It's all in eye of beholder

Juan C. Rodriguez
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

JUPITER - Mark Hendrickson isn't the first pitcher to undergo LASIK eye surgery, but he might be the first that did it to improve his hitting.

After going 1 for 46 with 24 strikeouts since a mid-2006 trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hendrickson determined he should do better. His vision was a problem.

"My hitting is what pushed me to really do it," said Hendrickson, who the Marlins signed last month to join the rotation. "I wasn't producing the way I wanted to. I expect more of myself at the plate so it got to the point where I said it's time to do it and I did it. I'm seeing everything great. I've only had it for a month, but I'm real happy with it."

complete article at Sun-Sentinel.com

Laser Eye Surgery Prices Plummet In UK

Prices for laser eye surgery treatment in the UK have fallen by up to 80% for correction of short sight. However, tremendous variation between clinics means a difference in price of up to £4,000 for the same glasses prescription.

London, UK (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- Recent pricing changes for laser eye surgery across the UK mean people can pay nearly £4,000 more to get rid of their glasses at one clinic compared to another. This means confusion for the 10 million UK adults who suffer from short-sight and who now wonder how price relates to quality of care and results.

For a mild short-sighted prescription, the prices per eye for laser eye surgery range from £295 up to £2,250 using similar technology, surgical training and treatment types.

sourec: PR Web

Troops with contact lenses may get free laser surgery (UK)

David Rose and Michael Evans

Combat troops who wear contact lenses and struggle to cope in the dusty conditions of Iraq and Afghanistan may be offered free laser eye surgery, The Times has been told.

Lieutenant-General Louis Lillywhite, the Surgeon-General, said that he had ordered an internal review because of the pressure he was under to find a solution for troops complaining of eyesight difficulties.

Soldiers have contracted corneal ulcers and other infections after wearing contact lenses for days at a time. Wearing glasses is often considered impractical in the heat of combat. General Lillywhite said that providing laser surgery for combat troops who would normally have to wear corrective lenses was being considered.

source: Times Online

3i eyes growth following deal for Ultralase

LASER eye surgery company Ultralase has been bought for £174.5m by private equity company 3i which plans to expand the group throughout the UK.

Leeds-based Ultralase has treated thousands of patients including Olympic medallists Sir Steve Redgrave, Jonathan Edwards and Sharron Davies as well as Dragons' Den star Duncan Ballantyne.

The company currently operates 17 eye laser clinics in the UK including one on Albion Street in Leeds.

Yorkshire Post

Zecotek Announces New Surgical Laser

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 14, 2008) - Zecotek Photonics Inc. today announced the introduction of its SL 1.4 Fiber Coupled Laser, designed specifically for surgical applications in the ophthalmic market where it can be used for a variety of coagulatory procedures.

"We are very pleased to be introducing this new laser," said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek. "The SL 1.4 Fiber Coupled Laser has been specifically designed to meet a need in a medical market segment with large growth potential. The laser will form the major component in ophthalmic laser systems. We see this as another excellent example of Zecotek's strength in the innovation and commercialization of leading edge photonic technologies."

Zecotek

LASIK MD is named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies

MONTREAL, Feb. 12 /CNW Telbec/ - LASIK MD, Canada's leading provider of
laser vision correction, is proud to announce that it is a winner of Canada's
50 Best Managed Companies for 2007. This prestigious award is part of a
national competition sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, National
Post and Queen's School of Business.

"We are honoured to be recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed
Companies," said Dr. Mark Cohen, President and Co-Founder. "This award is a
testament of our dedication to excellence, state-of-the-art technology, and
affordable pricing making laser vision correction available to all."

CNW Group
 

Lasik prices expected to fall further when private sector publishes bill sizes (Singapore)

SINGAPORE: Inflation and healthcare costs may be on the rise but the cost of Lasik surgeries has bucked the trend.

Eye doctors expect rates to fall further when the private sector joins the public sector in its current practice of publishing the size of their medical bills.

Singapore has one of the highest rates of myopia in the world, so there is a ready pool of people eager to do away with glasses and contact lenses through Lasik surgery.

