When we do eye exams, we refuse to cut corners. We always schedule ample time so you will never feel rushed. We provide complete eye care for both adults and pediatrics. Our comprehensive eye examinations check your eyes for glaucoma, cataracts and all other eye diseases as well as high blood pressure, diabetes and other systemic diseases.

Your visual skills and abilities are carefully evaluated and we pride ourselves on the accuracy of our eyeglass prescriptions. In spite of our track record for highly accurate prescriptions, there are eyes that can be unstable for reasons ranging from medications to illness. In these rare cases, we will gladly re-examine the patient and remake the glasses.

Technology is rapidly changing the eye care industry. We utilize the latest in diagnostic equipment and are committed to keeping up with whatever advances will come next.

Our office provides emergency services for eye infections and eye injuries. Please call our office at 726-2010 during office, after hours or on weekends. Our staff will work with you to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. State of the art microscopes allow us to examine the front surface of the eye and facial areas around the eye for infection or injury. After assessing the extent of the injury or infection a treatment plan will be formulated and explained to you. Treatment may include medications and supportive care. Follow-up visits to monitor your recovery will be scheduled as needed.

Dry Eyes: Symptoms include scratchy eyes, burning, mild redness and gritty feeling eyes. Oral medications, reading, computer tasks and dry environments may aggravate marginally dry eyes. Dry eyes can be diagnosed by using dyes to observe tear patterns, evaluation of the amount of tears on the front of the eye and from review of your symptoms. Treatment may include artificial tears; eye drops for treating allergies; and/or punctal plugs inserted in the tear drainage canals.

Everyone is talking about LASIK. Here is a brief description of the procedure.

A flap is cut in the cornea and then the flap is gently folded back. An Excimer Laser is used to reshape the cornea, much like a contact lens forms a new shape on the cornea, only the laser is permanent. The flap is then put back in place, acting like a natural bandage.

The "Wow!" effect of Lasik is the very rapid recovery of vision and the decreased level of discomfort post-operatively. You hear from people that they did not feel anything, and could see well the very first day. Most people have functional vision in 24-48 hours, although this is true in some cases, it must be noted that each person will heal at a different rate. Vision, although greatly improved immediately after surgery, continues to improve for some weeks, even months.

Everyones eyes are different. Even though you may have had a friend who has had LASIK, it does not mean it is right for you. If you are interested in laser vision correction, we will be happy to guide you in picking the right surgeon, procedure and laser appropriate for you. For many of you who are long-term contact lens wearers my pre-operative input can make the difference between an excellent result and a mediocre one.

Post-operatively we can monitor your eyes, and taper medications to arrive at the best possible result. After all, no one knows your eyes better than your Optometrist.

Here are the 3 types of Laser Vision Correction:

LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis)

In the LASIK procedure, an instrument called a keratome is used to create an ultra thin flap (about the thickness of a human hair) on the outer surface of the cornea, so that the excimer laser can then be used to re-shape the underlying corneal tissue as needed. The result is a dramatic improvement in your vision.

PRK (Photo-Refractive Keratectomy)

With PRK, the surface cells that provide a protective layer to the eye's cornea (the epithelium) is first removed by the surgeon and then the excimer laser is used to remove a predetermined amount of tissue. LASIK has replaced PRK as the laser procedure of choice for most patients today, but not everyone one can have LASIK. We can help you to determine which procedure is best for your visual needs.

ASA (Advanced Surface Ablation)

In the ASA procedure, "Modern PRK", the outer layer of the cornea, called the epithelium, is brushed off. The Excimer Laser is then used to reshape only the outermost layer of the cornea. Unlike LASIK, this procedure uses no keratome and no incision is made in the cornea. The epithelium reforms in a few days to continue to provide its protective function.

Our office provides many of the surgical services such as Cataract surgery, Laser surgery, Refractive surgery and Strabismic surgery. Our surgical facility is Pacific Lasik Eye Clinic.

Additionally, we have working arrangements established with other specialized eye care doctors to manage such things are retinal detachments, retinal tears and hemmorhages.

Cataracts: The natural lens in the eye gradually becomes less clear as we get older. When opacities develop in the lens and the lens gets too hazy, vision will be impaired. Our office can diagnose and manage cataract care. When the cataract affects the vision to the extent that you cannot read or see distant objects comfortably, we will recommend cataract surgery. Our office co-manages with cataract specialists that are proven experts in cataract surgery. Cataract surgery can provide you with a bright new world of vision.

Glaucoma: Glaucoma gradually destroys the optic nerve tissue in the back of the eye. The greatest danger of glaucoma stems from the fact that the disease is painless and without obvious symptoms until significant damage has occurred. The most common cause is from pressure being too high inside the eye, but vascular disease and other diseases can also cause glaucoma. We always monitor for glaucoma during routine eye examinations. Tests include checking the pressure of the eye, screening for peripheral vision defects and analyzing the appearance of the optic nerve. If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, we typically prescribe medications that lower the eye pressure. Most forms of glaucoma are successfully treated with eye drops. Laser treatments and eye surgery are secondary treatments that offer alternative ways to treat more advanced glaucoma.

Diabetes: Diabetic patients should have a dilated retinal examination every 12 months. Diabetes can cause hemorrhaging, ischemia, and swelling in the back of the eyes. Diabetes often stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in the back of the eye, which ultimately leak and damage the retina. Laser treatments have proven to slow the progression of retinal eye disease for many patients. If this condition is discovered early, laser treatment can destroy these vessels. We have the latest instruments used to detect changes in the back of the eye.

We have been fitting specialty contact lenses for years and have seen some incredible changes in that time. By far the most exciting changes have occurred in the last few years. Although rigid contact lenses are a shrinking segment of the industry, we still have a large number of patients who wear them.

The gas-permeable lens materials available today far surpass those available just a few years ago in terms of eye health and comfort.

Allergies can be particularly annoying to contact lens wearers. In the past many people had to quit wearing their lenses for a month or two during the allergy season. New lens materials and allergy medications have made it possible for these people to eliminate itchy eyes. These medications such as Pataday and Elestat are amazingly effective and safe even in children as young as three.

Our optical laboratory has the latest in equipment to not only fabricate your glasses, but to maintain and repair them should they become broken or damaged. We are able to provide you with any frame or lens design available. Our highly qualified opticians are able to adjust and fit your glasses to you for extended comfort and vision. We currently have over 1,200 frames in stock! Please come and visit our optical dispensary today.

People who have lost eyesight due to injuries or eye disease need special types of products to help them function as independently as possible. They range all the way from a simple hand magnifier to a closed circuit TV system.

We can direct those who have low vision problems to products that will help them carry on the day-to-day tasks that they need to perform the activities of daily living.