Category Archives: IOL & Eye Surgery Articles

Blephoroplasty ( Eyelid Surgery)

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is the plastic surgical correction of defects, deformities, and disfigurations of the eyelids that may cause functional and/or cosmetic problems in the eye region of the face. Eye Lid Surgery can remove or reposition excess tissues and reinforce the corresponding muscle and tendons, resolving these functional and cosmetic problems in the area from the eyebrow to the upper portion of the cheek.
Eyelid surgery improves the appearance of the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. It gives a rejuvenated appearance to the surrounding area of your eyes, making you look more rested and alert.

Treatable conditions:Upper eyelid surgery can remove excess fatty deposits that appear as puffiness in the upper eyelids.
Loose or sagging skin that creates folds or disturbs the natural contour of the upper eyelid, sometimes impairing vision, can be treated by eyelid surgery.
Lower eyelid blepharoplasty can remove excess skin and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelid.
Bags under the eyes and droopiness can be corrected by blepharoplasty.

Blephoroplasty evaluations and procudeures are done at the Lange Eye Institute in The Villages. John LiVecchi MD is the Director of Oculoplastics for Lange Eye Care. Dr. LiVecchi has done over 25,000 eye lid procedures making him one of the most experienced eye lid surgeons in the country. Dr. LiVecchi and the staff at Lange Eye Care will go over this procedure in detail and fully educate the pateint on what to expect from Blepharoplasty. Most procedures are covered by insurance and are done on an out pateint basis. If you are interested in seeing if you are a candidate for any type of eye lid surgery in The Villages call 352 753 4014.

Oculoplastics, Orbital and Cosmetic Surgery in The Villages

Overview

Oculoplastics combines advanced  training in ophthalmology with specialization in plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.  Oculoplastic surgery is performed on children and adults to correct or treat disorders – from very common to quite rare – of the eyelids, tear production and drainage (lacrimal) system, brows, the area of the face adjacent to the eye, and the bones around the eye.

oculoplastic surgeons, also known as eye plastic or oculo-facial surgeons,  also perform cosmetic surgery and procedures that seek to enhance the  appearance of patients.

John LiVecchi , MD, is the director of Oculoplastics at  Lange  Eye Care.  A  leader in the field, Dr. LiVecchi is board certified in ophthalmology and fellowship trained in Oculoplastics.

Cosmetic Surgery

  • Blepharoplasty of Upper and Lower Eyelids
  • Eyebrow and Forehead Lift
  • Midface Lift

Nonsurgical Cosmetic Procedures

  • Botox
  • Fillers (Restylane)
  • chemical peels
  • laser resurfacing of the face

Reconstructive Surgery

  • Blepharoplasty
  • Congenital and Pediatric Oculoplastic and Orbit Diseases
  • Ectropion
  • Entropion
  • Eyelid Reconstruction
  • Eyelid Tumors
  • Graves Disease, Orbital Decompression Surgery
  • Lacrimal Surgery for Tearing and Infections
  • Orbital Fracture Repair and Trauma
  • Orbital Surgery
  • Orbital Tumor Surgery
  • Ptosis

Laser Vision Correction

All Hi-Fidelity Vision

UTILIZING THE LADARVISION® CUSTOMCORNEA® AND LADARWave™ SYSTEM

Not all 20/20 is the same.

Laser Vision Correction has successfully corrected the vision of over 6 million people. An estimated 98% of these patients now see 20/20 to 20/40 without glasses. Just because you read the 20/20 line doesn’t necessarily mean you have excellent vision though, not if the letters you identify are not crisp and clear. Conventional laser vision correction only address the visual distortions that account for about 95t-90% of the quality of vision.

CUSTOMCORNEA® can now address the other 10% to 15% of visual distortion. Although conventional laser vision correction can provide excellent results, for most patients CUSTOMCORNEA® can deliver even better results. The difference between traditional LASIK and CUSTOMCORNEA® is like the difference between regular and hi-definition television. We call it Hi-Fidelity Vision.

