Category: Blog

Here We Grow Again!

Meet Dana Griesmer OD

Join us in welcoming doctor Dana K. Griesmer OD to the SkyVision team of doctors.

Dr. Griesmer has joined our team of experienced eye doctors, Dr. White MD and Optometrists Dr. Kaye, Dr. Schoeck and Dr. Schlegel.  Dana will be offering weekday, Wednesday evening and, just in time for the summer and back to school rush, Saturday hours.

Dana Griesmer

Dr. Griesmer is a graduate of Westminster College where she received a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience.  She then earned her doctorate of optometry in 2016 from the Ohio State University where she graduated with honors.   While in optometry school, she was active in numerous student organizations and activities.   Her clinical interests are broad, but she has a special interest and experience in ocular disease, co-management surgical care, and community outreach.  She particularly values establishing relationships with patients and strives to involve each patient in their eye care experience as much as possible.

Dr. Griesmer shares, “I was drawn to SkyVision due to the friendly, technologically driven environment and their patient-oriented philosophies. I am very excited to contribute to this practice!”

Before joining SkyVision, Dr. Griesmer had the opportunity to hone her skills in comprehensive eye care in a corporate practice.   Currently, she is an active member of the American Optometric Association and the Ohio Optometric Association.  She is excited to join the highly-experienced group of doctors and staff at SkyVision and is eager to serve the growing community of patients.

Dr. White adds, “We love the fact that Dr. Griesmer has chosen to be part of the SkyVision team.  Our practice continues to grow and her experience, intelligence, interests, and energy are a winning combination for all of us!”

Dr. Griesmer lives in Rocky River with her husband Philip and their two cats.  Her free time is often spent in the Cleveland Metroparks, local libraries, or at home trying new recipes.   

Macular Degeneration: Stem Cells Restore Sight in Small Study

Macular Degeneration

 

WebMD Health News © 2018 

Peter Russell      March 21, 2018

This is a promising study that gives hope to those suffering from the most devastating form of Macular Degeneration . .

 

Article:

Doctors in the UK say they have taken an important step towards treating a common form of blindness – wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Results of a study published in the journal Nature Biotechnology describe how stem cell therapy can restore sight.

Douglas Waters from Croydon, London, was one of 2 people who received the treatment at Moorfields Eye Hospital.  Mr Waters, who is 86, developed severe wet AMD in July 2015 and received the treatment 3 months later in his right eye. He says: “In the months before the operation my sight was really poor and I couldn’t see anything out of my right eye. I was struggling to see things clearly, even when up-close.  “After the surgery, my eyesight improved to the point where I can now read the newspaper and help my wife out with the gardening.”  The team behind the trials caution that further research is needed before this method could be considered for routine clinical approval.

 

Loss of Central Vision

 

People with AMD experience a loss of central vision, making reading and recognising people’s faces difficult. It currently affects more than 600,000 people in the UK, and numbers are expected to rise with an aging population.

Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels form underneath the macula – the section of the retina that allows detailed, central vision – and damage its cells.  Wet AMD is more serious than dry AMD, which is more common and caused by cells in the macula being damaged by a deposit of fatty protein.

 

Transplanted Patch

 

The pioneering treatment involved implanting an engineered patch of retinal pigment from epithelium cells under the retina to replace those that are damaged.  The patients, including a woman in her 60s who also had wet AMD, were monitored for 12 months and reported improvements to their vision. Before the procedure neither were able to read, but they went on to read at 60 to 80 words per minute with normal reading glasses.

 

‘This Gives Real Hope’

Commenting on the trial in a statement, Dr Carmel Toomes, associate professor at the Leeds Institutes of Molecular Medicine, says: “These results give the many patients out there who suffer from AMD and other retinal degenerations real hope that stem cells replacement therapy may be a reality in the near future.  While this is only a very early clinical trial, the results are positive and show that the technology is moving along in the right direction.”

