that I have Crystalens."
Mary Campbell

More often, patients in their 40's, 50's and early 60's are researching their options for corrective eye surgery and realizing that lens replacement with Crystalens is the way to go when they have been diagnosed with either presbyopia or cataracts. An added bonus with Crystalens surgery for presbyopia is that patients will not have to undergo cataract surgery later in life. The reason Crystalens offers such superior results is based primarily on its design, which mimics the eyes natural muscle "flexes" to accommodate near, far and everywhere in between. Omar F. Almallah, MD, FACS, FABES is a premier ophthalmic surgeon and is the areas market leader having performed hundreds of crystalens procedures here at the Jersey Shore. Dr. Almallah routinely attends the ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery) meetings, an international educational and scientific organization with 9000 member ophthalmologists, where he has spoken on the techniques he uses to make crystalens so successful in his own practice.

"At age 60, as my cataract worsened, I was forced to do something, or stop working, but retirement is not an option for me. I work with computers as a Quality Control systems tester and I rely heavily on my eyesight for observing patters to detect system errors. I also drive 27 miles to get to work everyday in congested traffic.

Having the Crystalens procedure performed by Dr. Almallah definitely increased my quality of life. I have no doubt about it! Thanks, so much."
Richard Goldgraben

In a clinical study performed in the United States, crystalens® was implanted in 497 eyes in 324 adult patients over 50 years of age. The results showed that most of the patients that underwent crystalens® implantation in both eyes had vision that was good enough to pass a driver's licensure exam. All patients had good "intermediate" vision; simply meaning they could see their computer screen or items at an arm's length without their glasses. Amazingly, 98.4% of patients in this study could read print the size of stock quotes in the newspaper or phone numbers in the telephone book without glasses. In addition, patient questionnaires have shown that 93% of patients involved in this study and having the crystalens® implanted in both eyes, state that they can perform most daily activities such as shopping or applying makeup without the use of their glasses. If you have noticed that your vision seems to be failing you, we encourage you to come in for a thorough eye exam to determine if you are presbyopic or if cataracts are present. The doctor will discuss with you the options now available for vision restoration.

Dr. Almallah is a Board Certified ophthalmologist both by the American Board of Ophthalmology and the American Board of Eye Surgeons. His primary practice is devoted to eye surgery and he has been practicing in Toms River and the surrounding communities for the last twenty years. He is internationally recognized as a refractive ocular surgeon and is acknowledged by his peers as one of the finest and most skilled eye surgeons. In fact, patients have traveled from England, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Korea, India and across the United States to have their eye surgery performed by Dr. Almallah. He has also operated on several ophthalmologists. Dr. Almallah graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh and received his Doctorate of Medicine from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. His training to be an eye specialist was at Temple University Hospital where he was ranked number 1 out of 500 applicants for one of 3 very coveted training positions. He completed his residency and was Chief Resident his senior year at the Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Dr. Almallah evaluates every surgical candidate personally and applies his extensive knowledge in ocular surgery to educate patients and their families to the appropriateness of recommending particular ocular procedures to patients. When he does recommend a procedure, it's with great confidence that the patient will benefit. One of the many conveniences offered to Dr. Almallah's patients is that the surgery center where he performs Crystalens and cataract procedures is located just next door to his main office in Toms River, giving his patient's the comfort of familiar surroundings with less travel time.

Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates, PA have five convenient locations in Ocean and Monmouth counties for medical and routine eye exams, contact lens fits, glaucoma treatment, cataract evaluations, LASIK evaluations and consultations for "premium" cataract lens upgrades such as Crystalens and also Verisyse lens evaluations and surgery for patients with high nearsightedness corrections.

To schedule an evaluation with Dr. Almallah, simply contact Ed Brooks at the Toms River location at 732-349-5622 ext. 37.

Multi-focal intraocular lenses are used to approach the accommodation processes of your eye more closely. The AcrySof ReSTOR IOL from Alcon is one of several multi-focal lenses available for lens replacement surgery. There are two technologies involved with these lenses and this is how the AcrySof ReSTOR lenses work.

• Apodized diffraction - Small concentric rings of differing diffractive values allow accommodation or focusing at various distances, not simply near or far distances. The apodized section of the lens is in the interior portion and has 12 concentric steps of decreasing depth, mimicking natural lens focusing.
• Refraction - The refractive part of the lens is situated to the outside and helps refract light when the pupils are dilated, for more effective distance vision.

Together these technologies provide you with a much greater range with fewer visual disturbances.

The AcrySof ReSTOR IOL is the only multi-focal lens with apodized diffractive technology. The lens gives the cataract or presbyopia patients like you an increased range of vision and helps eliminate the need for any type of additional corrective lenses.

To find out more about multi-focal vision correction with AcrySof ReSTOR IOL, please contact the Ocean County vision correction specialists at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates and schedule an initial consultation.

Treatment for cataracts used to be limited to replacing your cloudy lens with a mono-focal type intraocular lens (IOL). These lenses would limit your focus ability to just one distance, near of far. Additional vision correction was treated with an extra pair of glasses. With new multi-focal lenses like AcrySof ReSTOR, your near and far vision is corrected with one lens implant.

The surgical procedure to replace the natural crystalline lens of your eye with an AcrySof ReSTOR lens is called refractive lens exchange. During this surgery, the natural lens of the eye is broken up with the use of lasers and removed. The ReSTOR lens is put in place in the area where the lens was removed.

The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and you should expect to be at the surgery center for a few hours. You should see improvement in your vision almost immediately. You can return to normal activities right away, but recommend 1 to 2 full days of rest before going back to work.

Please contact the experienced refractive lens exchange professionals at Susskind & Almallah Eye Associates today for an initial consultation. The Ocean County and Monmouth County vision specialists are more than happy to answer all your vision correction questions.

 Most of us have heard the term “20/20 vision” being used in reference to healthy, normal eyesight. Perhaps you have been told you have 20/20 vision, 20/40 vision, or even 20/15 vision. As a measurement of visual acuity, 20/20 vision is considered “good” vision. Most people, however, are unaware or have forgotten exactly what these numbers mean. Let us take a quick look at the meaning behind these figures.

Anyone who has undergone a physical examination at a doctor’s office or a comprehensive eye exam at an eye clinic has seen what is called a “Snellen chart.” This is the chart hanging on the doctor’s wall with the large “E” printed at the top. This chart has been used since the late 1800’s to measure an individual’s visual acuity. Many modern eye clinics and family physicians use an electronic “viewfinder” version of the Snellen chart, but the ratios and results are the same.

Standing 20 feet from the chart, you are asked to cover one eye and read the characters on the chart. If you have 20/20 vision, then you are able to accurately read from 20 feet what someone with normal vision can read from 20 feet. Someone with 20/40 vision is able to see at 20 feet what someone with normal vision would be able to see at 40 feet, and so on.

This visual test only measures visual acuity and cannot sufficiently account for the quality of a person’s vision. Other tests are necessary to determine an individual’s ability to see color and contrast, for example. In other words, 20/20 vision is only one component of normal vision.

A comprehensive eye examination by a certified ophthalmologist or optometrist will measure both the acuity and quality of your vision, as well as help determine whether you have other eye conditions. If you live in the New Jersey area, please contact us today to arrange your comprehensive eye exam.