This long awaited method of correcting myopia may offer a greater percentage of patients a chance of achieving 20/20 or better vision. The quality of vision may be better compared to conventional procedures because of the ability to now measure internal aberrations, know as higher order aberrations.

Initially Wavefront sensing was developed to improve the performance of telescopes by correcting the distorting effects of the atmosphere. Wavefront analysis enables ophthalmologists to better understand the visual distortions of an individual patient.

Higher order aberrations can cause glare, shadows, halos and other disturbances of vision. Treating optical aberrations, which impact low-light visual activities such as driving will improve the patient’s quality of vision. Previously we measured the quantity of vision on the Snellen Eye Chart. Now we can measure the visual distortions that affect quality of vision of how well you see.

CUSTOMCORNEA® is the first FDA approved treatment that allows wavefront technology to actually guide the Excimer laser during a laser vision correction primarily to correct higher order optical distortions. The system sends low-energy light into the eye that is reflected off the retina and travels back through the lens and cornea as an outgoing wavefront. This wavelength is captured by the LADARWave™, which then measures and transfers it to the LADARvision 4000 laser, where it is electronically registered and computer matched to create the precision ablation to customize the laser vision correction procedure. Conventional vision correction can provide vision correction can provide excellent results, but for many patients CUSTOMCORNEA® can deliver even better results.

Should you have any questions about THE LADARVISION® CUSTOMCORNEA® AND LADARWave™ SYSTEM , please contact one of the Doctors at Lange Eye Care and Associates by e-mail or by phone.

Cataract Surgery – Moving the clouds away.

The Wonder of Cataract Removal

Being diagnosed with a cataract need not be alarming. In fact, when you understand what a cataract is, how it will be removed, and the priceless rewards that cataract surgery can bring, you’ll likely wish you’d had the procedure sooner.

With successful cataract treatment your vision will be clearer, brighter, and sharper than it’s been for a long, long time.

cataract_1

Just what, exactly, is a cataract?
Simply put, a cataract is a “clouding” of the lens in your eye.
Left image – A clear normal vision image.
Right image – The “clouded” image of a cataract.

Today’s Cataract surgery isn’t just the end of clouded vision.
It’s the beginning of something wonderful.

Cataract by Definition

Cataract - As light passes  through the cataractous lens, it is diffused or scattered.  The result is blurred or defocused vision.

Cataract – As light passes
through the cataractous lens, it is diffused or scattered. The result is blurred or defocused vision.

Simply put, a cataract is a “clouding” of the lens in your eye. The lens, located just behind the iris, or the colored part of your eye, works like the lens in a camera. It picks up images, then focuses the lights, colors, and shapes on the retina —-the transmitter located at the back of your eye that sends the image to your brain.

A small incision, barely noticeable, is made for phacoemulsitication.

A small incision, barely noticeable, is made for phacoemulsitication.

The human lens, made mostly of protein and water, can become clouded — so clouded it keeps light and images from reaching the retina. Eye injury, certain diseases, or even some medications can cause the clouding. But, in over 90% of cases, clouding is caused by the aging process.

A cataract can be the reason sharp images become blurred, and seeing things at night is more difficult. It’s why the eyeglasses or contact lenses that used to help you read, or do other simple tasks, no longer seem to help.

A cataract is not a “film” over the eye, and neither diet nor lasers will make it go away. The best way to treat a cataract is to remove the old, clouded lens, and provide a replacement.

Cataract Surgery

Instrument  breaking up and removing pieces of clouded lens.

Instrument breaking up and removing pieces of clouded lens.

One of the Safest & Most Successful Procedures Preformed Today

Great advances have been made in cataract surgery. Millions of people undergo this vision-improving procedure every year. And, they experience excellent results.

