Our
staff are here to serve you, our patients. They are committed to making
your expierience at South Jersey Vision Center a pleasant one.
Whether
you call or come to our office you will be greeted by Mary or Linda.
They have years of experience and will assist you in making
appointments, verifying your insurance coverage, scheduling surgery and
providing you with informative and helpful information.
At the
time of your appointment, our technician, Patty will check your vision
and update your medical history prior to seeing the doctor. She also
performs any testing.
Our office manager, Lynda will be more than happy to help with sorting out billing and dealing with any patient care issues.
They
have been trained to assist the doctors in caring for you in our
office. They are an intergral part of South Jersey Vision Center and
help to provide the best eye care to you and your family.
Procedure Description: Removing the opacified lens from the eye
What To Expect: Over
the years, cataract surgery has improved greatly due to significant
advances in techniques and technology. The surgery is a relatively
quick and painless outpatient surgery, requiring just a few hours at an
ambulatory/outpatient surgical center. Post-surgery recovery time has
been dramatically reduced. Many people enjoy improved vision with
minimal dependence upon corrective eyewear as a result of modern
cataract surgery.
Preprocedure: You
will have a comprehensive eye exam before your surgery. In addition,
special testing will be performed to determine the curvature of the
front of your eye as well as the length of your eye. These values are
then used to determine the power of the lens that will be inserted in
your eye.
You will be asked to contact your primary care
physician to obtain pre-operative clearance. He/She will instruct you
whether to take your medications the morning of your surgery.
You
will be contacted by the hospital/surgery center before the date of
your surgery and given a time to arrive prior to your surgery. Please
be prompt.
You are not allowed to eat or drink anything after
midnight the night before your surgery with the exception of small sips
of water with the medications your physician has instructed you take.
Please arrange for someone to drive you to and from the hospital/surgery center.
Postprocedure: Following
your cataract surgery, you will have a patch and shield placed over the
eye that was operated on. You will be sent to the recovery room for
less than an hour and then will be sent home shortly there after.
Please arrange for a someone to drive you.
You may resume a
normal diet unless otherwise instructed. You may also resume normal
activity with the exception of driving and any strenuous activity.
You
will be examined the day after your surgery at which time the patch
will be removed and you will be started on eye drops to be taken at
home. As well, you will be instructed to wear a shield at night while
sleeping.
Please call our office immediately if you have significant pain in the eye following your surgery.
Procedures
Procedure Description: Correction of refractive error with a laser
What To Expect: Your
eye will be numbed with an eye drop and then gently opened with an
eyelid holder. A suction ring is then placed on the eye. For a few
seconds, while the suction ring is placed on the eye until it is
removed, your vision dims or goes black. The microkeratome, a cutting
instrument, then moves across the cornea to create a hinged flap of
thin corneal tissue. The flap is lifted and folded back. You will then
be asked to stare at a fixed flashing red light above you. The doctor
focuses the laser on the exposed area under the flap. The computer
assisted laser vaporizes microscopic amounts of corneal tissue. After
reshaping the cornea, the surgeon returns the marked flap to its
original position where it adheres immediately without stitches.
Preprocedure: If
you wear contact lenses, you will be advised to stop wearing your
lenses for a period of time prior to the pre-operative examination and
before the surgery. You also will be instructed to arrange for a driver
to bring you to and from the laser surgery appointment. You can expect
to spend approximately 60 to 90 minutes in the center.
The
laser is extremely sensitive to scents and odors so the staff, patients
and family members must follow these guidelines: no hair products,
perfumes, after-shaves, colognes, scented lotions, facial creams and
makeup. Earrings or facial jewelry should not be worn the day of the
procedure. Most people can return to work the next day, however,
depending on your occupation, you may need to take one to several days
off. You should consider this possibility when scheduling surgery.
Postprocedure: Immediately
following your procedure, your vision will be blurry, and you will be
slightly farsighted. We strongly encourage you to rest and keep your
eyes closed as much as possible for the first 12 hours, being careful
not to rub or touch your eyes for 24 hours. It is important to avoid
getting substances like soap, shampoo or hairspray in your eyes. You
must also avoid gardening, scuba diving, swimming, saunas, hot tubs and
water sports for a minimum of two weeks following your procedure.
Remember to wear proper eye protection when participating in active
sports and working with machinery, tools or hazardous materials. Most
importantly, be sure to take your medication exactly as prescribed and
follow your post-operative instructions ensure a successful recovery.