Channel NewsAsia

Costs Go Down, Confidence Goes Up as Consumers Take Advantage of Easy, Safe and Affordable LASIK Surgery

LAKE WORTH, FL--(Marketwire - February 8, 2008) - Since LASIK surgery emerged as a viable option to correct vision problems, practitioners estimate that only ten percent of America's eligible population has had the procedure. That's a substantial number, but it still begs the question: What is the other 90 percent waiting for? If recent trends are an indicator, they're not waiting for much anymore.

LASIK surgeons report that a growing number of consumers who say they put off the appointment for many years while continuing to wear glasses and contacts are now coming in for LASIK. Why are they taking the step? Surgeons say the most prominent reasons are increased confidence and improved affordability.

Marketwire

San Diego Refractive Surgeon First to Provide iLASIK

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Approved for use on consumers almost a decade ago, more than 11 million LASIK procedures have been performed to-date, making it the most-common elective surgical procedure in the U.S. Today, laser vision correction is more safe and effective than ever before with the introduction of the iLASIK procedure. The iLASIK procedure is the innovative combination of two customizable technologies, IntraLase with the Advanced CustomVue treatment.

Dr. Sandy T. Feldman, an FDA clinical investigator and world renowned corneal expert and refractive surgeon, is one of the first in San Diego to perform the iLASIK procedure. “This is a very exciting combination of technologies,” said Dr. Feldman. “Now almost everyone has an opportunity to be a candidate for 20/20 or better vision. There has never been a better time to have LASIK surgery.”

Business Wire

FDA to study possible link between depression and failed Lasik

Sabine Vollmer, Staff Writer

Patients who undergo vision-correcting laser eye surgery sign a release form with an extensive list of risks, but some researchers and former patients say a potential complication is not mentioned: depression that can lead to suicide.

In response to patient complaints, the Food and Drug Administration plans to convene a large, national study to examine the relationship of lasik complications and quality of life, including psychological problems such as depression.

Malvina Eydelman, an ophthalmologist with the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, wrote in an e-mail message that the scant clinical data available "failed to suggest significant problems following lasik surgery," but she said the FDA wants a broad and systematic review.

Read complete article at newsoberver.com

The iLASIK(TM) Procedure Debuts with Leading Technologies Creating the First 100 Percent Tailor-Made Vision Correction Procedure

SANTA ANA, Calif., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- When it comes to achieving 20/20 vision, no two eyes are alike -- and, as such neither should be your vision correction. Launching nationwide, the iLASIK(TM) procedure is the very first vision correction procedure designed to be 100 percent custom- fit from beginning to end. The iLASIK(TM) procedure addresses the uniqueness of your two eyes -- from the individual curvature of your corneas, to the microscopic nuances of your eye's anatomy -- designed to deliver the exact correction you need to achieve 20/20 or better vision.

"The iLASIK(TM) procedure has been a decade in the making, with each new advancement furthering the next," said Dr. Kerry Solomon, professor of ophthalmology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and an iLASIK(TM) patient. "With this unveiling, we've reached the final frontier. Quite honestly, there is nothing better on the horizon. "The iLASIK(TM) procedure eliminates confusion for patients seeking the very best in laser vision correction surgery."

source

LASIK Risks

Shelley Walcott

Two million people have changed their lives with LASIK surgery. Most people who have LASIK are pleased with the results, but we met one Milwaukee man who says he was better off before.

Robert Scott is far-sighted, and has worn glasses since second grade. He says he was sick of his 4 eyes, and LASIK seemed like the answer. "More or less to not have glasses no more, and to see clearer," he explains.

TodaysTMJ4.com

TLCVision Opens Second TLC Laser Eye Center in Greater Toronto Area

ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwire - January 28, 2008) - TLC Vision Corporation (NASDAQ: TLCV) (TSX: TLC), North America's premier eye care services company, today announced the opening of a new TLC Laser Eye Center located at 50 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Suite 100, Mississauga, Ontario L5B 3C2. The company also has a TLC Laser Eye Center located at 4101 Yonge St., Suite 100, Toronto, Ontario M2P 1N6. Mississauga is also home to TLCVision's Canadian headquarters.

Jim Wachtman, President and Chief Executive Officer of TLCVision, commented, "The opening of our second TLC Laser Eye Center in the Greater Toronto Area allows us to leverage the strength of the Company's optometric co-management relationships along with our targeted direct to consumer advertising featuring former TLC patient Tiger Woods. Our strategy focuses on the strong TLC brand integrating quality care, experienced doctors, the latest technology, and a long-term commitment to results."