For patients, it’s a simple operation. A tiny incision is made in the eye. Through this incision, the surgeon inserts an instrument, about the size of a pen tip. The surgeon may select to use either an AQUALASE® device, which uses gentle pulses of liquid to wash away your cloudy lens, or and ultrasonic instrument that breaks up and gently removes your cloudy lens.

Once the clouded lens has been removed, the next step is to replace it. That is, to implant an artificial lens that will do the work of your own lens. This artificial lens is referred to as an intraocular lens or IOL.

How will it feel?
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure. You’ll spend just a few hours at the site. Because your eyes will be numbed with anesthesia, you should feel little to no discomfort.

After the surgery, you’ll be given a short time to rest. Then, the very same day, you can go home. Within the next 24 hours, your doctor will probably want to see you for evaluation. Drops will be prescribed to guard against infection and help your eyes heal. For a few days, you may need to wear a clear shield, especially at night, to prevent you from rubbing your eye.

The Benefits of Cataract Surgery Have Been Enhanced To Also Provide A Natural Filter Against Blue Light.

Your Eyes & Blue Light

Blue light begins the visible range of the light spectrum. While some blue light waves contribute to color perception, other wavelengths of blue light may actually be harmful to your eye.

There are many sources of blue light in your everyday environment including sunlight and artificial lighting.

Researchers believe that blue light may cause damage to the retina which could potentially contribute to macular degeneration or loss of vision. The long-term effects of filtering blue light and the clinical efficacy of that filtering on the retina have not been conclusively established.

The reason you may not have heard about blue light until now is because it has not been well publicized. Recent advances in artificial lens material have just now enabled this concern to be addressed for cataract patients.

The ACRYSOF® Natural IOL Filters Blue Light Like Your Natural Lens

A - Arms ( haptics) B - Lens body (optic) The ACRYSOF® Natural IOL lens is a single-piece lens.  The arms (or haptics) that keep the lens centered and secure are made of the same soft acrylic material as the lens body.

A – Arms ( haptics)
B – Lens body (optic)
The ACRYSOF® Natural IOL lens is a single-piece lens. The arms (or haptics) that keep the lens centered and secure are made of the same soft acrylic material as the lens body.

There have been great advances in artificial lens technology. The ACRYSOF® Natural IOL is an example.

All currently available artificial lenses filter UV light, but the ACRYSOF® Natural IOL filters both UV and blue light. The ACRYSOF® Natural lens is transparent yellow — the color necessary to filter blue light. The patented yellow tint does not alter the natural colors of the things you see or the quality of your vision.

Today, the ACRYSOF® family of lenses, including the ACRYSOF® Natural IOL, are among the most frequently implanted lenses in the world. This is largely due to the long term clinical results of the lens. Furthermore, these lenses are made of a patented material developed specifically for the eye.

This is the only lens crafted entirely from ACRYSOF® acrylic — a soft, flexible material that was developed specifically for use as and IOL. This material behaves well in the eye, contributing to excellent long-term results.

Also, the ACRYSOF® single-Piece IOL is designed to conform to the natural shape of the lens capsule. That helps to stay stable and centered in the eye.

The ACRYSOF® Natural IOL is designed to conform to the natural shape of the lens capsule. This helps it stay stable and centered in the eye. But what makes the ACRYSOF® Natural IOL unique is its ability to filter blue light.

Inserting folded ACRYSOF® lens

Inserting folded ACRYSOF® lens

Unfolded ACRYSOF® lens in eye

Unfolded ACRYSOF® lens in eye

The ACRYSOF® Natural IOL

The ACRYSOF® Natural IOL enhances the benefits of advanced cataract surgery by filtering out blue light.

The Miracle of Cataract Surgery

When your cataract has been removed it may seem like a miracle. All the things you couldn’t see clearly are bright, clear, and vivid again. In fact, many people will tell you they haven’t seen life so clearly in years.

Once you see how good the world looks, you’ll discover — like millions of others just like you — that a cataract is one thing you can live without.

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. You and your doctor should consider the potential risks and benefits, and determine if cataract surgery is right for you.

