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At EyeCare Associates, we are excited about the renovation currently going on near our main reception area. After trouble-shooting and problem solving, we consulted with our architects and came up with a more efficient way to utilize our available floor space and in turn, serve our patients better. This remodeling project will create additional testing rooms and eliminate wasted space. This is better for our patients because it ensures more privacy during testing, and best of all, shortens waiting times. Thinking of ways to serve you better is something we never lose sight of!
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 Ordinarily this part of the newsletter is devoted to telling our patients about each of us in some detail. This time I want to assume that most of you have seen my TV commercials and know my interests in golf, sailing, guitar, flying and reading. I am a UT graduate and medical school grad from UT Houston. I was an emergency room physician prior to my ophthalmology training in Virginia and have practiced in Tyler since 1979. But enough of that.
Instead, I want to talk about EyeCare Associates, what has been accomplished, and what the future holds.
Since 1998, when EyeCare was formed, it has been my pleasure and indeed, honor, to be associated with some of the best Ophthalmologists work to bring the original five practices together and create a facility that is first class. Since that time we have added eight additional doctors and serve the surrounding East Texas area with four satellite offices. At The Cataract Center of East Texas, our surgery facility, we perform more cataract surgeries than any cataract surgery center in our region and more than many such facilities in Texas' largest cities.
Many new technologies have come to eye care since 1998. What constantly amazes me is the speed with which the changes in medicine occur. When I started training, cataract patients could not have implants. They stayed in the hospital for several days. Sutures were necessary to close the relatively large incisions. Incisions leaked, were irritating, and a constant source of infection worry. Antibiotics were good but nothing compared with what we have today. We have gone from no implants to hard plastic lenses to soft acrylic lenses which can be folded and placed through 3 mm incisions, no sutures required. As of this year, implants (ReSTOR) can focus both distance and up close, freeing the patient from glasses in most cases. Lasik procedures are now available for almost any refractive error from hyperopia to myopia to astigmatism or mixtures of these problems. Recently, iris registration has been added to our abilities with the excimer laser. This allows more precise correction of optical errors in the eye.
Retina problems like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, and surgical problems like retinal detachment can be better repaired with higher success rates than ever. Glaucoma treatments by laser, drug and surgery continue to surge forward. The future will shortly bring ever smaller incisions in cataract surgery, from 3.2 mm to 2.2 mm. This ability is anticipated early next year. I can think of ten other wonders that space precludes me from including here.
Let me close by saying that America is a leader in the world in bringing these changes to Americans and people all over the world. We achieved this by way of free enterprise and cities. a republic based on liberty. Don’t want to bring these wonders to your life. We Care. You'll See.
 In August, the ReSTOR lens by Alcon Labs was approved for general use by the FDA after passing scientific studies with flying colors. Most of you received a post card from us relaying this information. The ReSTOR is an acrylic lens, similar to what we have been using for some time with great success. The difference is that the front surface has been modified by a process called apodized diffraction. This daunting term means the lens is capable of creating a distance and near image, with no moving parts. In other words, cataract patients who have been dependent on glasses with bi- or trifocals can now see without these. The studies show that 80% of patients with this lens never (!) wear glasses. This is a remarkable achievement and we think this will revolutionize the care of cataract patients and even some folks without cataracts. What do we mean by that? Well, suppose you are 50 years old with no cataract but a significant glass correction and wearing a bifocal to boot. It is now possible to remove your lens (not yet a cataract), achieve little or no correction in the distance by picking the appropriate ReSTOR lens power, and still be able to see up close due to the apodized refractive surface of the ReSTOR lens. Since the ReSTOR lens is otherwise like other implants and the actual removal of your lens is the same as a typical cataract surgery, the same decision process must occur when deciding about surgery whether you have a cataract or not.
As of this writing, about 30 ReSTOR lenses have been implanted with terrific results by EyeCare surgeons. We are all heartened and excited about our results and look forward to helping more and more of you as the years go by. For more information about ReSTOR, go to our website and click on the ReSTOR icon.
An exciting new development in eye care is the availability of iris registration with the VISX laser for our Lasik patients. We are proud to be the first to offer this technology in North Texas. Available only for Custom Vue treatments, 24 iris landmarks are matched between the wave scan infrared images and infrared camera images obtained by cameras on the laser. Not only is there better accuracy for correction of astigmatism, but better centration of the flap. This occurs by correction for the change in the pupillary center with different pupil sizes. Iris registration has the potential to enhance the already outstanding outcomes of Custom Vue Technology. We continue to feel the VISX laser is unsurpassed on outcomes, reproducibility, and reliability.
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I would like to share with you something that is new at our check-in desk. The Insurance Card Scanner. What a wonderful ”tool”! In the past we have had to copy your insurance cards once every 90 days, which is often redundant and takes an enormous amount of your time during check-in. If you have seen us since the beginning of April, you have already experienced us scanning your insurance card. After the initial scanning, we have the digital image of your card in our computer and can glance at your card upon return visits to verify that the information has not changed. This keeps us from having to take time to make a copy. If your insurance has changed, of course, we will scan your new card. This also facilitates our insurance follow-up on claims that have not been paid. With the image of your insurance card in your electronic file, we have immediate access to the phone numbers necessary to speak to the insurance company. We have welcomed this new technology as it does expedite your check-in and enables us to serve you better. We Care.
—June Cheatham
 EyeCare Associates is proud to introduce Dr. Carol McCuistion as our new optometrist for Jacksonville. Dr. McCuistion replaced Dr. John Thigpen who retired June 1 after nearly 48 years of practicing optometry.
Prior to becoming an optometrist, Dr. McCuistion received degrees from Texas Tech in Home Economics and Interior Design. After college graduation, she taught Home Economics for nine years for the Dallas and El Paso school districts plus spending time in Germany and Morocco teaching for the department of defense.
Before accepting the position as optometrist in our Jacksonville office, Dr. McCuistion had a successful practice in Canton. She has practiced optometry for 23 years, graduating from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 1982.
Apart from her dedication for eye care excellence, Dr. McCuistion’s Andrea and Suzi. Andrea will be attending Nichols Intermediate School while Suzi will be enrolled in Jacksonville Middle School. With professional, family and church commitments Dr. McCuistion expects to lead a busy and rewarding life in Jacksonville!
BETTER VISION, LESS NEED FOR GLASSES
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