Cataract
Cataract is simply a clouding of the eye's lens that frequently occurs with aging. Symptoms include a gradual dimming or blurring of vision. Patients report that this is generally noticed at night when driving becomes more difficult, and reading or watching television becomes somewhat difficult. The most effective way to treat cataracts is to surgically remove them. Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most successful procedures performed today. Dr. Ochsner and Dr. Kingrey utilize the most advanced surgical microscopic technique to remove the cataract and replace it with and artificial lens to restore your vision. The technological improvements in microsurgery and a great anesthesia team should make the procedure painless, and no hospitalization is required.

Successful Treatment of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure of fluid in the eyeball is abnormally high, which can restrict blood supply needed to nourish the sensitive visual structures in the back of the eye. This causes visual nerve cells to die, resulting in some loss of vision. As this condition progresses, more nerve cells are damaged, resulting in additional vision loss and possible total blindness. Glaucoma may progress so slowly that a person is not aware of the gradual loss of sight. Some people experience vague symptoms such as a need for frequent change in glasses, difficulty in adjusting to dark rooms, loss of side vision, and blurred vision. It is estimated that 1 in 50 Americans over 35 years old have glaucoma. A simple and painless examination measures pressure in the eye. In fact, the Center uses laser technology to detect glaucoma before visual loss occurs. Although glaucoma cannot be cured, it can be controlled successfully through eye drops, laser, or a surgical procedure.

Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is a procedure to correct the sagging or drooping of the eyelids and the removal of excess fat, skin and muscle or even herniated fat in the lid area. As we get older, most individiuals start to see a difference in their lid area - laxity, bags below and above the eye. Skin of the upper eyelids resting across the eyelids is a clue that the vision may be compromised by the eyelid configuration. A visual field test will often confirm significant visual field loss. Patients undergoing Blepharoplasty report impproved vision, less eye strain and also improved appearance.

Individualized Laser Vision Correction

Chances are, you know someone who has had laser vision correction. Since the excimer laser's approval by the FDA in 1995, millions of people have eliminated their nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism and said good-bye to their dependance on glasses and contact lenses. But, whatever the reason you haven't had it yet, there are new advances that may have made your wait worthwhile. Now, there is VISX® CustomVue™, individualized laser vision correction, and it is setting a new standard for laser vision correction.

Just like a fingerprint, each person's vision is 100 percent unique to their eyes. Before the recent advancements in technology, doctors were only able to use standard measurements to correct vision, meaning that prescriptions could only provide a certain level of correction regardless of an individual's needs.

Now, VISX CustomVue can measure and address the unique imperfections of each individual's vision and provide them with the potential to experience better vision than is possible with glasses or contact lenses...their Personal Best Vision.

Implantable Contact Lens (ICL)

Drs. Ochsner and Kingrey are excited to announce the placement of the first posterior chamber Visian implantable collamer lenses (ICL) in this region. The Visian ICL, manufactured by Staar Surgical (staar.com), was recently approved for general use in the US after extensive FDA clinical trials over the last several years. The ICL is the first available foldable phakic intraocular lens which is inserted through a 3 mm clear corneal incision and placed anterior to the natural crystalline lens but posterior to the iris. It is approved for patients age 18-45 with a prescription of -5D to -16D, with less than 2.5D of astigmatism. We are pleased to announce that on April 6, 2006 with Staar company proctors present, Dr. Kingrey placed the first Visian Collamer lens in Wichita. The early results have been very exciting with some patients achieving a better uncorrected acuity than with their spectacles or contacts. This procedure will complement our custom lasik, with capabilities of correcting higher prescriptions, and those patients with thinner corneas. We are currently scheduling patients for this procedure.