Galveston and Houston Eye Doctors commented on the billing and cost of eye refractions. “One of the most basic parts of an eye exam is checking the refraction of your eyes or an eye refraction test. This allows us to determine what your best possible vision is at that point in time while wearing a prescription optical lens and gives us the basis for prescribing a prescription optical lens,” relayed Allan Fradkin, M.D., Ophthalmologist at The Eye Clinic of Texas. The most common type of eye refraction is called a Manifest Refraction and is performed without the use of eye drops so that we can examine the eye in a natural state. If you have ever had an eye exam you are probably familiar with the “which is better, one or two” test-this is a Manifest Refraction. Another type of eye refraction is called a Cycloplegic Refraction which is performed after the instillation of eye drops to temporarily immobilize the Ciliary Muscle of the eye. This temporarily prevents you from accommodating or “focusing” up close and is used when there is a need for an even more precise measurement of refractive error. In addition, the eye drops will also dilate the pupil so the eye doctor can easily see the back of the eye to examine the retina, optic nerve and blood vessels in order to evaluate their health.
“From an insurance standpoint, eye refractions are considered part of a routine eye exam. Because refractions are normally used to determine refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, and therefore prescribe glasses or contact lenses, many insurance companies, particularly Medicare and Medicaid, do not pay for them.” It’s important to understand that when patients are having their eye exam, refractions are a necessary part of a routine eye exam and must be paid for out of pocket. If you have questions about the cost of your refraction or billing questions about refraction please call The Eye Clinic of Texas at 800-423-3937 and we will be glad to assist.
The Eye Clinic of Texas is a leading eye care practice serving the greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area that provides all aspects of general, medical, surgical, laser and optical eye care services. Our Board Certified Ophthalmologists perform Laser Eye Surgery such as LASIK, Cataract Surgery & Lens Implants using advanced technology IOLs to correct complex problems such as astigmatism and near vision focusing problems including presbyopia, diagnosis and management of glaucoma, diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy, diagnosis and management of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Pediatric Ophthalmology. Texas EyeWear at The Eye Clinic of Texas provides personalized consultation and fitting of eyeglasses and eyeglass lenses for greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area patients.
Believe it or not, LASIK is affordablefor just about anyone in Galveston and Houston at The Eye Clinic of Texas! That’s because we work to find ways to work with you to help you achieve your personal vision correction goals at The Eye Clinic of Texas. Here are a few ways lots of our patients choose when they have LASIK with us.
Easy Payment Plans
Many of our patients use our easy payment monthly payment plans. We can arrange the amount you pay each month to fit your budget-AND you do not even have to put any money down! You can have your LASIK procedure today WITH NO MONEY DOWN-and with 0% interest if you would like!
Flex Plans-Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Many employers offer Flex Plans-Flexible Spending Accounts or FSA’s. These plans allow you to have money taken out of your paycheck over time to pay for LASIK. What is even more appealing about Flex Plans is that money is withheld in Pre-Tax dollars allowing you to get extra tax savings. It is best to come in for a free consultation to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK-and then we can tell you exactly how much to have taken out of your paycheck!
Health Spending Accounts (HSA)
Health Spending Accounts are another way our patients can use Pre-Tax dollars to pay for LASIK and elective Lens Implants. If you have an HSA, it is best to come in for a free consultation to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK so we can tell you how much to allocate.
Insurance & Discount Fee for Service Plans
More and more health insurance or vision insurance plans are offering partial coverage or a discount for LASIK to their participants. We will be happy to review your plan. Even if we are not a direct provider on your plan, if you have coverage, we will make every attempt to honor your benefit allowance when you come to The Eye Clinic of Texas.
Tax Refunds
Tax refunds often provide a nice source of unexpected cash that you can invest in yourself! If you know that you are going to be getting a tax refund, come in for a free consultation and find out if you are a candidate for LASIK. We can even use a very short term payment plan to help you get treated today and pay with your tax refund tomorrow.
The best way to find out if LASIK is right for you is to schedule a Free LASIK Consultation at The Eye Clinic of Texas by calling 800-423-3937.
