Eye News Volume I Issue 4

First class surgical team assembled for LASIK

Established local eye surgeons dominate laser vision correction services

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa, _ Respected ophthalmic surgeons in our region continue to maintain the trust of patients seeking LASIK surgery.
Large corporate vision centers and discounters are not thriving in our area. High powered celebrity endorsements and bargain-basement promotional fees have not helped.
“Patients need to know their surgeon and the practice to whom they entrust their vision, “ claims Dr. Barry Fabriziani. Fabriziani has managed refractive patients in our community for over a decade. “By the time you add the cost of preoperative evaluation, postoperative care, and enhancements patients lose time and money.”
He continues, “Patients reason that an eye surgeon who has thrived in the community for years can be trusted to provide top caliber LASIK care. These same surgeons are more likely to be available years later if needed.”
A professional, personable and caring staff is fundamental to success. “Patients need warm fuzzies”, says Sue Cross, head LASIK coordinator. “They are scared. They have only one set of eyes. You need to deserve and earn their trust.”
“I am very proud when a patient chooses us after visiting several LASIK providers”, Sue continues. “My job is to support the patient before surgery, during the procedure, and throughout visual rehabilitation.”

Michele Detwiler says, “This job is fun. Patients are excited. Their happiness after surgery is contagious….I love it here.”
“Patients are smart. They can tell when you believe in the procedure, the surgical team and the doctor“, continues Sue Cross. “Dr. Lewis has performed over 4000 LASIK procedures, including most members of our staff. I would let him operate on me but I am already 20/15”.

“We have a very strong surgical team”, according to Robert Czajkowski, licensed first assistant and chief laser technician. Robert has extensive operating room experience. His last position was operating room scrub nurse at Wills Eye.

Dawn Cacia, RN, adds, “Surgery day is my favorite day. The atmosphere in the OR is always upbeat. I love the positive energy”.

Making sense of LASIK technology

“Broad beam lasers ignited the entire refractive surgery revolution”, says James Lewis, MD, a Phoenixville LASIK surgeon.
Broad beam lasers use an expanding circular beam to progressively remove tissue and reshape the cornea. The resulting ocular shape reduces or eliminates a patient’s need for glasses or contact lenses.
“We soon began to recognize flaws with this approach. Areas in the central cornea were not removed effectively and irregularities called central islands intefered with vision”, Lewis said. “We also realized broad beam lasers limited our range of treatment, caused excessive acoustic shock, and allowed vision threatening decentration…..As surgeons we wanted something better.” Lewis hasn’t used a broad beam laser in nearly two years.

“Outstanding optical engineers and laser physicists from the US, Japan, Germany, and Australia developed what we now considered modern excimer laser designs”, Lewis continues. “Flying spot lasers paint the cornea with small brushes. Scanning and flying slit lasers use different size rollers to ablate the cornea and reshape it.”
While some laser facilities have decided to simply upgrade or modify their broad beam lasers Lewis feels there is no future in that strategy. “New generation lasers permit more reliable results, faster rehabilitation, and a higher quality of visual function”, Lewis said.
Patients expect 20/20 vision. They also want to see well at night. Patients hope to experience less glare than they had with glasses and contact lenses. Modern excimer lasers may make this all possible.
“At first, I was intrigued by flying spot lasers. Unfortunately, in my view, they are not ready for prime time. Flying spot lasers take an extremely long time to treat the cornea allowing it to dry and warp during the process. Flying spot lasers also rely too heavily on eye movement tracking devices which can fail.” Lewis also claims, “these lasers are incredibly fragile and are still being refined”.
“Surgeons throughout the world have favored scanning and flying slit lasers. They are incredible capable, dependable and have a well-established track record.” Lewis claims.
Several of these advanced designs have been approved by the FDA. They are modular. “The Nidek EC-5000 has an elegant internal structure with sophisticated microprocessor control. The machine is made to grow as our knowledge of refractive surgery expands.”
As the medical director of Advanced Laser Vision, it is not surprising that Lewis selected NIDEK exclusively for all offices. He admits other respected surgeons in the region and elsewhere have followed suit.
“LASIK is great now and getting better every day”.

In addition to LASIK, Dr. Lewis offers an extensive array of other vision correction procedures. He is renowned as a talented Philly Epi-LASIK surgeon and one of the most highly experienced ICL Philadelphia specialists.

