Category: Uncategorized

As we approach the end of 2018 we wanted to send out a friendly reminder to everyone, do not forget to use your benefits before the year is over! Spots are limited this time of year with the rush of people trying to get their eye exams in and their FSA or HSA used up before the year is over! We want to make sure everyone can be seen in a timely fashion so they don’t lose out on their benefits for the year!! Call our office as soon as possible to make an appointment with one of our doctors!!

Here is a list of the insurances we currently participate with:
-Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield (most plans)
-Aetna (specific doctors only)
-Medicare (with or without supplements)
-Qualcare (most plans)
-PVCN (discount plan)

We also accept FSA and HSA cards as forms of payment as well!!

**THIS DOES NOT GUARANTEE PAYMENT FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE TO FIND OUT YOUR EXACT BENEFITS**

**Unfortunately we DO NOT participate with any SEPARATE VISION PLANS. If you have a separate vision plan through any of these companies the visit will need to be paid out of pocket and submitted to the insurance company independently.**

A Look At The Visual Fields Test

In the 50 years our practice has been open, the question our technicians and staff get most often is, “Why do I need this test?”.  Today we would like to take a minute and explain to you the importance of our most common screening test, the visual field (or as it is more commonly known as “the video game test”).  This screening is part of the standard of care set by the doctors in our practice. Patients that come to our practice for their annual exam get the visual field screening as part of the exam. This test is very important in the diagnosis, early intervention, and treatment of many common ocular diseases such as Glaucoma and Cataracts. While the visual field can be used early on to detect changes due to Glaucoma and monitor the progression of Cataracts, it can also be used to diagnose neurological conditions such as brain tumors, strokes, and aneurysms.

Glaucoma is known as “the silent killer of eyesight” because in most cases there is no pain or symptoms associated with the condition until the patient notices a loss of vision. If it is left untreated, Glaucoma begins to effect a patients peripheral visual field. If it remains untreated, it will continually decrease the patients usable central field of vision. The visual field screening is used as one of the initial tests to assist clinicians in early diagnosis of Glaucoma. For those patients who have been diagnosed and treated for Glaucoma, we use a more in depth version of the visual field test to track the peripheral visual field more closely. This in depth version is used to monitor and track potential changes to the patients usable visual field before and during the treatment process. Our doctors do this to make sure there are no major changes that would need to be addressed within the prescribed treatment.

Visual field screenings can also be used to monitor the progress of Cataract growth. They are an excellent early detection tool, as well as a key component in monitoring these previously diagnosed conditions. For this reason our doctors have found it imperative to make visual field screenings part of our standard of care.

As we approach the end of 2017 we wanted to send out a friendly reminder to everyone, do not forget to use your benefits before the year is over! Spots are limited this time of year with the rush of people trying to get their eye exams in and their FSA or HSA used up before the year is over! We want to make sure everyone can be seen in a timely fashion so they don’t lose out on their benefits for the year!! Call our office as soon as possible to make an appointment with one of our doctors!!

Here is a list of the insurances we currently participate with:
-Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield (most plans)
-Aetna (specific doctors only)
-Medicare (with or without supplements)
-Qualcare (most plans)
-PVCN (discount plan)

We also accept FSA and HSA cards as forms of payment as well!!

**THIS DOES NOT GUARANTEE PAYMENT FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE TO FIND OUT YOUR EXACT BENEFITS**

**Unfortunately we DO NOT participate with any SEPARATE VISION PLANS. If you have a separate vision plan through any of these companies the visit will need to be paid out of pocket and submitted to the insurance company independently.**

Don’t Get Caught Unprepared!  You do not want to miss this!

On August 21, for the first time in 26 years, the United States will experience a total solar eclipse! This is all very exciting right?? Well there are some things you should keep in mind while preparing to watch this amazing event. Check out this article provided by NASA on the eclipse and eye safety during the eclipse.

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

Heidelberg’s Optical Coherence Tomographer (OCT) at Suburban Eye Institute

This month we are going to take a look at a piece of equipment called an Optical Coherence Tomographer (OCT) which was brought in to the office last May.  This instrument is used on patients who have conditions that can affect the retina and optic nerve.  The entire staff is pleased to bring this new piece of technology into the practice for our patients.

An OCT is a non-invasive test that takes images of the retina and optic nerve. While an OCT is similar to an ultrasound, these instruments use light to take cross section images of the retina; whereas an ultrasound uses sound to take the images.  The images taken with an OCT allow the doctors to map out and monitor the thickness of each of the retinal layers. The images obtained during the test are used to monitor Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Glaucoma, and other Diabetic Eye Diseases.

Furthermore OCT testing allows doctors to track and monitor changes to the fibers of the optic nerve for glaucoma patients . Therefore, patients with these conditions will return to the office several times in between their regularly scheduled eye exams to monitor the progression of their treatment plans. In addition, doctors can track and compare the results of progression and treatment over time as shown in the image below.

Results of OCT Performed on the Optic Nerve Head of a Glaucoma Patient.

A question patients often ask is if an OCT can be performed without having to dilate their eyes. This is up to the doctor and patient to decide.  A proper OCT image cannot be captured if the pupil is too constricted.  Therefore, a dilation will allow the pupil to open more, allowing optimal light to get through for the images. However, if the doctor does decide to dilate the patient for the test, the dilation can cause light sensitivity and up close vision may be blurry for several hours after the exam.

Finally, OCT testing requires very little effort from the patient.  The only thing patients need to do is look where the technician asks them to look and sit as still as possible. The technician and the instrument will do the rest of the work.  This makes the testing quick and painless for the patient.  To conclude the testing process, all of results are sent to the doctor for a final review.  These final images will allow the doctor to determine the patients prognosis and continued treatment plan.  Also, when the patient does return for their next follow up visit the doctor is able to compare the newest results to the previous visit.  This will allow the doctors to see if the patients condition is progressing, allowing for a more accurate and proactive treatment plan.

 

For the doctors specific appointment hours please give our office a call. We will be happy to find an appointment time that fits into your busy schedules. Don’t forget to keep checking in on our webpage and our Facebook page for the most up-to-date information!

https://www.facebook.com/suburbaneyeinstitute

 

Dr. Laura Lukaszek: Monday – Thursday

Dr. Brian Mackey: Tuesday & Thursday – Saturday

Dr. Brenda Lynly: Monday & Wednesday