 

The study was carried out for the London Project to Cure Blindness, a partnership between Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the University College London (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology, and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

 

SOURCES:
Phase 1 clinical study of an embryonic stem cell–derived retinal pigment epithelium patch in age-related macular degeneration, da Cruz L et al, Nature Biotechnology
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Science Media Centre
NHS Choices

Cite this article: Peter Russell. Macular Degeneration: Stem Cells Restore Sight in Small Study -Medscape – Mar 21, 2018.

Pay over time with CareCredit

Whether you are purchasing a new pair of prescription glasses, paying for Lasik eye surgery, buying new Maui Jim sunglasses for a Christmas gift or treating yourself to an Advanced Technology IOL for cataract surgery . . . . a FREE Fitbit® can be yours.

Get the CareCredit credit card that helps fit care into your budget, and a special offer that fits a healthy lifestyle.

Between October 1 and December 31, 2018, get a free Fitbit fitness wristband when you complete these steps (in any order). For new CareCredit cardholders.

  1. Open a new CareCredit credit card account.*
  2. Use your new card to pay for a purchase of $200 or more.
  3. Register your purchase by December 31, 2018.
  • Go to carecredit.com/promotions with code FITBIT
  • By mail to Offer # FITBIT1 P.O. Box 540003 El Paso, TX 88554-0003

“CareCredit has helped me so much by allowing me to provide the gift of sight to my fiancé’. He was having to go to the eye Dr. on a regular basis, spending thousands of
dollars on glasses and contacts, He wore glasses for 30 years. CareCredit allowed me to give him LASIK eye surgery for our 10-year anniversary. He now has better than perfect
vision, and has been able to enjoy many more things in life without the hassle of glasses or contacts, not to mention the money we are saving.”

Nicky O

Fitbit offer Valid 10/1 through 12/31/18.

*Subject to credit approval. To qualify for this offer, between October 1-December 31, 2018 you must {i} apply and be approved for a CareCredit credit card account by applying online or in practice, {ii} make a single or multiple purchases totaling $200 or more with your card (minus returns) and {iii} register at carecredit.com/promotions or by mail postmarked December 31, 2018. If qualified, Fitbit fitness wristband redemption code will be sent to you within two billing cycles of offer end date after you have completed all three steps. Fitbit Flex 2™ product shown is available while supplies last. Product may be replaced with a product of equal or greater value. Account must remain open, in good standing and not become delinquent. Offer valid for new accounts only. One account opening offer per account.

Do you suffer from Digital Vision Syndrome?

Are you constantly on your phone or tablet?
Or maybe you work all day on a computer?

Digital Vision Syndrome (DVS) has become a large and growing issue in the digital age.

Between computers, tablets, and smartphones, Americans average 7 hours of screen usage per day, with some people using them significantly more.

As we work more and more on digital devices, things like headaches, eye strain, tired eyes and stiff shoulders are becoming an accepted part of our lives.

We want you to know that experiencing these symptoms is NOT normal. If you suffer from any of the below symptoms, we can help.

NEUROLENS®

neurolens® glasses is a new therapeutic solution that provides relief from the symptoms associated with the overuse of digital devices. Developed specifically to reduce or eliminate eye misalignment at all distances, neurolens® is the only lens that corrects the eyes from overcompensating during digital device use.

EYE MISALIGNMENT

With a misalignment in your visual system, your eyes overcompensate to see one clear image. This can trigger unwanted stress on the trigeminal nerve, causing symptoms of digital vision syndrome. When the misalignment is corrected with neurolenses, your visual system doesn’t need to work as hard, relieving your symptoms.           

SIGHTSYNC® TEST

SightSync is the only objective visual testing system designed to accurately measure and prescribe for eye misalignment. SightSync detects eye misalignment at all distances, which is essential for comfortable vision. The SkyVision doctor can test if you have an eye-misalignment and treat your symptoms with the neurolens® system.

SkyVision is now offering this exciting new technology, and we would love to help you discover if we can provide relief for your symptoms.   

Click here for more information on neurolens®

SkyVision Centers is a center of excellence for Dry Eye, comprehensive eye exams, advanced cataract surgery, glaucoma, lasik, contact lenses, and clinical trials, featuring outstanding services offered by nationally recognized doctors.  For more information, please call at 440-892-3931 or visit us at www.skyvisioncenters.com.

