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Rittenhouse Eye Associates - Services/Lasik

LASIK . . . A fifteen-minute procedure that can change your life.
 
Imagine clear vision, free of glasses and contact lenses. LASIK can turn this dream into a reality. LASIK is a laser procedure that reshapes your cornea to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The procedure is generally safe and quick, and it produces remarkable results. Take a quick look at some of the benefits of LASIK below:
 

• Can eliminate or reduce your need for glasses and contact lenses.
• 97% of LASIK patients have uncorrected vision of 20/40 or better.
• No needles—anesthesia is in the form of virtually painless eye drops.
• No stitches.
• Quicker recovery time than other vision-correcting procedures.
• Vision usually restored the next day.

LASIK uses an excimer laser that can remove thirty millionth of an inch of tissue in twelve billionths of a second with each pulse. This enables Dr. Harris to achieve remarkable accuracy while maintaining excellent control throughout the procedure. As with any surgery, there are some risks associated with LASIK, which Dr. Harris will discuss with you during your FREE consultation.
 
Dr. Harris has performed thousands of eye surgical procedures over the past 10 years, so you can trust that your eyesight is in the hands of a skilled surgeon. Plus, Dr. Harris has completed a comprehensive LASIK and custom LASIK training and certification programs offered by TLC Laser College, the largest and most recognized laser eye center in the world. Ask Dr. Harris today if LASIK can change the way you see the world or call our Surgery Coordinator, at  215-545-1614 to learn more about this procedure.

CATARACTS

GETTING YOU BACK INTO THE PICTURE

INTRODUCTION

Dr. Walter P. Harris, the son of the late Judge Doris Harris and the late Walter P. Harris Sr., received a Bachelor degree from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts and a Medical Degree from Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore, Maryland. He then completed a medical internship at Hahnemann University and a residency in ophthalmology at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond Virginia. He is a clinical assistant instructor at Wills Eye Hospital, and Cooper Hospital at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He also has staff privileges at St. Agnes Hospital, Graduate Hospital, and Frankford Hospital.

Dr. Harris is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. Dr. Harris is trained to treat a wide range of medical eye conditions and can perform a variety of eye procedures including laser surgery, and surgery for cataracts, glaucoma, and lid defects.

HOW DO WE SEE?

The human eye is like a camera. A camera contains a lens through which light passes and is focused into a clear picture on the film in the back of the camera.

The human eye contains a lens through which light passes and is focused on the retina which acts like the film in a camera and sends a focused picture of what you see to your brain.

WHAT IS A CATARACT?

The lens in your eye should be crystal clear. If tit becomes cloudy or discolored it is called a cataract. A cataract is not a growth or tumor, Cataracts do not cause itching, redness, or discomfort in your eye. Cataracts simply decrease the brightness and clarity of your vision.

DO YOU HAVE A CATARACT?

Are you having difficulty seeing green traffic lights or reading road signs? Are you less sure of yourself when you drive? Does the printing on newspapers or medicine labels seem fuzzy or blurred. Are you having trouble recognizing people across a room or trouble seeing the television clearly. DO you stumble more often and worry that you may fall and break a bone? Are you worried about becoming more dependent upon family and friends because of poor vision? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, you may have a cataract.

WHEN SHOULD CATARACT SURGERY BE PERFORMED?

Cataract surgery is advisable when the cataract begins to interfere with one's normal activities. The development of a cataract is not, in itself an indication that surgery is required. Cataract surgery is not an emergency. After a thorough eye examination and several tests, your doctor will discuss with you the need for cataract surgery. When ist is decided the time is right for cataract surgery, the operation will be scheduled and performed at your convenience. The decision to have surgery is, of course, ultimately the patient's decision.

BEFORE YOUR SURGERY

Our staff will give you instructions on what you need to do before the date of your surgery. You will need to have a full evaluation by your medical doctor as well as certain blood tests and other tests. You will also be scheduled to see your eye doctor to obtain written consent for the operation, discuss the surgery including risks and benefits in detail, and answer any last minute questions.

THE DAY OF YOUR SURGERY

Most patients can now have their procedure done without staying overnight in a hospital. On the shceduled day, you will be admitted to a hospital's Day Surgery Unit. You will be given eye drops and possibly a mild sedative to help you relax.