Marketwire.com

LCA-Vision Announces the Opening of its 73rd LasikPlus Vision Center

CINCINNATI, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LCA-Vision Inc. (Nasdaq:
LCAV), a leading provider of laser vision correction services under the
LasikPlus brand, announced the opening of its 73rd LasikPlus vision center
in Savannah, Georgia.

Similar to other LasikPlus vision centers throughout the country, the
new vision center is staffed with an experienced team of health care
professionals, and is equipped with technologically advanced lasers and
diagnostic equipment. This range of advanced technology allows the company
to offer patients IntraLase to create the corneal flap, as well as
traditional laser vision correction and advanced custom wavefront
procedures.

PR Newswire

International Stem Cell Corporation to Provide Corneal Epithelial Cells for Use in Photorefractive K

www.internationalstemcell.com - www.internationalstemcell announced today that it will be providing corneal epithelial cells, derived from its Parthenogenetic stem cells and human keratinocytes (a type of skin cell), for use in Federal Drug Administration (FDA) clinical trials aimed at creating a tissue transplant technology to improve photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

source

Cranky LASIK Survivors

I just did a little search of the Eye on Vision blog archives and came up with an interesting statistic. Among the 258 posted blogs, 25 specifically address LASIK corneal refractive surgery. That's ten percent of all blogs...who knew?!

It's funny, I did not start out intending to flood the blogosphere with so many accounts of this very common procedure. There is just so much news about LASIK developments combined with rabid consumer interest in refractive surgery.

Well, here goes #26!

What happens to that small minority of refractive surgery patients who undergo "successful, uncomplicated LASIK" but end up miserable with blurry, uncomfortable eyes?

complete article - Eye On Vision

Patients at Risk as Eye Laser Surgery Sector Booms (Ireland)

24-7PressRelease - DUBLIN, IRELAND, January 05, 2008 -- The past six months have seen major growth in the number of clinics offering laser eye procedures throughout the State. There are now more than 20 clinics specialising in laser eye surgery in Ireland, compared with four just five years ago.

Concerns have now been raised about the use of doctors imported from the UK and elsewhere to carry out the surgery, often being flown in and out of the State in a 24-hour period.

"As such they can't offer continuity of care and this is not a healthy set-up," said Dr Arthur Cummings, consultant ophthalmologist at the Wellington Eye Clinic in Dublin.Describing the sector as a "minefield", Prof Michael O'Keeffe, consultant ophthalmologist at the Mater Private Hospital, said the huge growth in the area in recent months was a result of SSIA windfalls.

source article

LASIK works well, according to long-term study of highly myopic patients

Philadelphia, December 28, 2007 – Laser surgery to correct vision problems has been in use since the early 1990s. Photorefractive Keratotomy (PRK) is typically used to correct low to moderate myopia, while laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is preferred for high myopia corrections. Although over 18 million LASIK procedures have been performed worldwide, there is still some controversy regarding the maximum correction possible and efficacy with this technique. In an article published in the January 2008 issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, researchers from Miguel Hernandez University, Medical School, Alicante, Spain; and Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey; report on a study of high myopia patients ten years after LASIK surgery. The findings show that LASIK for myopia over -10 D is a safe and effective procedure in the long-term.

complete article

Lasik surgery becoming more commonplace

By Kathleen Dayton

Few people outside of the medical profession might understand the term “laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis.” But even schoolchildren are likely to have heard about Lasik, the laser surgery used for vision correction that has become one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the country.

“It is definitely becoming more mainstream,” said David Harmon, president of MarketScope, a market research agency focused on opthamology.

About 1.4 million such surgeries are performed annually, which translates to about 750,000 people, since not all patients have both eyes treated. The number of laser eye surgeries has held steady during the past several years, Harmon said, and the average cost of the surgery nationally is now $2,000 per eye.

source

State: Eye doc performed needless surgeries

The state suspended the medical license of a Manhattan eye doctor Thursday, charging that he performed unnecessary laser eye surgeries on six patients, the same day the state was again called to task for how it disciplines doctors.

Dr. Martin Ehrenberg, a board-certified ophthalmologist with offices in Manhattan and Great Neck, faces 32 charges of medical misconduct -- including gross negligence -- for treatments he administered from 1998 through late 2006, according to documents.

Newsday