Should you have any questions about cataract surgery, and the new the ACRYSOF® Natural IOL please contact one of the Doctors at Lange Eye Care and Associates by e-mail or by phone.

Alcon is a Registered Trademarks of Alcon, Inc Alcon is a Registered Trademarks of Alcon, Inc

 Acrysof® is a Registered Trademarks of Alcon, Inc Acrysof® is a Registered Trademarks of Alcon, Inc

Crystalens™ – The first and only accommodating IOL

See All the Possibilities

Your vision connects you to the world. Over time, however, it becomes more difficult to see clearly. That is because your natural crystalline lens is becoming larger and harder. This prevents your lens from focusing as it once did and is why you may need glasses or bifocals to read this right now. This inability to focus, or accommodate, is called presbyopia and its earliest symptom is a difficulty seeing things that are close-up.

Over time, your lens will continue to harden, eventually turning cloudy as it becomes a cataract. It is a natural process that occurs in most everyone over 50 years of age. While glasses may help initially, eventually your cataracts will need to be removed.

Your Options

For the past 30 years, ophthalmologists have treated cataracts by replacing them with artificial lenses, or IOLs. While millions of Americans successfully undergo this proven surgery each year, in most cases, patients will require glasses for reading after cataract surgery. That is because all previously available IOLs were stationary and did not adjust to focus or accommodate. until now . . .

Crystalens™ works like the eye’s natural lens to allow most patients to see images that are near …

Introducing Crystalens™, the first and only accommodating IOL

watch
(inside 16 inches)
dog
intermediate (between 16 and 36 inches)
spshuttle
and distant (36 inches and beyond), without glasses.


Crystalens is engineered with a hinge designed to allow the optic, or part of the IOL that you see through, to move back and forth as you constantly change focus on images around you.

How much is it worth to restore my vision to what it was years ago?

remyWithout Glasses?!! that is worth everything to me!

  • to see my girl’s toothless grin?
  • to end the day in my latest books?
  • to read the time on the wall?
  • to select the right size?!!
  • and to check the label on my prescription?!!!

A New Hope

With Crystalens™ your vision will not only be brighter, but you may be free of those things that made you look or feel older. Crystalens™ will give you 20/life by reconnecting you to the people and things that matter most.

In clinical tests:

  • 98.48% of patients implanted with crystalens™ in both eyes could pass a driver’s test without glasses
  • 100% could see intermediate (24″ to 30″) without glasses, the distance for most of life’s daily activities
  • 98.4% could see well enough to read the newspaper and the phone book without glasses
  • Some patients did require glasses for some tasks after implantation of the crystalens™

Consult Your Doctor

Only your eye care doctor can determine which treatment is best for you. He or she is one of the few doctors across the country that are uniquely qualified to offer this lens and return your vision to what it once was.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

Should you have any questions about Crystalens™, please contact one of the Doctors at Lange Eye Care and Associates by e-mail or by phone.

AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL – Vision for the way you live

Better Than Ever

acrosoft6Cataract surgery has undergone tremendous technological advances since the days of your parents and grandparents. This year, millions of patients will choose to have both their vision and their lifestyles restored, thanks to this life-changing medical procedure.

The good news is that you’ve encountered cataracts at a time when intraocular lens technology has taken a giant leap forward. No longer is the objective simply to restore your distance vision with a monofocal IOL.

Today, the goal is to enhance your vision with an IOL that may provide you with a full range of vision, thus minimizing your dependence on glasses, including reading glasses or bifocals.

Once you understand what a cataract is, how it will be removed, and how your vision may be improved with the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL, your concern about your diagnosis could actually turn into excitement.

How Cataracts Develop

acrosoft7A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. This lens, located behind the iris (or colored part of the eye) works just like the lens of a camera – focusing light images on the retina, which sends the images to your brain.