The surgery can be done under general aneshtesia or more commonly local anesthesia, but either way, you should experience no discomfort during the surgery. The cataract is gently removed using an operating microscope and specialized delicate instruments.

AFTER YOUR SURGERY

Recovery from modern cataract surgery is usually relatively rapid. Most patients require little or no pain medication after surgery. You will be allowed to resume many of your normal activities the day following surgery and should quickly resume all activities within the next several weeks.

Your vision will improve as your eye heals. You may be able to see quite well almost immediately, or you may need several weeks for healing. You will heal at your own rate. Once your eye has recovered, you may need glasses to fine-tune your vision.

LENS IMPLANTS

Since cataract surgery involves the removal of the eye's focusing lens, a replacement lens must be present to see well after surgery. the three possible substitutes for the removed cloudy lens i.e., cataract, are cataract glasses, contact lens, and intraocular lens implants. The most natural way to restore vision is to insert an intraocular lens implant.

ADVANTAGES OF INTRAOCULAR LENS IMPLANTS

• Elimination of contact lens or thick cataract glasses
• Requires no care
• No restriction on activity after recovery from the surgery
• Improved depth perception and ability to judge distances
• No interference with side vision

LASER AND CATARACT SURGERY

Contrary to popular opinion, cataracts cannot be removed with a laser. By the same token, there is no drop or pill which can remove a cataract. The only way to remove a cataract is through cataract surgery. Lasers are used, however, to treat after cataracts or second cataracts. A part of the lens, the capsule, is left in place during cataract surgery to support the intraocular lens implant. Months or years after the original surgery the capsule may become cloudy. this is calld an after cataract. A YAG laser can open the cloudy capsule to allow a clear path for light entering the eye, restoring sharp vision.

Cataract Surgery—A Second Chance for Good Sight

Are you having trouble driving because of night glare?
Is it hard to write checks?
When you read to your grandchildren, is the text blurred?
If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you may be suffering from cataracts—clouding of the lens in the eye and a leading cause of blindness. But there is good news—cataracts can be cured.

Dr. Harris performs a delicate procedure that replaces your clouded lens with a permanent, clear implant. This type of surgery usually eliminates the need for patches and stitches. Plus, it's an outpatient procedure, saving you hospital charges and time off from work. Dr. Harris will explain all the benefits and risks of cataract surgery during your preoperative evaluation.

Cataract surgery by Dr. Harris can provide more than just
restored sight—it can be a new lease on life.
 
"When Dr. Harris removed my cataracts, my eyesight became clear for the first time in years. He explained everything to me, and his staff was friendly and helpful."—Ben Fine

Glaucoma—The Silent Sight Stealer
Although glaucoma affects about 3,000,000 Americans per year, half of them don't know it. That's because glaucoma has no symptoms at first. Luckily, Dr. Harris can diagnose glaucoma in its early stages to avoid further vision loss. Treatment options include the newest pharmaceutical approaches and laser surgery.

An Office Brimming with Leading-Edge Equipment
Today's technology ensures that a comprehensive analysis of your sight problem can be obtained quickly, accurately, and comfortably. Dr. Harris has all the solutions you've been looking for:

• Computerized Visual-Field Analysis to evaluate for glaucoma. The test takes less than 15 minutes, one-fourth of the time of traditional methods.
• Fundus Camera that takes a picture of your optic nerve and retina to diagnose glaucoma and diabetes. By comparing these pictures from visit to visit, Dr. Harris can pick up any changes before they become problems.
• Argon Laser which can be used to treat glaucoma and diabetes.
• Ultrasound to make precise measurements for cataract surgery lens implants.
• Corneal topography maps the surface of your cornea to produce a 3-D computerized scan used for LASIK and difficult contact lens fits.
• Corneal Pachymetry to measure the thickness of your cornea to ensure you're a good LASIK candidate.