Significant sunlight exposure must be avoided for one year, as corneal
regression may occur with over-exposure
Your Appointment
By SJVC
Please bring the following items to your appointment: -A list of your medications -Your most recent eyeglasses and/or contact lenses -Your insurance card and all insurance information You
will be asked to complete a questionnaire regarding your health
history. Please arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment
in order to complete the preliminary information.
Dilation of
pupils is necessary for a complete eye examination. The dilating drops
will cause your vision to be blurry and sensitive to sunlight for up to
four hours. We will provide you with sunshields if you forget to bring
sunglasses.
Insurance
By SJVC
South
Jersey Vision Center is committed to providing you with high quality
eyecare services and exceeding your expectations. We continually strive
to find ways to improve the services we provide to you, our patient. We
know dealing with your insurance company can be confusing and
time-consuming. That’s why we’ve taken steps to make the process easier
for you.
Our Billing Department will submit claims to all
insurers and health plans, whether or not we are a participating
provider with that insurer or health plan. We promise to do this in a
timely manner.
To help us make sure your claims are submitted
correctly, we will frequently ask you to update your file. We have
found that 25-50 percent of our patients make a change that affects
their health insurance and reimbursement. If you do not report this
information to us, the correct information will not be sent to your
insurance or health plan. This often results in your visit not being
covered, and both you and our staff spending a lot of time finding the
problem, resubmitting the claim and waiting for reimbursement.
We’re here to help. Please feel free to ask us questions and let us know how we can serve you better.
You’re
not only a patient, but a partner in your health care. Since our
patients are insured by hundreds of different insurance companies, we
need your help as well. Please present your insurance card(s) at each
visit.
Understand the benefits your insurance or health plan
provides for physician office visits. While our staff is familiar with
many common plans, it is helpful for you to know what services are
covered. If you are unsure, check with your employer or insurer. You
will be responsible for any charges not covered by your insurance or
health plan at the time of your visit.
Try to determine whether
our office is a participating provider with your insurance or health
plan. If you have a question please give us a call.
If you are a
member of an insurance or health plan with which we participate, be
prepared to pay any co-payment amount and any amounts for non-covered
services performed during your visit. Co-payment amounts are usually
noted on your health plan card. Our office will notify you of any
non-covered services that may be required for your visit or procedure
in advance of the service being provided.
If you are a member of
an insurance or health plan with which we do not participate, we will
file your claim as a courtesy for you, however, you are responsible for
paying for your services at the time of your visit. For your
convenience we accept Cash and Checks. Once your claim has been
processed, any reimbursements due should be sent directly to you by
your insurance or health plan.
Dry Eye
By SJVC
WHAT IS "DRY EYE"?
When
tears are not produced in sufficient quantity to keep the eye
comfortable, a condition commonly known as "dry eye" exists. The
production of the baseline lubricating tears is deficient.
We
produce tears two different ways. One method is through slow steady
production which is constant and responsible for normal eye
lubrication. The other method is through large spontaneous quantities
when the eye is irritated or when we are emotional.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of dry eye include:
Stinging or burning eyes Scratchiness Stringy mucus in or around the eyes Eye irritation from smoke or wind Excess tearing* Difficulty wearing contact lenses**
*Excess
tearing from dry eye sounds illogical, but if the tears responsible for
baseline eye lubrication are deficient and the eye is not kept wet
enough, the eye will become irritated. When the eye has become
irritated enough, a large volume of tears is created spontaneously as a
reflex to wash the irritation from the eye. These tears will spill over
onto the cheek.
**When we wear contact lenses, we must have enough baseline tears to wet not only the eye but also the contact lens.
COMPONENTS OF THE TEAR FILM
The
tears are spread over the eye with each blink and make the surface of
the eye smooth and clear. Without the tear film, our vision would be
warped, distorted and blurred.
There are three layers in the
tear film: 1) An oily layer: The outermost layer of the tear film is
oily, creating a slick to help prevent evaporation. It is produced by
meibomian glands located just behind the eyelashes. 2) A watery layer: The middle layer of the tear film is the watery lubricating component. It is produced by lacrimal glands. 3)
A mucus layer: The innermost layer of the tear film is closest to the
cornea; the mucus helps the tear film spread easily over the eye as we
blink. It is produced by the conjunctiva. Without the mucus layer, the
tears would not adhere to the surface of the eye properly.
