Volume II Issue 6

Originally published, Sunday, March 25 , 2001

“Best of Philly” has LASIK

This year’s winner of Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best of Philly Teahouse”, Grace Chen of Ray’s Cafe has successful LASIK surgery by Dr. James Lewis.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA _ When Dr. Lewis lived in Center City he was a frequent patron of Ray’s Cafe. Many considered it the best cafe in the city.
In the last decade Philadelphia Magazine recognized Grace Chen (owner of Ray’s Cafe) four times as the “Best of Philly Coffee”. She won again this year for her selection of exotic and vintage tea.
“I was honored when Grace asked me to perform her LASIK surgery”, Lewis explained. “Her extended work schedule did not make her the ideal contact lens patient.
During her evaluation Dr. Lewis found that Ms. Chen had 14 diopters of nearsightedness. This is three to four times the amount present in most LASIK patients.
“There is a limit to what excimer laser refractive surgery can accomplish safely. I decided to operate conservatively and preserve her corneal health”, Lewis continued. “We both knew an enhancement could be used to refine the results.”
Enhancement surgery is nothing more than additional laser energy applied to the patient’s cornea to optimize visual acuity. Patients with high degrees of nearsightedness and astigmatism are more likely to need this fine-tuning.
“LASIK surgeons are foolish to boast of their low enhancement rates. They either don’t care what their patients need or they don’t know how to take advantage of this excellent tool”, Lewis commented.
Grace Chen needed an enhancement. While her glasses shrunk from 14 to 2 diopters she still couldn’t drive safely without them. Her enhancement surgery took a few minutes. She was back at the Ray’s Cafe with 20/20 vision the next morning.
“I am now learning the subtleties of Oolong and Green Tea. This is one of the great perks of this job”, Lewis said.
Despite the accuracy of laser vision correction, patients heal differently. Patients requiring an enhancement are not surgical failures. They are individuals who can achieve outstanding results with skilled application of this highly sophisticated technology.

Gourmet Coffee and Tea Aficionado refers world-class Fine French Pastry Chef for LASIK Surgery

Pascal Adelmar, Chef and Founder of Au Fin Palais winner of “Best of Philly Pastry” is on our LASIK schedule.

Mr. Chen oversees the incredible assortment of Fine French Pastries at Au Fin Palais following its recent alliance with Ray’s cafe.

Volume II Issue 5

Originally published, Sunday, March 18, 2001

Patients in Guatemala welcome your donated glasses

Citizens from remote villages in Guatemala wait as over 30 local eye doctors administer care. Volunteers distribute glasses, eye drops, and medical supplies.

Annual eye care mission visits Guatemala

PETEN, GUATEMALA_ Dr. Marc Myers returned to Central America to render eye care to impoverished villagers. This has become an annual event for Myers and thirty other local eye doctors.
Nearly 2000 patients from the remote towns of Los Cruses and Palestinia were examined and treated. This included scheduling over 100 cataract surgeries. Cataract blindness is a major cause of visual loss in many third world countries.
Wills Eye Surgical Network and several local industries donated much needed medications and supplies to this humanitarian effort.
Dr. Myers and the other volunteer physicians required an array of immunizations and other prophylactic medications before entering these remote regions. Despite the beauty of this environment considerable health hazards threaten visitors as well as the general population.
“This year”, Dr. Myers explained, “I brought hundreds of spectacles donated by our LASIK patients. I don’t know who was happier; the LASIK patients contributing their old glasses or the villagers receiving them. I am glad Advanced Laser Vision allowed me to continue my participation in this rewarding event.”
Dr. Lewis, Medical Director of Advanced Laser Vision said, “In our effort to continually refine our patient’s medical and surgical experience we can easily forget that some don’t have the basics. It doesn’t take much to pass good will along.”
Wills Eye of North East Philadelphia, a member of the Wills Eye Surgical Network, provided eye drops and surgical equipment for this cause. “Unopened eye drops which have recently expired have no value in this country but can save sight abroad”, Lewis continued.
The conditions in Guatemala are severe. The volunteers had to work in clinics without many of the technology and materials American doctors expect. Nevertheless, at the end of the week most of the villagers had their eye conditions treated. They were thrilled to be wearing “new glasses” and seeing their world more clearly.

Three young girls await their first eye examination by area physicians.

Gifts from local patients and area hospitals find a new home in Central America

Dr. Marc Myers refracts a young Guatemalan boy and dispenses the ideal pair of donated glasses.