Prevention of Myopia Progression in Children

Sara E. Schoeck OD     April 2018

Nearsightedness, or myopia, has increased dramatically over the last few decades and remains one of the leading causes of poor vision across the globe.  In the United States, it is estimated that 42 percent of the population is nearsighted.  This is an increase of 25 percent since the 1970’s.  (In certain Asian countries, 80 to 90 percent of young adults are nearsighted.)  Although vision can be corrected with the use of ordinary glasses or contact lenses, severe nearsightedness can lead to an increased risk of certain eye diseases such as retinal detachment, macular degeneration, premature cataracts, and glaucoma.  Given the significant number of people with myopia around the world, there is a growing interest in controlling or slowing down the development of myopia.

In the United States, the average rate of myopia increase in children is about 0.50 D (½ of a diopter) a year (D=diopter, a unit of measurement used when speaking of degrees of nearsightedness.)   For example, given a child diagnosed with -1.00 D of myopia at age 8, assuming nearsightedness increases at the average rate of 0.50 D per year, at age 16 this same child will become a -5.00 D myope (which is considered very nearsighted.)

The underlying cause of this increase in myopia remains unclear and the increasing occurrence is not well understood. A number of theories have been offered to help explain the recent increase and earlier onset of myopia in children. These theories range from a decrease in outdoor activity to an increase in time spent doing near work using screens such as laptops and portable or handheld devices like smartphones.

What is clear is that most scientists involved in myopia control believe that the rate of increase in nearsightedness must be slowed to at least one half in order to benefit young patients. 

Research has provided a number of treatments focused on slowing the increase of myopia in children and currently, two methods seem most practical and effective at slowing nearsighted progression by at least 50 percent.  SkyVision Centers is pleased to offer both treatment options to its valued patients.

The two methods include:

(1) Low dose Atropine eye drops (0.01%)

(2) Multifocal (or dual focus) disposable contact lenses —contact lenses designed with two points of focus, one for far and one for near.  These methods also have the least bothersome side effects such as pupil dilation, light sensitivity and blurred near vision, and minimize the chance of a “rebound effect” or increase in nearsightedness after the treatment period ends. 

If interested in more information on Myopia Progression, please do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Schoeck at [email protected] or 440-892-3931.

SkyVision Centers is a center of excellence for Dry Eye, comprehensive eye exams, advanced cataract surgery, glaucoma, lasik, contact lenses, and clinical trials, featuring outstanding services offered by nationally recognized doctors.  For more information, please call at 440-892-3931 or visit us at www.skyvisioncenters.com.

New Laser Treatment Can Help Get Rid of Eye Floaters

Written By: Reena Mukamal

Reviewed By: Inder Paul Singh, MD

Adapted by: SkyVision Centers – cdunbar

Jan. 26, 2018   AAO.org  EyeSmart

Millions of Americans who live with annoying spots in their field of vision may soon have more readily available remedy: a laser treatment called YAG vitreolysis.

Dr. Darrell White has been doing laser vitreolysis in the SkyVision Center Westlake office with the latest Yag Laser for nearly a year now and inquiries are rapidly increasing. 

A new study followed 680 patients who underwent this procedure to reduce the symptoms of eye floaters. Ninety-three percent reported significant improvement in their vision.

Millions of people ultimately may benefit. About one out of four individuals experience eye floaters by age 60. By age 80, two-thirds of people will face these irritating specks in their vision.

For more information on Vitreolysis treatment for eye floaters:

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/new-laser-treatment-may-get-rid-of-eye-floaters

Our Services

Sleep Apnea and Glaucoma

Written By: Kierstan Boyd

Reviewed By: J Kevin McKinney MD

Jan. 19, 2018   AAO.org EyeSmart

Do you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)? If so, you probably know that leaving it untreated can lead to serious health problems like high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. But did you know that this dangerous sleep disorder may also lead to vision loss from glaucoma?