Contact Lenses Custom Fit for Your Needs

Contact lenses are not "one size fits all". Contact lenses are medical devices which can threaten your vision if not worn or cared for properly. Dr. Harris and Dr. Oberle believe in fitting your eyes with the best contact lenses to suit you and your lifestyle. Whether you need soft, gas penneable, bifocal, or specialty contacts, you can be assured of receiving a comfortable pair of contacts with our expertise and cutting edge equipment.

Single vision contacts: Rittenhouse Eye Associates fits many brands of soft lenses including Acuvue and Focus lenses. Soft lenses can be prescribed for occasional use, as well as 2-week or monthly disposable wear. Single vision lenses are also available in gas penneable material.

Toric contacts: Having astigmatism does not mean having to compromise your vision. Contact lenses are available to correct astigmatism and provide clearer vision to patients than single vision contacts.

Multi-focal contacts: Patients should not have to give up their contacts because they need additional help with reading. Rittenhouse eye associates fits different varieties of multifocal contacts and tries to base each fit around patients' visual demands. Multifocal lenses are available in soft and gas permeable materials.

Dry Eye Clinic Service
Dry eye is a common condition that affects millions of Americans.
A dry eye can itch, burn, feel gritty, or even burn excessively. These symptoms can be disruptive to everyday activities, and can be made worse by computer use or contact lens wear.

Dry eye can be caused by the environment, inadequate tear production, or inflammation. There are options available to treat dry eye, but it is important to have a thorough evaluation to tailor treatment to each patient. Rittenhouse Eye Associates is a dry eye treatment center. We specialize in dry eye diagnosis, and treatment. We have a special interest in contact lens wearers who struggle with dry eye or want to discontinue contact lens use because their eyes are dry. We welcome patients who want to explore contact lenses but feel they are not contact lens candidates because their eyes are dry.

Walter P. Harris, Jr., M.D.
Board Certified: American Board of Ophthalmology
LASIK Certified: TLC Laser Center
M.D.: Johns Hopkins Medical School
Fellow: American Academy of Ophthalmology, Philadelphia College of Physicians
Member: Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology, National Medical Association, Eastern Pennsylvania Medical Society
Clinical Assistant Professor: Hahnemann University Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology
Associate Surgeon: Wills Eye Hospital

Maureen Oberle, OD
Graduate of Pennsylvania College of Optometry, 1991

Areas of interest: Primary Care Optometry, contact lenses, dry eye diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Oberle has a special interest in contact lens fitting and the diagnosis and treatment of Dry Eye. She fits spherical and toric lenses, as well as those for astigmatism and multifocal contacts. She welcomes patients with hard to fit eyes and patients who think they are unable to wear lenses because of discomfort or the need to use reading glasses. Dr. Oberle also performs eye exams for glasses and to evaluate eye health.

MULTIFOCAL IOLS

CATARACTS & ASTIGMATISM?
Quality Distance Vision in Just One Step

What are your options for correcting astigmatism?
If you depend upon eyeglasses, you may have experienced the inconvenience of not being able to find your glasses when you really need them. Eyeglasses are easily lost or damaged, expensive to replace, and inconvenient to clean and maintain. The more active you are, the more eyeglasses interfere with your lifestyle by complicating your participation in daily and recreational activities.

Many people do not like the "look" of glasses and prefer another type of vision correction, such as contact lenses. "Toric" contact lenses designed to correct astigmatism are an option; however, some users find them uncomfortable and experience difficulty in adjusting to wearing them.

There are several surgical options your surgeon may choose to treat astigmatism, such as LASIK laser vision correction, astigmatic keratotomy )AK), or limbal relazing incisions (LRI). However, if you are planning to have surgery to remove a cataract, you now have an aditional option...an inplantable lens that makes it possible to treat the cataract and correct the corneal astigmatism at the same time. Your eye doctor will recommend the option that is best for you.

ACRYSOF® Toric Lens:
A better option for quality distance vision

Surgery to treat cataracts is an outpatient procedure where an eye surgeon removes the cloded natural lens and replaces it with an artificial lens. Traditionally, the surgeon implants a monofocal artificial lens, commonly called an "intraocular lens" (IOL). If you have astigmatism, however, you may still experience blurred and distorted vision because a standard IOL cannot correct corneal astigmatism. To achieve quality distance vision with a standard IOL, you may still require eyeglasess, contact lenses, or further surgery.

