Eye News Volume I Issue 2
Mrs. Giannopoulos After Cataract extraction
Advanced technology implant gives amazing vision without glasses.
PHOENIXVILLE, Pa.. _Dr. and Mrs. Giannopoulos retured to Phoenixville to visit friends and family at Christmas time. There was a second reason for them to leave their warm South Carolina retirement residence.
Mrs. Giannopoulos needed cataract surgery. Her husband, the well-loved “Dr. G”. wanted her surgery done in the area he practiced for decades. He also insisted that James Lewis, MD, Perform the operation.
Dr. G referred a large number of his patients to Phoenixville Eye Associates for the routine eye care during his many years of practice. He knew the caliber of treatment his patients and also his wife would receive from Dr. Fabriziani, Dr. Mineo, and Dr. Lewis.
Dr. Giannopoulos also spoke with other physicians whose family members had successful surgery by Dr. Lewis. He and his wife had already made their decision.
Mrs. Giannopoulos is an avid golfer. She wanted to make certain her vision would be ideal on the golf course. She wanted an implant that would provide excellent vision both close up and far away. Glasses were not in her game plan.
Fortunately, after years of design, testing, and refinements, a multifocal focal implant was developed. The FDA approved the multifocal implant nearly three years ago. It has been used successfully in Europe for over a decade. Allergan the manufacturer, spent over 200 million dollars in research and development.
The multifocal lens provides amazing clarity by focusing near images and distant images at the same time. Not everyone is a candidate for this implant. However, Dr. Lewis estimates approximately 70% of his patients qualify.
Dr. Lewis also claims, “My experience and the scientific literature shows this implant provides better vision and a higher quality of life for patients. I knew Mrs. Giannopoulos would be very happy with this approach.”
With implants now in both eyes Mrs. G reports that her vision is outstanding. Dr. Fabriziani measured her acuity to be 20/20 in both eyes without glasses. He said, “Without glasses she can see perfectly in the distance and read the fine print on the stock market page easily.”
Mrs. G said, “I can see the golf ball on the tee, follow it down the fairway, and then mark my score card all without putting on glasses. This is wonderful. I never imagined I could see this well and I wouldn’t need reading glasses or any glasses for that matter.”
The federal government recognizes the value of the multifocal implant and makes certain there is no additional cost to the patient. The implant has been designated as an Advanced Technology Implant. This allows hospitals and surgery centers like Wills Eye to offer this special implant to patients without charge.
“Only select surgeons can use the multifocal implant. That is part of the Allergan’s strategy for maintaining excellent results. you must have consistent surgical technique, use a small incision and calculate implant powers using very careful measurements.”
Lewis claims, “Surgeons who use sutures just won’t succeed with this technology. One must also be experienced correcting astigmatism during the operation if the goal is a happy patient.”
.Interviewed by
CONNIE CORBIN
Edmund Tori now sees 20/20
PHOENIXVILLE, Pa, _ “I am just thrilled with the operation” claimed Mr. Edmund Tori days after his second multifocal implant. “I wore contact lenses for 26 year and the day after the cataract surgery I saw 20/20…..Dr. Lewis’s surgery is nothing short of amazing”.
Tori added, “The Wills Eye Center was very nice. I see so well now that I am on the floor once a week looking for my wife’s contact lenses that pop out!”.
“The multifocal implant is ideal for young patients who develop early cataracts and older patients who love the idea of eliminating their glasses. Mr. Tori was one of those patients who didn’t want to be dependent on spectacles for near or distance activities. Now we have the advanced technology to rehabilitate cataract patients in a natural way”, commented Dr. Lewis.
A traditional implant is like a regular pair of glasses without the bifocal. It focuses well at one distance only. A multifocal implant is more like a trifocal without the “lines”.
A multifocal implant uses a series of 5 zones, each dedicated to a particular focal distance. The unique lens design (see above) keeps far, near, and intermediate objects in focus at the same time.
“This implant makes cataract surgery a refractive procedure. Patients and doctors won’t be satisfied unless we enhance visual performance. I know we are doing more for our patients than we’ve ever been able to do before”, Lewis said.
At Dr. Lewis’ elegantly appointed LASIK eye surgery Philadelphia facility, patient comfort and safety are the utmost priorities. This approach, coupled with Dr. Lewis’ advanced surgical skill, attracts numerous Philadelphia Epi-LASIK, LASIK and Visian ICLs patients every year.