The Eye Clinic of Texas is a leading eye care practice serving the greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area that provides all aspects of general, medical, surgical, laser and optical eye care services. Our Board Certified Galveston and Houston Ophthalmologists perform Laser Eye Surgery such as LASIK, Cataract Surgery & Lens Implants using advanced technology IOLs to correct complex problems such as astigmatism and near vision focusing problems including presbyopia, diagnosis and management of glaucoma, diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy, diagnosis and management of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Pediatric Ophthalmology. Texas EyeWear at The Eye Clinic of Texas provides personalized consultation and fitting of eyeglasses and eyeglass lenses for greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area patients.
Bulging Eyes is the familiar description of the eye conditions known as Exophthalmos or Proptosis. Besides possibly being a bit odd looking, bulging eye conditions can also cause a number of problems such as not being able to completely close your eyes during sleep or even during normal blinking which can lead to dry eye symptoms, discomfort, and ultimately damage to the eye’s surface as a result of scarring. Sometimes eye bulging can restrict or interfere with normal eye movements. We need to be able to properly diagnose the difference between eyes that are simply “prominent” as compared to eyes that actually “bulging”. In instances of true bulging eyes we need to carefully determine the cause so that we can offer an appropriate treatment as necessary. Causes of bulging eyes can include Graves Disease that results in hyperthyroidism or too much thyroid hormone. There are other causes of bulging eyes including inflammation of the tissue around the eye and inside the bony orbit of the eye called Cellulitis, certain tumors behind, inside or around the eye, hemorrhages behind the eye and injury to the eye. If you or someone you know suffers from bulging eyes please feel free to schedule an examination at The Eye Clinic of Texas by calling 800-423-3937.
The Eye Clinic of Texas is a leading eye care practice serving the greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area that provides all aspects of general, medical, surgical, laser and optical eye care services. Our Board Certified Ophthalmologists perform Laser Eye Surgery such as LASIK, Cataract Surgery & Lens Implants using advanced technology IOLs to correct complex problems such as astigmatism and near vision focusing problems including presbyopia, diagnosis and management of glaucoma, diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy, diagnosis and management of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Pediatric Ophthalmology. Texas EyeWear at The Eye Clinic of Texas provides personalized consultation and fitting of eyeglasses and eyeglass lenses for greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area patients.
Galveston and Houston eye specialists from The Eye Clinic of Texas highlighted a recent report on Macular Degeneration Risk Predictors. “Researchers reporting in the November 2011 edition of Ophthalmology, the official publication of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, used the factors of age, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, genetic variations, pre-existing retinal disease and drusen size to establish a means for predicting the risk of patients in progressing to the move visually disabling advanced Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). These factors strongly correlated with an elevated risk of progression to advanced Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)”, commented Texas Ophthalmologist Bernard Milstein, M.D. After evaluating almost 3,000 patients, it was demonstrated that patients who progressed to advanced AMD were older, less educated, more likely to be current or former smokers, and had higher body mass index (BMI) than those who did not progress.
If you are over 50 years old or even younger if you have a family history of AMD or any of the risk factors mentioned, you should call The Eye Clinic of Texas at 800-423-3937 to schedule an appointment.
The Eye Clinic of Texas is a leading eye care practice serving the greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area that provides all aspects of general, medical, surgical, laser and optical eye care services. Our Board Certified Ophthalmologists perform Laser Eye Surgery such as LASIK, Cataract Surgery & Lens Implants using advanced technology IOLs to correct complex problems such as astigmatism and near vision focusing problems including presbyopia, diagnosis and management of glaucoma, diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy, diagnosis and management of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Pediatric Ophthalmology. Texas EyeWear at The Eye Clinic of Texas provides personalized consultation and fitting of eyeglasses and eyeglass lenses for greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area patients.
