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Caring for Your Eyeglasses

Your eyeglasses are an investment that you make in both your vision and appearance. To get the most out of your investment, Vision Clinics has developed a few helpful suggestions...

Eyeglass lenses, even with special coatings, can easily scratch. Always use a soft, non-abrasive cloth with a liquid cleaner. Never rub your lenses when they are dry. We recommend Vision Clinics special silky cloths that work well in combination with Vision Clinics brand liquid spray cleaner.

Always use two hands when putting your eyeglasses on or when removing them. Using one hand can result in loosening and stretching of the frame.

If your glasses need adjustment, allow a professional to readjust them. It is nearly impossible to adjust your own glasses and achieve the best fit. Vision Clinics includes a case with the purchase of new glasses, and have the latest in case styles available for purchase.

Eyeglass cases can be stylish and protective. When not wearing your glasses, storing them in a case will extend their life. Vision Clinics includes a case with the purchase of new glasses, and have the latest in case styles available for purchase.

Eyeglass quality can also vary. Frames are made from various materials and this can be a factor in the quality and longevity of your glasses. Frames made of stainless steel or titanium metals are considered better quality. Vision Clinics carries brands like Marchon and Luxottica--these reputable manufacturers provide high quality products so that starting out with a high quality pair of glasses will help eliminate future problems.

Contact lenses to treat amblyopia

In the past, young patients who have been diagnosed with amblyopia were treated by patching the stronger eye with an adhesive patch to force the weak eye to work. While this treatment remains a standard for many doctors, Drs. Kammer have been using contact lenses with even better success. By placing a blurring contact lens on the stronger eye, and the best possible correction on the weaker, effective patching is achieved. In actuality, this contact lens combination works even better than traditional patching for several reasons.

First, because contact lenses are being used, the correction placed before the weaker eye typically gives better vision as aberrations associated with spectacle lenses is eliminated. Next, the patching remains in place until the contact lenses are removed. Finally, because the stronger eye is not being completely “blocked,” potential weakening of the good eye and misalignment of the eyes is reduced. With both eyes still “seeing,” better overall function occurs.

While parents may be apprehensive about their children wearing contact lenses, Drs. Kammer successes keep this treatment technique for amblyopia their method of first choice.

Thinking About Having Refractive Surgery?

Nearly everyone has now heard about refractive surgery—the surgical procedures that can be done to eliminate, or greatly reduce the dependency upon, glasses or contact lenses.

You may have asked yourself, “Am I a candidate for this procedure?” “What are my chances of success?” “What’s all involved?” “How much does it cost?” “What are the risks?” “What is the recovery time?”

Drs. Donald and Scott Kammer of Vision Clinics can answer some of these questions for you. They offer their unbiased opinion because they want their patients to benefit from the latest technologies, but also proceed in a careful manner that will ensure a lifetime of excellent vision. They invite any questions, and are happy to discuss refractive surgery at your regularly scheduled visits, on the telephone, or via email.

A brief history of refractive surgery

There are now many forms of refractive surgery. The earliest procedures involved making incisions in the cornea, the clear, front tissue of the eye. The incisions resulted in controlled scarring and a flattening of the cornea, causing prescription decrease in near-sighted individuals. The amount of possible alteration was limited, and the accuracy of correction was not very exact.

Other forms of surgical incisions were discovered that could also flatten the cornea. While these new incision styles allowed greater amounts of correction with improved accuracy, most patient’s still had to wear glasses afterwards.

When the newer surgical incision techniques were combined with the use of a laser to create flattening of the cornea, even greater magnitudes of correction with excellent accuracy was obtained for both near and far-sighted individuals. The latest procedure, called LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis) is the perfect blending of traditional surgical techniques, with the technology of the laser.

Am I a candidate for refractive surgery?

