Protecting Your Precious Sight

More than one million people will suffer an eye injury this year in the United States. Most eye injuries can be prevented by taking a few simple precautions. One way to protect your eyes is to wear glasses, goggles or a face shield during sports or outdoor recreation activities, gardening or mowing the lawn, performing household chores (especially using chemicals) and working on your car. Some jobs at your workplace may require goggles at all times.

Protective eyewear should meet the safety standard guidelines set by the American National Standards Institute. The lens or frame should be marked with (ANSI) Z87.1.  Contact lenses are not eye protection. They are for vision correction only.

All eye injuries:
DO NOT apply pressure, rub or touch the eye
DO NOT try to remove any object stuck in the eye
DO NOT apply ointment or medication to the eye
Seek medical attention immediately to avoid vision loss or blindness

Cut or puncture:
DO NOT rub or apply pressure
DO NOT rinse with water
DO NOT remove the stuck object
Gently place a shield over the eye
Avoid giving aspirin/ibuprofen, etc. as these can thin the blood causing more bleeding
Seek medical attention immediately to avoid vision loss or blindness

Foreign particle:
DO NOT rub the eye
Lift upper eyelid over the lash of your lower lid
Blink several times, as this allows tears to flush out the particle
Seek medical attention immediately to avoid vision loss or blindness

Chemical burn:
DO NOT rub the eye
Flush with plenty of clean water
Seek medical attention immediately to avoid vision loss or blindness

Blow to the eye:
DO NOT rub or apply any pressure
Gently apply a small cold compress
Seek medical attention immediately to avoid vision loss or blindness

Please contact us for any questions you may have regarding injuries to the eye.

Revolutionary Option for Cataract Patients

Are you facing cataract surgery but wish you could return to those days of youth without bifocals or totally without glasses? The AcrySof ReStor lens could give you that freedom.

Until recently, the intraocular lenses available for cataract surgery were all monofocal, meaning that they focused at only one distance. As a result, most patients did not need glasses for distance vision after surgery but had to rely on reading glasses for near tasks. That is because the natural lens of the eye changes shape to focus on objects at various distances, a process called accommodation. With age, the lens loses that elasticity and most people resort to bifocals or reading glasses.

The ReSTOR lens uses a gradual tapering of steps to create a smooth transition, much as the youthful natural lens does. Similar technology that has been used for years in microscopes and telescopes to improve image quality.

Dr. John Meyer and Dr. Brennan Greene at The Eye Care Institute are experienced at implanting this new lens. Call 502-589-1500 to schedule an appointment to learn about this exciting new way to improve your vision.

Show and Tell

You may be tired of our staff asking you what insurance you have but we find that this question is not always easily answered. Because there are so many different plans, we cannot always tell you what your plan covers. This includes co-pays, deductibles, refraction fees and contact lens fittings. If your insurance has not provided you with written detailed coverage information, your human resources department (if the plan is through an employer) should be able to answer these questions for you. Many patients have routine vision coverage through a third party carrier in addition to their medical insurance. This coverage may or may not furnish you with a separate ID card.

If you have more than one plan, you need to give us copies of all cards so that we will be able to get your claims paid. This will help ensure that you do not receive a bill for something your insurance should have paid.

If you have Medicare and a secondary insurance, your plan may or may not have a crossover arrangement with Medicare. If it does, Medicare will automatically send claims to that carrier. If it does not, we need to have your secondary insurance information so we can file that claim.

Because plans change, please bring all your insurance cards every time you see the doctor. Our intent is to provide the best service to our patients. Providing us with correct information will aid us in this endeavor. If you have any questions, our staff is always willing to assist you