Seeing Eye To Eye

The Gift of Sight

Written By: Jay Pepose | December 29, 2008

At this holiday time – and as the New Year approaches – what better gift to give than the gift of sight? We just had a few college students come in during the holiday break, whose parents gave them the present of a lifetime—clear, quality vision through LASIK! Others have given this gift to themselves, their spouses or loved ones.

We recently treated a husband and wife – award-winning authors of books on marriage for a lifetime – who are thrilled to look into each other’s eyes every day. Many patients who are contact lens intolerant now have a new sense of freedom. Active people who previously could not fully enjoy the outdoors, whether skiing, hunting, or snow sledding, are coming back tanned and enthusiastic about their new-found freedoms resulting from LASIK. Others can’t wait for the summer to be able to swim or play golf for the first time without glasses or contacts.

Patients have commented that it is the little things, like being able to find the soap in the shower that amazes them, along with the confidence and safety of knowing that if there were an emergency at home at night or they broke their glasses at the beach, they could instantly function. As resources become more precious, what better thing is there to invest in than you? We encourage you to come in for a free LASIK screening to see if you are a candidate for this life-changing procedure. Financing is available for qualified patients.

Been Turned Down for LASIK?

Written By: Jay Pepose | November 4, 2008

Do you hate wearing thick glasses or have problems with your contact lenses? Have you been turned down for LASIK because your cornea is too thin or your eyes too dry or your eyes are too bad?  Some years ago, I had one despondent patient lament that it was her bad luck to learn that the only part of her body that was “too thin” turned out to be her cornea.

Fortunately, there have been many recent developments in lens implant technology that offer options for many patients who may have been turned down in the past as unsuitable for LASIK surgery. These new lens implants, sometimes referred to as implantable contact lenses (ICL), are approved for the correction of a wide range of nearsightedness (from -3 to -16 Diopters) and for the reduction of nearsightedness up to -20 Diopters. In order to ensure your candidacy for this 20 minute outpatient procedure, we have invested heavily in diagnostic technologies that can preoperatively assess the health of the cells on your cornea (using an instrument called a specular microscope) and measure the shape of the front of your eye to more accurately plan the surgery (through the use of ocular coherence tomography). Pepose Vision Institute is the only eye practice in the bi-state region to have invested in these expensive diagnostic testing instruments.  We have done so because we believe in doing everything possible to maximize success and satisfaction with our vision correction procedures.

So, if you have been turned down in the past for vision correction surgery, please call us to be evaluated for an implantable contact lens. As with all of our procedures, financing is available and this may be the perfect time to consider setting up a 2009 flexible medical spending account to pay for your procedure using pre-tax dollars.  See what you have been missing!

For more information, visit www.peposevision.com.

Invest in Yourself

Written By: Jay Pepose | September 18, 2008

We live in uncertain times. Concerns about the economy, threats of terrorism, an upcoming election and wall street on a roller coaster ride. In these uncertain times, what better investment can there be than in yourself?

That is why our patients invest in achieving their best possible vision at Pepose Vision Institute, whether it be by state of the art LASIK surgery, new “bifocal” lens implants for cataract patients, intraocular contact lenses that can be implanted in the eye for high nearsightedness , an assortment of contact lenses or fashionable glasses at our optical boutique.

To learn more about these options, please feel free to contact our office and ask for a free consultation. Our patient educators will be happy to review with you in greater detail the many options we have available. At Pepose Vision Institute, we have the best doctors who share your goals of achieving the best possible vision and making the experience a pleasant one.

Can’t Get the Red Out?

Written By: Jay Pepose | April 21, 2008

This time of year, we see lots of people coming in with red eyes. The weather is changing and pollen counts are record high. It is important to realize that not all red eyes are from the same cause. An office visit can help to clarify the correct diagnosis and treatment.

For example, a red, burning eye with discharge could be infected, while a burning, red eye with a scratchy, foreign body feeling could represent dryness. If the prominent symptom is itching in both eyes, along with redness and a teary discharge, that is most often allergy. Unfortunately, sometimes over the counter allergy medications like Zyrtec, can exacerbate dry eye, compounding the list of problems. Contact lenses can both absorb pollens and act like sponges, worsening dry eye and allergy symptoms. An acute attack of angle closure glaucoma can also cause a red eye, and could represent an ocular emergency requiring urgent treatment.

Significant allergic conjunctivitis can often be accompanied by nasal symptoms and may require a team approach with the ophthalmologist working closely with an allergist. This can help to pinpoint the conditions that the patient is allergic to, allowing them to try and minimize exposure and/or undergo desensitization treatments. Appropriate use of oral and ophthalmic medications may alleviate both systemic and ocular symptoms.

If you have dry eye, allergies or chronic redness, the doctors at Pepose Vision Institute are here to help. Proper treatment begins with accurate diagnosis. Our doctors specialize in diseases of the ocular surface and cornea, and offer the latest treatments. If you have chronic red eyes, a thorough, complete eye examination is your next step!

Happy New Year!

Written By: Jay Pepose | December 31, 2007

This past week at Pepose Vision has been very busy, as many LASIK patients are taking advantage of their flexible spending accounts this year and next. These patients, who were tired of wearing contacts and glasses, have scheduled laser vision correction surgery to reduce this need. Some of our patients with cataracts, who want to have clearer vision, have scheduled to have cataract surgery. At Pepose Vision, not only do we perform laser vision correction and cataract surgery, but provide general eye care as well. We are able to meet the visual needs of every age and phase of life.