Chances are, the answer is, “Yes.” With the many forms of refractive surgery today, and the expanded range of possible correctable prescriptions, very few patients are told they cannot have the procedure. The risk factors that are considered contraindications are all evaluated for very carefully in Drs. Kammers’ routine eye examination. Before the surgery is performed, you will be checked, double-checked, and then personally evaluated by the surgeon.

What’s involved in the surgery?

The refractive surgery procedure itself is remarkably simple for the patient. Both eyes are typically corrected at the same visit. The patient is given a mild, oral sedative. Topical anesthetic is applied to the eyes. The surgical instruments are brought into position, and approximately eight minutes later, the procedure is finished! It is not uncommon to sit up after the procedure and have 20/20 vision. Many patients fear that they will not be able to sit still for the procedure, or that if they move the procedure will be ruined. The technologies being used can certainly detect movement, and will either pause, or compensate. Recovery time is very quick. Most patients drive themselves the next day to their one-day post-operative visit.

How do I select a surgeon?

After deciding to have the procedure, this is an extremely difficult decision. The amount of advertising, notoriety of the facility, and the price paid, does not necessarily dictate the quality of the surgeon or predictable outcomes.

Both Drs. Kammer have been in practice since the start of refractive surgery in the United States. We have seen many surgeon’s work, and ultimate results. We have decided to only recommend the surgeons we feel offer the best of everything; from facility to outcome.

Drs. Kammer are happy to discuss whom we believe to be the best surgeon’s in the Greater Cleveland area. If you have already selected a surgeon and would like our opinion on that surgeon, we will be happy to discuss this individual with you.

Which surgical procedure is right for me?

This is a decision is a difficult one to make. We can tell you the risks and benefits of each procedure, and ultimately, it is your choice. But most patients appreciate having Dr. Kammer assist them in this decision because they can count on an unbiased opinion. There are currently at least ten different refractive surgery procedures. No one surgeon does every type. Consequently, selecting your own surgeon without considering this fact may result in receiving a procedure that was not optimal for your correction. After your Comprehensive Eye Examination with Dr. Kammer, he can tell you the best surgical procedure for you, and who does it.

What are the risks?

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks that must be considered. Most are minor and treatable. Some may be sight threatening. While some may criticize the procedure as being “too new” to anticipate all the potential side effects over time, the procedure itself is based upon sound surgical principals, and the technologies applied offer an unparalleled accuracy. Predictions of long-term complications can be done through our knowledge of other ophthalmic surgeries, and our understanding of how the cornea heals after injury.

To what extent can Dr. Kammer be involved in this process?

First and foremost, Drs. Donald and Scott Kammer can simply be an information resource. From general questions about refractive surgery, to specific issues such as risk and benefits, to potential side-effects or complications, Drs. Kammer are happy to answer any question you may have.

In addition, Drs. Donald and Scott Kammer have been co-managing refractive surgery since it was first performed in the United States. Co-managing is a special relationship that the doctors and surgeons have established that fully utilizes the talents of each doctor. By directly working with Dr. Kammer, the surgeon has access to any prior visual and ocular health records that have been established at your Vision Clinics office. Dr. Kammer’s preliminary assessment begins the intense work-up warranted by the refractive surgery. After he performs two separate assessments on two separate visits, it is at this time that a surgeon is selected who performs the procedure that is best indicated for your eyes, as mentioned above.

After the surgeon is selected, an appointment is made for you at his office. The pre-operative assessments Dr. Kammer completed are sent for the surgeon to review. Many times, the surgery is scheduled on the same day as your first visit with surgeon. The surgeon will conduct final tests on your eyes, and then perform the surgery.

Your post-operative care is conveniently done back at your Vision Clinics office.

What is the cost of the procedure?

As mentioned before, the cost of the procedure does not dictate your success. Most patients are not looking for a bargain when it comes to eye surgery, so Dr. Kammer makes his recommendations based solely upon whom we consider to be the best. We have no financial incentive to recommend one surgeon over another. This is the unbiased opinion that patient’s appreciate most.

