News and Updates

News

News, September 2, 2009

Dr. Shealy's Professional Experience with The Allegretto WaveLight Analyzer
Dr. Shealy has been studying the comparative results of older methods of determining refractive prescriptions with newer electronic means. He has recently determined that the Allegretto Wavefront Analyzer is much more accurate at determining prescriptions for refractive patients than older methods using the phoropter to determine a patient's need for correction. This finding will allow Dr. Shealy to not only more accurately determine prescription levels, but will assist him in finding the best correction method for each individual, thus producing better, safer, high quality, high definition vision for his patients. Use of wavefront guided technology with the Allegretto Wavefront Analyzer is good for minus 7 diopters of myopia and up to 3 diopters of astigmatism. The analyzer findings according to Dr. Steve Hollis of Auburn, Alabama, are not as accurate when treating hyperopia requiring eye-tracker decentration and in patients with abnormal crystalline lenses. Further results need to be investigated.

News, June 8, 2009

From EyeWorld Weekly News
The news magazine of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
http://www.eyeworld.org/ewweek.php?id=557#6

B&L settles fungal-infection lawsuits
Bausch & Lomb (B&L; Rochester, N.Y.) has settled nearly 600 fungal-infection lawsuits related to its ReNu with MoistureLoc multipurpose contact lens solution for more than $250 million, according to an AP news item. There were more than 700 contact lens wearers in the U.S. and Asia who said they were exposed to Fusarium keratitis as a result of using the solution. Seven people in Florida, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Tennessee and West Virginia had to have an eye removed. At least 60 more Americans needed corneal transplants, according to the AP. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 180 cases in 35 states from June 2005 through September 2006, and continued to hear of sporadic, unconfirmed cases in the months after MoistureLoc was withdrawn, AP said. While B&L says it has settled “the vast majority of fungal infection cases,” it is challenging another 500-plus lawsuits linking MoistureLoc to assorted bacterial, viral and parasitic afflictions. Last week, a pretrial hearing in New York was to decide if there existed a reliable scientific basis for arguing the link, AP reported.

Update, July 2009: At the Shealy Eye Laser Center we recommend that patients avoid water borne hazards and carefully attend to lens hygiene. A patient should wash their contact lens case, disinfect their lenses, avoid swimming in lenses, and do not use tap water for rinsing and storing their contact lenses.

News, January 1, 2009

We now have an evolving definition of glaucoma which will alter treatment patterns also. October, 2008, Ophthalmology Times. Once thought to be a disease characterized sole be elevated IOP, the definition of glaucoma has been evolving to portray the disease's true nature more accurately: a progressive neurodegenerative disorder in which structural damage precedes psychophysical visual field damage. When monitoring patients who have elevated IOP and ocular hypertension or glaucoma with visual field loss, it is important to evaluate the optic nerve for change rather than wait until visual field progression is evident.

News, December 15, 2008

A decade of LASIK Surgery has found that 5% of patients are dissatisfied with conventional LASIK. The most common side effect was dry eyes which is more common as people get older. 31% of patents had dry eye before surgery and about 5% worsened after surgery. Cutting a flap was found to decrease the stimulus for tear production and how well the nerves heal determine how much dry lingers. With improvements in technology, these issues are being addressed and by doing a better job we intend to improve the satisfaction rate from 95% to 98 to 99%, in the year 2008.

Risk factors for dry eye include:

• Age

• Female
• Asian Race
• Vitamin A deficiency
• Hepatitis C infection
• HIV/HTLV1 infection
• Diabetes mellitus
• Connective tissue disease
• Sarcoidosis
• Androgen deficiency
• Ovarian dysfunction
• Post-menopausal oestrogen therapy
• Antihistamines
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
• Diuretics
• Beta-blockers
• Isotretinoin
• Systemic chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Bone marrow transplantation
• LASIK and refractive excimer laser therapy
• Large incision extracapsular cataract extraction and penetrating keratoplasty
• Low humidity
• High room temperature or velocity
• Pollution/poor air quality
• Computer use (due to sustained visual attention and decreased blink rate)
• Contact lens wear
• Diet low in omega-3 fatty acids or with a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids

News, November 10, 2008

Sunlight exposure may be linked to AMD. Ocular Surgery News, November 10, 2008. Study shows late age-related macular degeneration patients have more facial wrinkling than control patients without AMD. Lifetime exposure to sunlight, as measured by facial wrinkle length, appears to be associated with the development of age-related macular degeneration, according to the findings of a study. Chronic inflammation is an important factor. If mild but chronic damage is caused in the macula by sunlight exposure, it can induce chronic inflammation. Additionally, if this phenomenon occurs repeatedly, it would affect the eye in a cumulative way.

News, June, 2008

Laser vision casualties are treatable. since laser vision correction in it's beginning, we've come a long way, but despite that, 95% of the patients have been satisfied with a higher quality of life. Concerns about suicide, depression have been raised in the FDA. We at the Shealy Eye Laser Center, as many other doctors, will not be satisfied until all complications have been eliminated. We will not rest until all patients are completely satisfied with their outcomes. We at times, misread the mental status of our patients. More is being learned each day about how depression and laser vision correction combined. We've heard stories for years about patients with depression, and we at the Shealy Eye Laser Center have experienced one suicide out of 40,000 surgeries which occurred in the early 1990's following a very well performed radial keratotomy (non-laser treatment). The family still blames our previous staff and doctor for this tragedy. This person also left a note that he was going to kill our staff and myself.

News, June 1, 2008

Ophthalmology Times, June, 2008. In a debate at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting, one surgeon contended that surface ablation is safer and more effective than LASIK because of complications associated with flap creation in lamellar procedures. His counterpart, however, suggested that LASIK is preferable because of risks associated with surface procedures, including ectasia, infections and haze.

News, June 15, 2008

LASIK and PRK are permitted for U.S. Air Force aviators. Low-contrast acuity outcomes demonstrate faster return after custom LASIK compared with custom PRK. Wilford Hall Medical Center permits the use of femto-second lasers although any microkeratome is allowed. The patients must be under -5.50 of myopia.

Walter Reed, Fort Lewis, Fort Hood and Fort Campbell prefer Surface No-cut Epi-Laser or modulated PRK for it's combat ground forces.

ABC News - "Is Lasik Surgery Right for Me?"

Introduction: Patients presented their comments about Laser Vision Correction or LASIK (Laser Assisted Intrastromal Keratomileusis)

Positive Comments:

1. Patients indicate that they are happier with custom or wavefront treating lasers
2. Doctors should reject poor candidates that have prescriptions outside LASIK guidelines which are more restrictive than with Surface Epi-Laser Guidelines
3. Large prescriptions will tolerate halos at night, but it is one of the best things he did for himself
4. Allowed to watch surgery "best thing he has ever done"

Negative Comments:

1. Patients advise against having a flap cut in their cornea
2. Caution has been indicated for lasers that create more nighttime glare and halos
3. LASIK has predisposed patients to ectasia and has reduced corneal biomechanics
4. LASIK should be practiced as medicine, not as a business and patients need more one on one with their treating ophthalmologist
5. Think long and hard before you have LASIK or Laser Intrastromal surgery
6. Some doctors and optometrists are opposed to LASIK

Dr. Shealy's Comments:

"Patients having cutting or flap surgery with traditional lasers tend to have nighttime glare and halos, structural weakening of their cornea predisposing to ectasia, wrinkles in their cap or flap, and reduced quality of vision, compared to new wavefront lasers where the treatment is placed on the corneal surface without a flap. 90% of all the complications are related to retreatments and making a cap or flap.

Surface Epi-Laser with the Allegretto Wavelight is accurate 99.9% of the time and the quality of vision better than with glasses and contact lenses 98% of the time. Patients can function without bifocals 90% of the time. This new surface laser treatment has been made possible with better pharmaceutical management and new temporary soft contact lenses worn 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 days after surgery."

"Newer technologies and better medical management of postop discomfort have allowed us to offer superior results with patient safety in mind." - Ming Wang, MD, PhD, and Tracy S. Swartz, OD, MS, FAAO.