Galveston and Houston eye doctor from The Eye Clinic of Texas comments on eye makeup and eye health. “The proper use and care of eye makeup is important for helping to keep your eyes both healthy and beautiful,” commented Dr. Da-Thuy Van, Ophthalmologist at The Eye Clinic of Texas. There are a number of steps and precautions to think about. “First, throw away eye makeup after three months. Infection-causing bacteria grow easily in creamy or liquid eye makeup. If you develop an eye infection, immediately toss all of your eye makeup.
Second, never share eye makeup and when sampling makeup in stores use only fresh applicators and samples that have not been contaminated by multiple users. In fact the safest choice is to avoid using store samples at all. Third, if you tend to be allergic, introduce only one new eye makeup or care product at a time. If there is no reaction, add another new product, and so on. If you notice an allergic reaction, find out what the ingredients are and let your eye doctor know. Avoid products that contain untested or harmful chemicals.
In general, before applying makeup, be sure your face and eyelids are very clean. Always apply makeup outside the lash line, away from the eye, to avoid blocking the oil glands of the upper or lower eyelid. These glands secrete oil that protects the eye’s surface. If you tend to have dry eyes, avoid metallic/glitter, powder or other makeup that flakes. Flakes can get into the tear film and increase your eyes’ irritation. Glitter eye makeup is a common cause of corneal irritation or infection, especially in contact lens users. Finally, always remove all eye makeup at night before sleeping, especially mascara that can stick to the lashes. Brush a clean cotton swab along the base of the eyelashes to remove all makeup remnants. If you use eye makeup remover, avoid getting it in your eyes and thoroughly rinse remover off your eyelids. If at any time you have eye surgery, do not wear makeup around the eye until your eye surgeon tells you it is safe to do so, and then use only fresh, new makeup. If you have questions or concerns about your eyes and makeup please feel free to call The Eye Clinic if Texas at 800-423-3937.
The Eye Clinic of Texas is a leading eye care practice serving the greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area that provides all aspects of general, medical, surgical, laser and optical eye care services. Our Board Certified Ophthalmologists perform Laser Eye Surgery such as LASIK, Cataract Surgery & Lens Implants using advanced technology IOLs to correct complex problems such as astigmatism and near vision focusing problems including presbyopia, diagnosis and management of glaucoma, diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy, diagnosis and management of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Pediatric Ophthalmology. Texas EyeWear at The Eye Clinic of Texas provides personalized consultation and fitting of eyeglasses and eyeglass lenses for greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area patients.
Galveston and Houston Cataract Surgeon Bernard Milstein, M.D. commented on cataract surgery complications. Although Cataract Surgery complications are really pretty rare everyone with a Cataract who is thinking about having eye surgery always has a concern about what could go wrong. Certainly there are things that could go wrong. “Basically in the hands of an experienced Cataract Surgeon using modern cataract surgery techniques we do everything possible to reduce the risk of complications”, said Bernard Milstein, M.D. at The Eye Clinic of Texas. “When you consider the huge benefit that patients receive not only in terms of vision but also lifestyle, comfort, convenience and safety the risk of complications is really quite low”, said Dr. Milstein. For routine cataract surgery in healthy patients the complication rate is well under 5%. This might increase somewhat if you have diabetic eye disease, glaucoma or other types of health or eye problems.
So what kinds of things can go wrong? First there are a handful of things that can happen during or within the first 24-48 hours after a Cataract operation. These include the very unusual things like bleeding inside the eye which is really rare, a little bleeding on the surface of the eye or an inner eye infection which is quite rare. Sometimes the “capsule” around the crystalline lens that is removed as part of the operation might be broken during the surgery and we might need to do a “vitrectomy” as part of the surgery to get a good result. This too is pretty unusual. In very nearsighted patients, Cataract Surgery can precipitate a retinal detachment. Very rarely the intraocular lens implant can move off center or the center of the retina can swell. By far the most common complication is a clouding of the lens capsule that has been left in place to support the lens implant. Fortunately, this is easily managed with a quick, painless procedure called a YAG Laser Capsulotomy that restores the vision almost immediately after the procedure.
Although it might sound like there are lots of possible complications of Cataract Surgery, rest assured they are quite unusual.