For more information about this topic:

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/obstructive-sleep-apnea-glaucoma

Cataract Surgery Reduces Cause-Specific Mortality for Older Women

February 2018 issue AAO EyeNet Magazine

Recent study results indicate that Cataract surgery may lower the mortality risk associated with systemic illnesses.  Cataract surgery has been shown to correlate with lower risk of all-cause mortality but this study by Tseng et al., aimed to determine the relationship between cataract surgery and total and cause-specific mortality in older women. 

The study included nationwide data of the Women’s Health Initiative from July 2014-September 2017 for women 65 years and older.  Of the 74,044 women with cataracts (mean age, 70.5 years), 41,735 underwent cataract surgery.  Models showed a link between cataract surgery and reduced all-cause mortality and between cataract surgery and mortality related to cancer, vascular, accidental, neurologic, pulmonary and infectious diseases.  Patients who underwent the surgery had a much lower mortality rate, despite their overall sicker systemic profile.  Whether a patient receives cataract surgery depends on demographic, socioeconomic and other factors, which warrant further exploration. 

Further study of the relationship between cataract surgery, systemic disease and disease-related mortality may improve patient care and overall health outcomes. 

Episodic Dry Eye – Winter Woes!

 

In the midst of winter weather, eye doctors will see an increasing amount of episodic dry eye. Symptoms tend to emerge with the dry winter air, using defrosters in cars, and the blasting heat in our homes and businesses. This can affect all dry eye patients, but in particular exacerbate the marginal dry eye patients by increasing the stress on the ocular surface. If you think you are an episodic patient, you may escape treatment because of several reasons: it’s not time for your exam when the symptoms are occurring, or the symptoms come and go and are forgotten at the time of the exam. Inflammation begets more inflammation and without taking action to address the inflammation we know clinically the disease process has a tendency to progress.

 

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Did you know that just being a women may increase your chance of chronic dry eye? Just not fair, right!?!
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If you and experiencing episodic dry eye and choose to pursue earlier identification and decide not to pursue treatment, you will have at least identified a condition that should be monitored.  Earlier treatment usually leads to quicker results with less intervention, as in almost any disease process. Identifying lid disorders such as Meibomium Gland Disease (MGD) at an earlier point will almost always be easier to treat with fairly minimal treatments such as a commercial warm eye compress, as well as a good lid hygiene product.  A good supplement to address inflammation and increase tear production such as an Omega 6/Omega3 combination may also be great entry-level treatment.  Of course, moving to a therapeutic treatment such as Xiidra or Restasis eye drops will also address the inflammation in a rapid manner.

Do you feel you are an episodic dry eye patient? Start by making a Dry Eye evaluation with your eye doctor!

 

TAGS:  dry eye, eye health, MGD, winter, tears, eye drops, eye exams

Farsightedness in School Aged Kids

Farsighted preschoolers and kindergartners have a harder time paying attention and that could put them at risk of slipping behind in school, a new study suggests.

child eye examAn estimated 4 to 14 percent of preschoolers have moderate farsightedness, or hyperopia, but it often goes undetected in younger children. When moderate farsightedness is found, glasses aren’t always recommended because there’s disagreement about whether vision correction is appropriate for these children.

But an increasing body of evidence is showing that moderately farsighted 4- and 5-year-olds are at risk of struggling with the building blocks of learning, said Marjean Taylor Kulp, professor of optometry at The Ohio State University.

“We knew from our previous work that preschool and kindergarten children with uncorrected farsightedness have decreased early literacy, and this new study shows that there are even more deficits in these children early on,” she said.

For the full article, go to:  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171009124024.htm

SkyVision Centers is a center of excellence for comprehensive eye exams, cataracts and advanced cataract surgery, glaucoma, dry eye, lasik, raindrop inlay, contact lenses, pediatric eye care and clinical trials, featuring outstanding services offered by nationally recognized doctors.  For more information, please call at 440-892-3931 or visit us at www.skyvisioncenters.com.

Category: General
Tags: school aged children, eye exams, glasses, school vision exams, contact lenses