SOME CAUSES OF DRY EYE
Age:
Tear production normally decreases as we age. Dry eye can occur in both
men and women at any age but women are more commonly affected. This is
especially true after menopause.
Arthritis: Dry eye can also be associated with arthritis and accompanied by a dry mouth. This is called Sjogren’s syndrome.
Medication:
A wide variety of prescription and non-prescription drugs can cause dry
eye by reducing tear secretion. Some examples are:
Diuretics Betablockers Antihistamines Sleeping pills Medication for "nerves" Pain relievers
Since
many of these medications are necessary to treat ongoing health
problems, the dry eye condition often must be treated with artificial
tear products.
People with dry eyes are frequently sensitive to
toxic side effects of eye medications as well, including artificial
tears. Preservatives in eye drops can be irritating and many
preservative-free preparations can be found if this problem occurs.
DIAGNOSING DRY EYE
Dry eye is diagnosed with a comprehensive eye exam and a review of symptoms.
Patients
can have tear production measured with a Schirmer test as part of their
exam. Specialized filter-paper strips are placed under the lower
eyelids to measure the rate of tear production.
Diagnostic drops can also be used during an exam (fluorescein or Rose Bengal) to look for staining patterns.
TREATMENT OF DRY EYE
Supplementing the tears:
Eye
drops called "artificial tears" are the mainstay of dry eye treatment.
They lubricate the eyes and help to maintain moisture. Artificial tears
are available without a prescription and there are many brands. They
are also available in varying viscosity and in ointment form.
Preservative-free preparations are used in those individuals who are
sensitive to preservative or who use tears more frequently than every
two hours.
Conserving the tears:
Tears drain out of the
eye and into the nose. If low tear production is a problem then
preventing tears drainage will help tears last longer. In a person with
normal production, blocking tear drainage would cause the tears to
spill over onto the cheek. However, in some dry eye patients with very
low tear production, evaporation alone will be enough to prevent this
and blocking the tear drainage can be very effective in dry eye relief.
Tear ducts (punta) can be closed permanently with
cauterization; semi-permanently with silicone plugs; or temporarily
with collagen plugs.
Other methods of treatment:
Because
tears evaporate like any liquid, taking steps to prevent this can help.
For example, in the winter with indoor heat, use a humidifier.
Wrap
around glasses can reduce drying in a windy environment. Smoking is
especially bothersome. Blockage of the meibomian glands can reduce the
tear film slick and cause increased evaporation. Warm compresses and
eyelid scrubs can release these plugs and help normalize the oily layer
of the tear film.
Vitamin A deficiency can also cause dry eye and results from severe dietary neglect.
LINKS:
Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation 300 N. Broadway Jericho, NY 11753 (516)933-6365
National Sjogren’s Syndrome Association 3201 West Evans Drive Phoenix, AZ 85023 (800)395-NSSA
Optical Dispensary
By SJVC
Our
Optical Dispensary is dedicated to providing top-quality and
technologically-advanced services to meet all your eyewear needs. Our
skilled licensed optician will assist you in selecting the frames and
lenses that are just right for you. We will custom make your eyewear in
our state of the art laboratory which ensures the highest standards and
prompt delivery. And our lifetime service plan guarantees that we will
clean and adjust your glasses at no cost to you.
Amsler Grid
By SJVC
Amsler Grid Home Test For Early Detection of Retinal Changes Early
detection of changes in the central sight area is vital to safeguarding
vision from needless loss due to macular degeneration and diabetic
retinopathy. If you are at risk for developing macular degeneration or
have diabetes, it is wise to check the vision in each eye each day.
Early detection of a problem with vision increases the chance of saving
eyesight through timely laser treatment.
A simple test of
vision quality that detects even minor changes when they first occur is
the use of the Amsler Grid. This easy test only takes a moment for each
eye. The results can give you timely warning of changes in your retina
that warrant immediate attention by an ophthalmologist.
Instructions: Wear your reading glasses Hold the Amsler grid at a normal reading distance Cover one eye Look at the dot in the center of the grid Note how the lines and squares appear Test the other eye in the same manner
Action: All of the lines should be straight and the squares of a uniform size. If
you note any changes in the appearance of the grid, such as distortion,
blurring, discoloration, dark or missing areas of the grid, or any
other changes, call and see your eye doctor immediately. Do not wait to
see if the changes will clear on their own. Timely treatment is vital
to safeguarding your vision.
