By: Jenni Williams
Marion Optician
Summer’s coming fast folks! Have you started looking for shorts and sandals? Sun screens and tanning lotions? Just like with sun block the more SPF (sun protection factor) the better the protection for your skin, right? Well do you have the right amount of protection for your eyes? Continue Reading 
Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis
By Dr. Kimberly Cruise
It’s only March, but allergy season is already in full swing here in eastern Iowa. None of us are complaining about the unseasonably mild temperatures, but that doesn’t come without consequences, especially for those with seasonal allergies. For these individuals spring brings with it, redness, itching, watering and swelling of the eyelids. Continue Reading
By Dr. David Christensen
New advancements in optical technology have allowed the creation of a new type of contact lens for the correction of astigmatism called “Duette”. Duette lenses, a product from Synergeyes, combines the comfort of a soft lens with the superior vision of a rigid lens. The result is all day comfort and ”high-definition” visual clarity for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Continue Reading
By Lory Hockett, Optical Assistant
Plastic verses High Index lenses
When glasses were first being made Glass and Plastic materials were the only options. That isn’t the case anymore. You have more choices now than ever before. Continue Reading
By Jenni Williams, Optical Assistant
Here is an example of what anti-glare lenses can do!
Anti-glare has come a long way for both optics and patients alike. Since 1997, over 150 million patients make anti-glare a part of their eyewear needs. Anti-glare has many technological advances that help cut down on smudging, scratching, and keeping lenses free of dirt, oil, and water. Students, toddlers, retired persons, farmers, office workers, TV personalities…the list goes on and on. No matter what your profession or hobbies, anti-glare lenses can help improve your everyday life by allowing you to see the world “cleaner!” Continue Reading
By Dr. Ryan Nelson
Clear Care uses Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide contact lens care systems are, in my clinical experience, superior and I recommend them to all of my patients. Continue Reading
Iowa EyeCare offers Custom Bladeless LASIK at our location in Robins through TLC, the largest laser correction company in the world. Iowa EyeCare and TLC have teamed up to provide you with most extensive diagnostic equipment and technology in all of Iowa. We are committed to providing the highest level of care for you and your eyes. Our skilled team of doctors can identify the unique imperfections of your eyes and factor them into a custom treatment plan.
Laser vision correction is one of the most frequently performed operations. We take care to assist you in your decision to have LASIK eye surgery. We want you to be fully informed of your options and feel absolutely comfortable with the procedure. The following items will help you understand more about Custom Bladeless LASIK.
1. What does Custom Bladeless LASIK mean?
Custom Bladeless LASIK is the most advanced laser vision technology. LASIK (Laser-Assisted-In-Situ Keratomileusis) is an FDA-approved outpatient procedure that uses a laser to reshape the front surface of your eye in order to correct your vision. Instead of a blade, our offiice uses a silent computer-guided laser during the first step of the LASIK procedure to create the corneal flap. This laser is very precise and has improved the healing time and discomfort typically associated with a microkeratome blade. We also create a customized map for each eye, which allows for treatment of tiny imperfections in the eye that can have a significant impact on your quality of vision. The entire procedure typically takes about 10 minutes to perform on each eye.
2. Are you an eligible candidate?
LASIK may be performed on individuals with astigmatism, as well as those with near or far-sightedness and presbyopia. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, have a stable prescription. Your Iowa EyeCare doctor will work with you to assess your eligibility for laser vision correction. The best way for you to determine if you are a candidate for Custom Bladeless LASIK is with a personal one-on-one consultation. Free consultations can be arranged by calling our Laser Vision Coordinator at 319-294-8888.
3. Is your surgeon qualified?
Dr. Larry Womack, M.D., focuses exclusively on LASIK surgery and has performed over 30,000 LASIK procedures; making him one of the region’s most experienced LASIK surgeons. Our supporting staff is professionally trained and nationally recognized. We have the experience and skill to help you and will carefully guide you through your decision to undergo LASIK eye surgery.
4. Is Custom Bladeless LASIK Safe?
Extensive screening and testing enables us to identify most potential complications before they start and you will only be considered a candidate when it is medically advisable. Diligent post-procedure care is also necessary to protect against infection and measure your visual progress. Like all surgeries, there is a potential for risks and complications. Each individual eye heals differently, and it is not always possible to predict how your eye will heal.
5. Does it hurt?
Although most patients say there is no pain during the surgery, some report feeling mild pressure or vibration. Prior to the procedure, anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye. A sedative is given, but patients are never put under general anesthesia for LASIK surgery. Afterward, your eyes may feel some mild to moderate irritation for a few hours.
6. How long does the correction last?
Laser vision correction is intended to permanently reduce your dependancy on glasses or contact lenses. While most patients achieve fully corrected vision with one procedure, some patients will require an enhancement to complete their correction. For nearly everyone, beginning in their 40s or 50s, the lens of the eye loses some of its flexability, making it necessary to use bifocals or reading glasses. LASIK does not correct for this normal aging process.
7. What is the TLC Lifetime Commitment?
TLC stands behind your vision results for life. We have sincere confidence in our surgeon and in your long-term results and want to help you maintain the best possible vision throughout your life. If an enhancement is needed to maintain vision results it will be administered at no cost for qualified patients. To maintain eligability in the TLC Lifetime Commitment you must complete your course of post-operative appointments and have an annual eye exam with any TLC affiliate doctor.
8. How much does it cost?
Prices vary based on your individual treatment plan. The best way to determine your cost is to schedule a personal one-on-one consultation. Free consultations can be arranged by calling our Laser Vision Coordinator at 319-294-8888. Keep in mind that Flex Spending Accounts, Insurance Plans, and Financing Plans may help make laser vision correction more affordable.
Recent studies by the University of Michigan and the University of Washington, Seattle have linked poor vision with an increased risk for cognitive disorders.
The importance of routine eye care cannot be under stated. Decreased vision due to cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration or other eye-realted conditions have long been associated with poor quality of life, but evidence now suggests that it could be a contributor for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
At the University of Michigan, elderly people with untreated vision problems were found to have a risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease 9 times greater than those whose vision was treated.
In Seattle, it was found that visual impairment is associated with both an increased risk and an increased clinical severity of Alzheimer’s disease.
In the United States, an estimated 5.4 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and someone develops the disease every 69 seconds. Unless something is done, as many as 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s in 2050 and someone will develop the disease every 33 seconds. In 2010, 14.9 million family members and friends provided 17 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias – care valued at $202.6 billion.
Iowa EyeCare is proud to announce the arrival of “Erin’s World” frames.
Blur due to Irregular Cornea
Refractive surgery, corneal transplants, infections and corneal syndromes like Keratoconus are among the many potential causes for irregular corneas. An irregular cornea results in symptoms of blur and distortion that glasses and most contact lenses are unable to correct. Visual symptoms from an irregular cornea are constant, but often worsen in dim light when the pupil is more dilated.
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