If you or someone you know has Cataracts and has questions about Cataract Surgery and Lens Implant complications please feel free to call The Eye Clinic if Texas at 800-423-3937.
The Eye Clinic of Texas is a leading eye care practice serving the greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area that provides all aspects of general, medical, surgical, laser and optical eye care services. Our Board Certified Ophthalmologists perform Laser Eye Surgery such as LASIK, Cataract Surgery & Lens Implants using advanced technology IOLs to correct complex problems such as astigmatism and near vision focusing problems including presbyopia, diagnosis and management of glaucoma, diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy, diagnosis and management of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Pediatric Ophthalmology. Texas EyeWear at The Eye Clinic of Texas provides personalized consultation and fitting of eyeglasses and eyeglass lenses for greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area patients.
The Eye Clinic of Texas is pleased to announce the commencement of their “Awful Glasses LASIK Contest” for anyone over the age of 21 considering LASIK in Houston or Galveston. “Facebook gives us the opportunity to do something fun for those considering LASIK in Houston so we decided to sponsor an “Awful Glasses LASIK Contest” through our community of Houston LASIK surgery patients and our Facebook fans and their friends”, stated Bernard Milstein, M.D., Cataract & LASIK Surgeon at The Eye Clinic of Texas. “We are quite stringent in our requirements for patient selection of LASIK candidates but we can still have some fun as we help people think about what it would be like to not have to wear glasses to see clearly at distance without them,” remarked Galveston and Houston LASIK Surgeon Dr. Da-Thuy Van.
The Eye Clinic of Texas invites anyone over the age of 21 to participate in their “Awful Glasses Contest” by going to www.facebook.com/ecot.lasik and locating the Awful Glasses Contest tab on the left hand navigation bar. Upon clicking and loading the contest page you can LIKE us and you will be asked to provide a photo of yourself with your “Awful Glasses” and are encouraged to write a little statement about why they are so awful. “We will be accepting entries from February 20, 2012 until April 7, 2012,” noted Amy Trittel, Refractive Surgery Coordinator at The Eye Clinic of Texas. “Then beginning on April 8, 2012 we will open the contest to allow your friends and relatives to vote for you. Whoever has the most votes by their friends and relatives will get to have LASIK at The Eye Clinic of Texas compliments of our center!! So-be sure to tell your friends that you have entered and that they should vote for you.”
There is no entry fee or cost of any kind to enter the Awful Glasses Contest at The Eye Clinic of Texas. However, if you win you must come in for a no charge consultation and be deemed a suitable LASIK candidate by our medical staff. In the event you are not suitable you will be able to give your LASIK to someone of your choosing who is medically suitable.
The Eye Clinic of Texas is a leading eye care practice serving the greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area that provides all aspects of general, medical, surgical, laser and optical eye care services. Our Board Certified Ophthalmologists perform Laser Eye Surgery such as LASIK, Cataract Surgery & Lens Implants using advanced technology IOLs to correct complex problems such as astigmatism and near vision focusing problems including presbyopia, diagnosis and management of glaucoma, diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy, diagnosis and management of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Pediatric Ophthalmology. Texas EyeWear at The Eye Clinic of Texas provides personalized consultation and fitting of eyeglasses and eyeglass lenses for greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area patients.
To learn more about The Eye Clinic of Texas you may visit www.ecot.com. To enter the Awful Glasses Contest visit facebook.com/ecot.lasik.
For additional information, contact:
Amy Trittel, The Eye Clinic of Texas, 2302 Avenue P, Galveston, Texas 77550, atrittel@ecot.com, 1-800-423-3937
Galveston & Houston Ophthalmologists commented on UV protection in Houston. “Protecting your eyes from UV should be an important part of your daily routine in order to maintain your eye health and vision”, relayed Allan Fradkin, M.D. of The Eye Clinic of Texas. A number of scientific studies indicate that spending long hours in the sun without eye protection can damage your eyes by contributing to Cataracts and growths on the eye, including cancer. Based on these studies, The Eye Clinic of Texas recommends that you wear 99 percent and higher UV (ultraviolet radiation)-absorbent sunglasses and a brimmed hat whenever you’re in the sun for long periods of time. Texas EyeWear, the optical shops at The Eye Clinic of Texas, has an extensive selection of fashion eyewear and sunglasses.