Volume II Issue 4

Originally published, Sunday, March 11, 2001

Laser Clean Room eliminates contaminants during surgery

ULPA filters in Mastel’s Laser Clean Room remove dangerous compounds and microbial agents released during LASIK. The patient, staff, and surgeon are protected.

Microscopic environment controlled
to optimize results

JENKINTOWN, PA _ The Mastel Laser Clean Room was designed to remove potentially harmful airborne debris from the LASIK operating suite. It works.
“I was happy with the added safety this unit provided my patients and staff. That would have been enough”, said James Lewis, MD, a LASIK specialist. “I didn’t expect this device to improve my clinical results.”
Lewis continues, “Doug Mastel insisted I’d have better post-operative outcomes…. He’s correct and now it all makes sense.”
During LASIK the excimer laser is applied in a series of pulses. After each pulse vaporized corneal tissue rises from the surface. Pulses occur so rapidly they hit the rising particles from the previous pulse. The laser energy delivered to the cornea is distorted and inefficient.
“It is like driving through fog. The headlights work but resolution is impaired”, Lewis claims. “Elimination of this particulate debris allows each laser application to remove the planned amount of corneal tissue without distortion.”
The Laser Clean Room creates a controlled microscopic environment for LASIK. The particles are absorbed before the next pulse is applied. This ensures stabilized corneal hydration and reliable excimer corneal sculpting.
“The hot buzz word today is eye tracker. Mastel uses fixation [see the handpiece below] and the best supercomputer I know to optimize placement of laser energy. That supercomputer is the union of the patient’s feedback and the surgeon’s years of experience. This helps explain the improved results.”, Lewis said.
“The patients are reassured because we help them hold their eye still”, claims Sue Cross, head LASIK coordinator. “I can feel their anxiety lift when they learn we are in total control.”
The fiber optic visualization system Mastel added took years to perfect. This enhanced view helps the surgeon.
“The light source included makes it easy to center the laser energy. This is fundamental for patients with large pupils and night driving concerns”, claims Lewis. “I can be certain the ablation is well positioned and the interface is immaculate.”
Mastel Precision is known for innovation and the development of quality products. A decade ago their diamond blades and Radial Keratotomy instrumentation was without peer. Doug Mastel and his brother are engineers and they closely supervise and direct all research and development.
“I am relieved there is still a place for this kind of pride, dedication, and perfectionism in our field. I feel like I have a partner in every surgery”, Lewis said.
Surgeons throughout the country are reporting an improvement in visual results using the Laser Clean Room. Many feel their enhancement rate is reduced because the surgical micro-environment has been made more uniform.
“There is less visual fluctuation, less regression, and greater accuracy now that I use it [Laser Clean Room] in every case”, Lewis stated. “I don’t think my staff or my patients would tolerate it any other way.”

Laser plume evacuator handle with attached fiber

Doug Mastel’s device enhances LASIK safety for patients, staff, and your surgeon

RAPID CITY, South Dakota _ LASIK is effective because unwanted corneal tissue is painlessly removed. The aerosilized material is called the plume.
Live oral polio virus has been found to survive and remain infectious in the LASIK plume. MJ Travella, a respected researcher specializing in the properties of the excimer laser plume has eliminated most of our worries concerning transmission of other serious disease entities.
Responsible surgeons protect their staff, their patients, and themselves with multiple safety mechanisms.
LASIK’s excellent history and safety profile are encouraging. Mastel, however, designed the Laser Clean Room to remove unwanted compounds. Their Ultra Low Penetrating Air (ULPA) filters remove 99.9999+% of particles down to one-tenth of a micron. Viral particles, carcinogenic hydrocarbons, and aromatic hydrocarbons are eliminated.
HEPA filters, common in other laser plume evacuators address only 98.7%. Material three times larger than those handled by ULPA filters get past the HEPA devices. These escaped compounds can enter the lungs and bloodstream.
“I can smell the difference”, said Debbie Breig. Ms. Breig, an outstanding scrub nurse who has worked at Wills Eye and has assisted in LASIK before joining Advanced Laser Vision.
“I am more confident that potentially dangerous debris is removed before it can reach the patients and the staff”, Breig continues.
Mastel has also added an carbon activated filter to the system. It removes non-biologic substances.
OSHA, the federal agency regulating safety in the workplace, recommends thorough excimer laser plume evacuation.

Dr. Jamie Ellsworth-Neiman is reassured that her LASIK was performed using the Laser Clean Room.