If freedom from eyeglasses for distance vision is important to you, you now have a better option. The unique design of Acrysoft® Toric lens provides significantly improved distance vision and may reduce the need for corrective lenses.

Cataracts and astigmatism cloud and blur vision.

What is the Acrysof® toric IOL?
The Acrysof® toric lens is a foldable, single piece lens that an eye surgeon implants during cataract surgery to replace the clouded lens. The unique design of Acrysof® toric IOL makes it possible to reduce or eliminate corneal astigmatism and significantly improve uncorrected distance vision. Acrysof® toric lens provides QUALITY distance vision, independent of eyeglasses and contact lenses.

The Acrysof® Toric lens is made of the same biocompatible lens material already successfully implanted in more than 25 million eyes since 1991.

The traditional replacement lens implanted when a cataract is removed clears the vision, but cannot correct the astigmatism. Corrective eyewear or additional surgery are needed to reduce blurring and distortion.

What would you do if you had QUALITY distance vision without the hassle of corrective eyewear?
Travel?
Sports?
Enjoying the outdoors?
Sightseeing?
Hobbies?
Respond more spontaneously to life's opportunities?

SEE your best...BE your best

Acrysof® Toric lens:
You may leave your glasses and contacts behind and recapture QUALITY distance vision in only one step.

What would it be like to say goodbye to both cataracts and astigmatism at the same time?
Imagine being able to:
- see at a distance without relying on eyeglasses or contact lenses
- finally enjoy quality distance vision without glasses or contact lenses

You are reading this brochure with the only two eyes you will ever have. For that reason, vision correction decison are among the most important you will ever make. Now, revolutionary new technology makes it possible for the surgeon to perform a single outpatient procedure in which the clouded cataract lens is exchanged for an artificial lens designed to correct astigmatism as well. You may be able to break free from eyeglasses or contact lenses for distance vision is just one step, withou the need for additional surgeon procedures.

What would it be like to say goodbye to both cataracts and astigmatism at the same time?
Imagine being able to
- see at a distance without relying on eyeglasses or contact lenses
- finally enjoy quality distance vision without glasses or contact lenses

You are reading this brochure with the only two eyes you will ever have. For that reason, vision correction decison are among the most important you will ever make. Now, revolutionary new technology makes it possible for the surgeon to perform a single outpatient procedure in which the clouded cataract lens is exchanged for an artificial lens designed to correct astigmatism as well. You may be able to break free from eyeglasses or contact lenses for distance vision is just one step, withou the need for additional surgeon procedures.

How the Eye Sees and sometimes doesn't see

The Normal Eye
When the surface of a normal eye's cornea has a spherical curve, like the shape of a basketball, light rays passing through it bend toward its center and focus on one spot.

Astigmatism
Sometimes, the surface of the cornea is curved more like a football, with both flatter and steeper curves. When the surface of the cornea has an uneven curvature, vision becomes distorted. This common irregularity, called "corneal astigmatism," causes blurred or distorted vision because light rays are not focused at one spot to provide clear vision.

A person who has both cataract and a corneal astigmatism will not regain high-quality distance vision after surgery to remove the cataract unless the astigmatism is also corrected.

If you have a cataract, ask your doctor if you are a candidate got the Acrysof® Toric IOL lens that can help you break free from astigmatism and may allow you to enjoy quality distance vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses.

CAUTION: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

INDICATIONS: Acrysof® Toric Intraocular lenses are intended for implantation in the capsular bag of the eye for the visual correction of aphakia and pre-existing  corneal astigmatism secondary to the removal of a cataractous lens in adult patients with or without presbyopia, who desire improved uncorrected distance vision, reduction of residual refractive cylinder and increased spectacle independence for distance vision.

WARNINGS: You, as the patient, should consult your eye care provider for full disclosure of risk and benefits of cataract surgery and lens choices.

PRECAUTIONS: As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved including visual disturbances and secondary surgical intervention. The effect on vision of the ACRYSOF® Natural IOL is subject with hereditary color vision defects and acquired color vision defect secondary to ocular disease (e.g., glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, chronic uveitis, and other retinal or optic nerve diseases) has not been studied.