Proper sunglasses are critical to protecting your eyes from sun-related damage, and they should be worn anytime you are outdoors, particularly during the summer when the level of ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB) is at least three time higher than during the winter, when you are at the beach or in the water, when you are participating in winter sports, especially at high altitudes where the UV is particularly strong and if you use medications that can cause sensitivity to light.
The best sunglasses offer 100 percent UV absorption, are of the best optical quality and are impact resistant. If you wear contact lenses, they may not protect your eyes from UV light. There are contact lenses available with UV protection. If you do not have contact lenses that absorb UV light, you need to protect your eyes with sunglasses.
“But keep in mind that sunglasses cannot protect your eyes from certain intense light sources such as arc welding, tanning beds/lights, snowfields or gazing directly at the sun, especially during a solar eclipse,” said Dr. Fradkin. These intense lights can severely damage your eyes. Looking at any of these light sources without adequate protection can cause a painful corneal condition called photokeratitis or even damage to the retina, causing a permanent loss of central vision. The Eye Clinic of Texas is happy to recommend the appropriate measures to take to protect your eyes in special situations. If you have questions or need an appointment to learn more about protecting your eyes from UV please call The Eye Clinic of Texas at 800-423-3937.
The Eye Clinic of Texas is a leading eye care practice serving the greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area that provides all aspects of general, medical, surgical, laser and optical eye care services. Our Board Certified Ophthalmologists perform Laser Eye Surgery such as LASIK, Cataract Surgery & Lens Implants using advanced technology IOLs to correct complex problems such as astigmatism and near vision focusing problems including presbyopia, diagnosis and management of glaucoma, diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy, diagnosis and management of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Pediatric Ophthalmology. Texas EyeWear at The Eye Clinic of Texas provides personalized consultation and fitting of eyeglasses and eyeglass lenses for greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area patients.
Persol Sun Glasses and Tom Cruise-
Last night my wife and I went to see the movie, Mission Impossible, staring Tom Cruise. My wife immediately pointed out to me that
Tom was wearing the same Persol sunglasses that I had been wearing for the past two years. I asked her if they looked as good on me as they did on Tom and she very politely laughed.
The movie was fun, not terrible taxing intellectually, but worth seeing. The real take home was that our optical shop, Texas EyeWear, has been carrying very fashionable sunglasses for years. We feature Persol, Maui Jim, Ray Ban, and Costa Del Mar, as well as many designer frames that can be used as prescription sunglasses. The next time you are looking for quality sunglasses, the kind Tom Cruise might wear, check out Texas EyeWear either in League City, Galveston, or our new Texas City offices.
“Houston children’s eye and vision problems have always been a high priority for us at The Eye Clinic of Texas”, stated Allan Fradkin, M.D. “We take a proactive approach toward eye examinations for kidsbecause we watch them grow up in our community and have a really solid understanding of how children’s eye health and vision can impact not only their learning and school work, but also their overall health, self-perception, long term educational attainment, job choices and a number of other social factors,” commented Dr. Fradkin.
In addition to refractive errors such as myopia and astigmatism, ocular disorders that occur in infants, toddlers, and children may present lifelong problems for children. Conditions such as strabismus, amblyopia, and retinopathy of prematurity may require adaptations in adulthood as well. In addition, vision disorders that occur in childhood may manifest as problems well into adulthood. “Taking care of pediatric eye health and vision problems has to be a team effort with input from parents, oversight by the family Pediatrician-and us as Ophthalmologists,” continued Dr. Fradkin. Recent studies on The Impact of Pediatric Vision Disorders in Adulthood published in Pediatrics, the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, goes a long way to further reinforce our goals for children’s vision.
If you or someone you know would like to schedule a children’s eye examination to assess their eye health or vision please feel free to call us at The Eye Clinic of Texas at 800-423-3937.