At the time of this printing, Drs. Donald and Scott Kammer refer to three refractive surgeons. The average cost of the surgery is $3500 for both eyes complete.

What are my chances of success with these procedures?

Your chances of obtaining “perfect vision” are excellent, but there can never be any guarantees. To avoid unrealistic expectations, Dr. Kammer is reserved in this prediction. Frankly, we tell our patients that if your definition of success for the procedure is that having any need for glasses or contact lenses means it was a failure, then you should not have it done. While almost every patient we have worked with has achieved 20/20 vision, there are enough unpredictable variables that may exist that could affect the accuracy of the procedure, and necessitate the occasional use of glasses or contact lenses. There will certainly be a reduction in your prescription after the procedure, and we will say 80 to 90% of the time you will not need glasses. For most people, even that conservative estimate seems like a dream!

How do I proceed?

Contact any of Dr. Kammer’s Vision Clinics locations. If you have not had a Comprehensive Eye Examination within one year, schedule that appointment. After the Comprehensive Eye Examination, we will conduct the pre-operative work-up, and at that visit, we can contact the recommended refractive surgeon’s office to schedule the procedure. The one-day post-op visit is also scheduled at that time back at your Vision Clinics location. It’s just that simple!

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Drs. Donald or Scott Kammer. It is our pleasure to present to you this exciting technology, and assist you in the process of decision, and receiving, refractive surgery.

Programs to eliminate the need for glasses

There are many advertisements on television and radio that seem to claim that they can help you eliminate the need for glasses. The doctors of Vision Clinics are frequently asked if these claims are valid, and if the programs really work.

First, these programs do not typically advertise that they are going to eliminate your dependency on glasses by reducing your current glasses prescription. Careful wording by these companies usually state that the exercises will “strengthen” your eyes, and consequently, you will see better. This is an important distinction in outcomes. It is physically impossible to reduce the prescription of our eyes, because your base prescription is determined by the curvature of your cornea, which causes light to come to a focus on your retina, and the length of your eyeball. If the curvature of your cornea does not match the length of your eyeball, you will be either nearsighted, or farsighted. No exercises can cause your cornea to flatten, or your eyeball size to decrease.

Next, the exercises recommended in the programs are standard vision training exercises that eye doctors have been recommending for years to patients who have focusing deficiencies. Within your eye, there is a small crystalline lens that contracts and relaxes as we read, do computer work, or focus on near tasks. For some, the muscles that control the lens may be weak, or have poor control, and the exercises do help this system. Unfortunately, if you are over forty, it is the crystalline lens tissue itself that has lost its elasticity, and no amount exercise in the will return it’s flexibility. Finally, if the fatigue or eyestrain is not from the muscles that control the crystalline lens, forcing the eyes to do these exercises may only cause more fatigue, with no benefit.

In short, the programs presented in these advertisements cannot cause any permanent damage to your eyes. However, their benefits may be limited. A Comprehensive Eye Examination can quickly tell you if you would benefit from these exercises, and your eye doctor can tailor a similar regime for you.

Are extended wear contact lenses healthy?

Ciba Vision, A Novartis Company, has designed a new contact lens that has received FDA approval for 30 day extended wear. The “Ciba Focus Night and Day” is intended to be worn, without removal, for 30 straight days. There is however, controversy regarding the safety of this wearing schedule. While studies have shown that there is sufficient oxygen transfer through the contact lens to allow the cornea to receive adequate nutrition, there is also concern as greater bacterial adherence is seen with this newer material. Consequently, the risk of infection may outweigh the benefit of convenience.

Drs. Kammer currently fit this new contact lens. However, until more definitive research is done, and this lens has a longer track record, we recommend removal of the contact lens at bedtime with standard disinfection, and disposal of the lens after one month. Our recommended wear schedule will allow the patient to benefit from the most oxygen permeable material available, and minimize the risk for infection.

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