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Other News

The 'O' Magazine article about Laser Vision Correction!

ABC News - "Is Lasik Surgery Right for Me?"

FDA to Hold Public Meeting in June on Contact Lenses

	CDC RECALL NOTICE
COMPLETE MoisturePLUS CONTACT LENS CARE PRODUCTS BY AMO Click here for more info...

Following up on the keratitis outbreaks of recent years, the FDA’s Ophthalmic Devices Panel is meeting June 10 to discuss postmarket experience with various contact lens care products contact lens care product development (including preclinical testing and clinical performance measures) and labeling for contact lenses and lens care products. The Academy is working with the Cornea Society and the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists to develop recommendations and testimony on these issues for the meeting.

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Updates

Shealyeye.com is updated weekly, every Wednesday from 1:00 to 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Sometimes, more often than once a week as technology changes so quickly these days.

Notes from the Webmaster

December, 2008
It still lives!

Our website continues to grow and mature as new and existing technologies such as collagen cross-linking, pharmacological treatments, advances in multi-focal intra-ocular implants, continue to drive improvements and refinements in the laser vision correction industry, expanding the reaches of vision improvements. Dr. Shealy and I are still updating the site weekly, and lately 2 or 3 times a week, in order to make sure that our website visitors are the best educated laser vision correction consumers, ever.

Despite the current economical atmosphere, Dr. Shealy's business continues to grow when many other business are facing difficulties. I'm sure that it is because of his extraordinary efforts to stay abreast and current in his industry and his insight into what technologies will fuel future advancements and improvements in laser vision correction. And many people are finding that it is financially logical to reduce many of their reoccurring expenses and make an investment in their own self-improvement.

It doesn't hurt to look into laser vision correction!

May, 2008
My update from June, 2006 still holds true, this website is very much alive. Dr. Shealy and I make changes to it weekly, and we have to - the technology of laser vision correction is changing that quickly! It's exciting! More new advances in optical, medical, laser, and computer technology have made surface procedures even safer with better results. Some are predicting a rebirth of corneal refractive surgery driven by new technologies, like computer-controlled femtosecond lasers, that makes even thinner flaps to enhance safety called Sub-Bowman's keratomileusis or SBK Thin Flap Laser Vision Correction.

Safer, better, faster - the future is NOW! Is it time for you to look into laser vision correction?

June, 2006
Contrary to print media that goes to the press and is therefore editable only to a certain point in the production process, a website is constantly changing, always growing; in a sense, never finished. As technology changes, not only in the website industry and the way websites are designed, built and implemented but the in the technology that the site represents as well, we webmasters have our work cut out for us when it comes to keeping our sites current and up to date. A website can almost be thought of as a living thing. I'm sure that all of you have been to a 'dead' website at one point - only 1/2 or none of the links work, the contact email returns a 'mailer daemon', the phone number is no longer valid, etc. So why not one that's 'alive'?

This website is one of those sites - It's alive!

Since April of 2005, when I first started as the Webmaster here, technology has made great strides in the area of laser vision correction. I am submersed in the data and information that is compiled here and I am learning a lot about eyes, laser vision correction, LASIK, Epi-Laser, surface procedures and more. And a lot is happening - new tools and techniques are being invented and tested, better, faster, more precise lasers are being produced, even advancements in the computer and software industries are helping laser vision correction technology to grow.

I have also been fortunate enough to see the joy and elation on the faces of people who have just had the surgery and minutes later are seeing better than ever in their lives.

If you've been told that you're not a candidate for laser vision correction in the past, maybe it's time to take another 'look' at it, so to speak - and yes, pun intended. Unless you keep checking, you'll never know when technology has caught up and the problem you have with your vision may be something that can be addressed now or in the very near future. And the consultation is FREE! Maybe it IS time to get rid of your glasses!

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6036 Trier Road Fort Wayne, IN 46815 ♦ Tel: (260) 486-0065 or (800) 644-6393 ♦ email: shealy@shealyeye.com
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