The diverse interests and occupations of LASIK patients always makes the surgery day interesting for me. This week I operated on an accountant, a judge, a marketing director, as well as a college student on break hoping to get into Vet school. Our delighted patients commented on the day after their procedure that my job was a lot like Santa’s, and I guess this is around the right time of year for that!

I would like to wish all of our patients and their families a happy, healthy and joyous New Year from all of us at Pepose Vision Institute. We appreciate your confidence in placing your trust in us.

- Dr. Pepose
www.peposevision.com

LASIK in Our New Facility!

Written By: Jay Pepose | November 30, 2007

Our patients are enjoying LASIK in our new state-of-the-art 40,000 square foot facility, and everyone is commenting on how elegant the new building is. We wanted it to be visually pleasing - so that our patients can rejoice in their new-found vision. Beyond the cosmetics, we have spent a good deal of time and attention to ensure that the building “cooperates” in giving our patients the very best vision outcomes possible. Our specially equipped laser suites have laminar flow HEPA-filtered air, to maximize sterility and humidity and temperature controls to eliminate atmospheric effects on our surgical results.

This week, 2 nurses from Barnes came in for LASIK, one of whom was VERY nervous. I was able to share my confidence in obtaining a good outcome, and gently talked her through every step of the surgery. The next day she was delighted with her vision without glasses or contact lenses, and just could not understand her prior anxiety.

I explained that “fear of the unknown” is very common and remains the greatest obstacle to undergoing LASIK. This is exactly why people choose Pepose Vision—to have the benefit of experienced surgeons, supported by our top team of certified ophthalmic technicians. At Pepose Vision, you have the opportunity to meet your surgeon prior to the procedure, and have ALL of your questions answered by your surgeon - Not an optometrist or other “surgeon extender” who has never performed LASIK.  That is why nurses, doctors and other health professionals – not to mention St. Louis’ top malpractice attorneys – who are in “the know” choose Pepose Vision Institute for LASIK and other vision needs.

Visit our site for more information on LASIK,

www.LASIKstl.com

Lots To Be Thankful For!

Written By: Jay Pepose | November 22, 2007

It is Thanksgiving today, and the Pepose Vision team is in this morning seeing the patients who had LASIK surgery yesterday. Our building is full of smiling faces, and everyone is commenting that they now have another thing to be thankful for. As always, we have a diverse group of patients – ranging from a St. Louis Cardinal’s player and a cardiac surgeon to a college student. the student is the fourth son in his family to be given LASIK as a college graduation gift. Sight- what could be a better gift for a lifetime!

Each of us is so blessed and we have so much to be thankful for. Let us not take anything for granted. At Pepose Vision Institute we are grateful for all of the patients who have put their trust in us and we wish everyone a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

- Dr. Pepose

Variety in the laser suite…

Written By: Jay Pepose | September 4, 2007

This week we saw a lot of variety in the laser suite, both in terms of patients of diverse background and types of surgery. I had two patients with extremely thin corneas, who were told elsewhere that there was no good option for them. On one of them, I performed flapless LASIK (sometimes called LASEK), which is a form a surface laser treatment. The other was given a phakic lens implant, similar to implanting a permanent contact lens in the eye, which requires no maintenance or cleaning.

Another patient with a cataract and a lot of astigmatism (where the eye is shaped like a football) had a LASIK flap created some weeks ago followed by cataract removal and implantation of a new FDA-approved “accommodating” lens implant, that produces both near and far vision in the same eye, similar to a bifocal. This week, after allowing adequate time for healing from the cataract surgery, I lifted the previously made flap and corrected the pre-existing astigmatism with laser, thereby fine tuning their vision. And, of course, LASIK was performed on a number of patients from all walks of life, including three doctors on the same day. With a pediatrician radiologist, and general surgeon, we could have probably started our own subspecialty group!

In some cases each eye of the same patient was treated on a separate laser system to optimize outcomes. It is nice to have such a full armamentarium of options to offer patients to truly customize their surgery to each person’s unique characteristics, producing lots of smiles on one day post-op!

If you would like to learn more, feel free to visit www.peposevision.com

What a wonderful week….

Written By: Jay Pepose | August 11, 2007

What a wonderful week it has been at Pepose Vision and the Midwest Laser Center. It is amazing to be able to restore sight to so many people from so many walks of life. This week I operated on a radiologist, a psychologist, a police officer on the SWAT team, a teacher getting ready for school, 4 college students ready to return for the new semester, a retired bank president, and a mother of 4 children. Even Terry Drury came in, of Drury Outdoors television fame. So many people of diverse backgrounds, yet all of whom depend on their vision and wanted the best-after all, it’s their EYES!

Today, Saturday, I had the pleasure of seeing the smile on the faces of yesterday’s LASIK patients, some of whom were very anxious on the day of the surgery. One patient wore his lucky t-shirt the day of surgery that said, “I love my girlfriend”. He was so nervous that he had postponed his surgery last year, but said he was fed up with problems of allergies and uncomfortable contact lenses and was now ready to proceed. Of course, a little Valium helps enormously to take the edge off before we do the procedure.

Today, the psychologist said to me after his examination, “You do have a wonderful job. I also wanted to thank you for calling me last night to check on me”. “My pleasure,” I replied. “I do have the best job because I get to be Santa Claus every week and give people the gift of sight. There are not many fields of medicine where you actually can cure someone of a problem, and this certainly is one of them.”

For more information, visit www.PeposeVision.com