The human lens, made mostly of protein and water, can become clouded – so clouded it keeps light and images from reaching the retina. Eye injury, certain diseases, or even some medications can cause the clouding. But, in over 90% of cases, clouding is caused by the aging process. A cataract is not a “film” over the eye, and neither diet nor lasers will make it go away. The best way to treat a cataract is to remove the old, clouded lens and provide a replacement.

acrosoft8A cataract can be the reason sharp images become blurred, bright colors become dull, or seeing at night is more difficult. It may also be why the reading glasses or bifocals that used to help you read, or do other simple tasks, no longer seem to help. Unfortunately, cataracts can’t be prevented, but removing the cataract and replacing it with and artificial lens can restore your vision and in many ways, significantly improve your quality of life. The time to have your cataracts removed is when the quality of your vision begins to put limits on your activities and enjoyment of life.

What Is Presbyopia?

When your eyes were young, your natural lens was both transparent and flexible. Because of this, your vision was most likely stable until you reached your forties.

Around that time, you may have noticed that you had to hold a menu or a book farther and farther away to read it. Many people end up wearing a pair of reading glasses or bifocals to compensate for this aging of the eye. This condition is called “presbyopia” and eventually affects everyone, including those who are nearsighted, farsighted. have cataracts, or had perfect vision most of their life.

The AcrySof Family Of Lenses

acrosoft10Intraocular lenses were first introduced in 1949 and are available today in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and lens materials. AcrySof® IOLs are made of the first foldable material developed exclusively for use in the eye. With more than 21 million lenses implanted, the AcrySof® lens has been the most commonly used IOL in the world, since they became available in 1994. Its popularity is largely due to their ability to provide excellent visual results and a high level of patient satisfaction.

The AcrySof ReSTOR® IOL At Last! An Opportunity For Visual Freedom

For most cataract patients, life without reading glasses or bifocals is something they either experienced before presbyopia or they just dreamed about for most of their lives. But today, the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL is turning those dreams into reality with its revolutionary lens technology, which is designed to allow patients to see clearly at all distances without bifocals or reading glasses. The AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL is now available and delivers a high level of glasses-free vision for cataract patients.

acrosoft11
Until recently, most patients had their vision improved with a monofocal IOL. Although the quality of their distant vision was excellent, most patients needed reading glasses to see near objects.
acrosoft12
AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL provides a full range of vision, decreasing the dependency on reading glasses or bifocals.

In the clinical study, 80% of patients receiving the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL reported that they never wear glasses for any activities. Wit the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL they can read a book, work on the computer, and drive a car – day or night – and play golf or tennis with an increased freedom from glasses. In fact, patients were so pleased with their vision, nearly 94% of patients said they would have the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL implanted again, if given the choice.

The Safest And Most Successful Procedure Performed Today

Cataract surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, and usually requires just a few hours of your time from start to finish. Your eye will be treated with anesthetic prior to the procedure so you’ll feel little, if any, discomfort. First, a tiny incision will be made in the eye allowing your surgeon to use a small instrument (about the size of a pen tip) to break up and wash away the cloudy cataract. Once the cataract is removed, the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL will be inserted through the same tiny incision and set into its permanent position.

What To Expect After The Procedure

After the procedure you’ll rest for a short while before you go home. Your doctor will typically examine your eye within 24 hours. You’ll need to use prescription eye drops to guard against infection and help your eye heal. For a few days, you may need to wear a protective shield, especially at night to prevent you from rubbing your eye. Everyone heals somewhat differently, but most patients see well enough to return to most of their routine activities the day after surgery. Once both eyes have been treated, you will fully appreciate the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL and realize that your cataract was one thing you could definitely live without.

Ask Your Doctor If The AcrySof ReSTOR IOL Is Right For You

acrosoft13As with any surgical procedure there are inherent risks, and your results cannot be guaranteed. Your doctor will provide you with more detailed information about potential risks and benefits to help decide whether cataract surgery and the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL is right for you.

Should you have any questions about the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL, please contact one of the Doctors at Lange Eye Care and Associates by e-mail or by phone.

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