Eye News Volume I Issue 3

State-of-the-art LASIK comes to town

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa, _ “International surgeons favor the scanning slit excimer for laser vision correction. The results are simply better” claims Barry Fabriziani, OD. Dr. Fabriziani has practiced in our community for over fifteen years and is one of the most experienced eye doctors in LASIK pre and postoperative care.
“The advances in laser technology and Dr. Lewis’s extensive corneal experience have made me a strong proponent of LASIK as an important option for my patients wearing glasses and contact lenses.” Fabriziani says.
“The progress in excimer laser technology has been critical to the success of this procedure. LASIK is now mainstream”, Fabriziani feels.
The excimer laser was originally developed by IBM for use in the semiconductor industry. It didn’t take long before scientists realized it was remarkably accurate at shaping corneal tissue.
While some laser manufactures concentrated their efforts on simplistic and now outdated broad beam techniques, NIDEK developed a sophisticated scanning slit approach.
“Instead of blasting away precious corneal tissue, NIDEK uses a software-driven design that scans the cornea and gently removes tissue. The slit paints the cornea and fashions the ideal optical shape”, said Dr. Fabriziani.
“The technology behind the NIDEK EC-5000 laser has been recognized Internationally. I was sold on scanning-slit technology when I learned many experienced refractive surgeon’s chose the NIDEK when their friends and family needed LASIK” claimed Dr. Fabriziani.
Dr. Lewis will describe the progress of excimer laser technology in next week’s Mercury.

Laser frees area residents from their glasses and contact lenses

.Interviewed by
SUE CROSS

JENKINTOWN, Pa, _ “There were no surprises, the procedure was painless”, said Suellen Foley.
James Lewis, MD, performed her LASIK procedure last week. Mrs. Foley is shown above with her husband minutes after her laser vision correction.
“The next morning I saw the alarm clock and jumped out of bed”, she exclaimed. “I looked in the mirror to see if there were signs of the operation. I couldn’t see any evidence I had the LASIK surgery less than twenty-four hours ago!.”
Suellen was amazed. “Then I realized I was looking at my face without my glasses and I could see!” she continued. “The procedure was painless, there were no surprises, and I wasn’t nervous”.
Ms. Foley investigated LASIK providers in the area but she had a distinct advantage. She made her husband go first!
George Foley had LASIK by Dr. Lewis the week before. Mr. Foley said soon after his surgery, “there were no surprises and during the procedure I felt minimal discomfort. I am happy to drive at night without glasses”.
Suellen continued, “I wasn’t nervous and I am a walking advertisement for Dr. Lewis”.
LASIK is rapidly becoming the most popular eye procedure both nationally and internationally..
Many think LASIK is a modern version of RK (Radial Keratotomy) developed in the former Soviet Union. It isn’t! The true birthplace for LASIK is Bogata, Columbia.
In 1949, Jose Barraquer began sculpting the cornea to change its shape and reduce dependence on glasses and contacts. American scientists and physicians helped the international effort to refine the process. Thanks to brilliant intellects from Italy, Greece, South America, Canada, France, and the United States LASIK was born.
Dr. Carmen Barraquer (Jose Barraquer’s daughter) continues to make important contributions to the science of LASIK at the Barraquer Institute in Bogata.
The FDA, known for its conservative approach, first approved LASIK several years ago. Sources estimate nearly two million LASIK procedures will take place in the US alone in 2001.
Suellen and George Foley are happy to be in that growing number of local patients who have benefited from over fifty years of science, technology, and medicine.
Willis Houston (shown below) also had his LASIK surgery last week.

Mr. Houston reported, “The surgery was better than my expectations and I am thrilled that I was 20/20 on my first day.”
Like others, Mr. Houston is most excited he can drive without his glasses. He added, “the surgery has made me look younger”.
Dr. Lewis, who has performed nearly 4000 procedures over the last two years said, “I am always amazed with the feeling of freedom these patients describe. It is like they have been held back from enjoying life, sports, and hobbies by their glasses and contact lenses”.

Over the course of his career, the talented Philly LASIK surgery specialist Dr. Lewis has helped numerous patients eliminate or significantly reduce their dependence on glasses. In addition to LASIK, he performs Epi-LASIK in Bucks County / Philadelphia, a blade-less form of laser eye surgery. He is also renowned as a compassionate, experienced Philadelphia Visian ICLs and glaucoma therapy expert.