PRESS RELEASE-
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Lasik Patients Satisfied Despite Concerns |
Press Release |
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FDA hears surprising data on Lasik patient quality of life.
WASHINGTON, DC- April 25, 2008 - More than 99% of patients report their quality of life after laser vision correction surgery is as they had expected or better, even though 2% report complications that are frequently or always problematic, according to a national patient survey conducted by the nonprofit Council or Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (USAEyes, http://www.USAEyes.org). Preliminary results of the USAEyes Competence Opinion Relative to Expectation (CORE) patient survey are being presented to the US Food and Drug Administration during a special hearing today.
"The USAEyes CORE survey is designed to determine if patients are getting what they expect from Lasik and similar eye surgery," says Glenn Hagele, Executive Director of the nonprofit patient advocacy that conducted the study. "Relevant questions ask if the patient's results were 'as expected', or degrees of 'better than expected' or 'worse than expected'." The survey is used to screen Lasik doctors for certification by USAEyes.
The survey was mailed to 1,800 vision correction surgery patients of six doctors throughout the US, with a 31% response rate.
"It is not surprising that the vast majority of Lasik patients are satisfied with their results, but what was unexpected was that many would have the surgery again despite reporting complications," reports Hagele.
Of those who reported complications that were "seldom problematic", 91% would have the surgery again. A surprising 22% of patients who reported complications that were "frequently" or "always" problematic would have the surgery again, according to patients who responded to the survey. "Clearly some patients find the convenience of a reduced need for glasses and contacts worth occasional problems," says Hagele.
Additional results of the USAEyes CORE patient survey:
- 99% report quality of life as expected, better, or much better after vision correction surgery
- 98% state day vision as expected, better, or much better
- 98% report no complications or complications that are seldom problematic
- 98% would recommend surgery to family and friends.
- 97% would have surgery again, knowing what they know now
- 96% wear corrective lenses as often as expected, less than expected, or much less than expected
- 96% report postop vision without lenses as expected, better, or much better than expected when compared to preop vision with lenses
- 96% report overall quality of vision as expected, better, or much better than expected
- 91% report no complications at any time
- 91% state night vision as expected, better, or much better than expected
- 7% report complications seldom problematic, however 91% of these same patients would have surgery again
- 2% report complications frequent or always problematic, however 22% of these same patients would have surgery again
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About the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance
The Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (USAEyes) is a nonprofit nongovernmental patient advocacy organization that evaluates and certifies refractive surgeons.
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March 27, 2008
ATLANTA – In just 100 minutes on April 9, the lives of 100 deserving people in cities and towns across the country will be changed forever as their failing eyesight goes from murky to crystal clarity at all distances with crystalens® cataract-lens implants ... free of charge.
Dr. J. Trevor Woodhams, founder of Woodhams Eye Clinic in Atlanta, will be among a select group of ophthalmologists nationwide to participate in this unique program – Changing 100 Lives in 100 Minutes – which not only will dramatically improve patients’ eyesight, but also will mean many of them may never need eyeglasses again.
Bausch & Lomb, which manufactures the innovative crystalens intraocular lens for cataracts, will donate 100 pairs of these lenses to cataract patients not covered by private insurance or Medicare. Then, from coast to coast, 100 participating ophthalmologists ... including Woodhams ... will perform pro bono implantation surgeries simultaneously during the next hour and 40 minutes.
This national effort will begin promptly at 7:30 a.m. Eastern daylight time with the implantation of the 100,000th crystalens, which uses eye muscles to focus in much the same way as the eye’s natural lens.Moreover, while other intraocular lenses are limited to correcting vision at far distances, only crystalens provides clear vision at all distances ... near, intermediate and far.
The 100,000th crystalens surgery will be performed by Dr. James P. Gills, founder of St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute in Tarpon Springs, Fla.
Graduated from the University of Kansas and University of Kansas Medical School, Woodhams completed his residency in ophthalmology at Emory University in Atlanta. In 1983, Woodhams founded Woodhams Eye Clinic which is dedicated to refractive surgery.
On April 26, 2008 Dr. Woodhams will be featured in a nationally produced television special "Modern Healing" which will air on WXIA Channel 11, at 7:00pm. During the segment he will discuss the procedure provided in the "Changing 100 Lives in 100 Minutes" promotion.
March 4, 2008 NBC TODAY Show features actual ICL Surgery Click link to view
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23463382#23463382
1-15-2008 Clinical Study on Post Op Drops
Artificial tears are routinely prescribed after LASIK surgery and Woodhams Eye Clinic is participating in a Clinical Research study on the safety, acceptability and effectiveness of 2 different eye drops post-LASIK. Both drops are currently available over the counter at most pharmacy locations. If you are at least 18 years of age, are ready and able to have LASIK surgery, and are not pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant within the next 6-8 months, you may be eligible to participate in this study. Qualified patients who complete the study will be compensated up to $1050 for completing the study. Please call 770-394-4000 for details.
AMO's Advanced CustomVue(TM) LASIK with the IntraLase® Method Proves Ready for the Rigors of Space Travel
SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept. 21, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. (AMO) (NYSE: EYE), a global leader in ophthalmic surgical devices and eye care products, today announced that the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) has approved the company's LASIK technologies for use on U.S. astronauts. The NASA decision was made following review of extensive military clinical data using AMO's Advanced CustomVue(TM) LASIK with the IntraLase® Method, which showed the combination of technologies provides superior safety and vision. Woodhams is the most experienced Intralasik practice in GA.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=131956&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1054143&highlight=
Recently Woodhams Laser and Lens Implant Center, LLC (permit #060- 240) was certified by the state of Georgia. This means that all procedures are performed in our ambulatory surgical treatment center which meets all the requirements of state licensure.
Dr. J. Trevor Woodhams has been selected to participate in a FDA-approved study for an investigational lens called the Phakic Refractive Lens, or PRL™. The PRL lens, not yet available to the public, may offer better treatment than LASIK...
UPDATE.........Implantable Contact Lenses APPROVED BY FDA January 2006. WOODHAME EYE CLINIC has performed MORE PROCEDURES than anyone in the COUNTRY. Call today to see if you might be a candidate for this remarkable procedure. 770-394-4000
Outcomes Analysis for Myopic Results, Year 2001 Finalized
Woodhams Eye Clinic spends considerable money, effort and time in formal, statistical outcomes analysis this allows us to continually update the computer program used to program each new LASIK treatment. These final results are defined as 3-month visual acuities since primary surgery (or most recent enhancement if necessary). Final results for 2006 show 99+% of patients no longer wear glasses or contacts full time.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT...
Woodhams Laser and Lens Implant Center was first and is the most experienced, all-laser vision correction center in Atlanta.
INTRALASE ® FS Laser and IntraLASIK ® Software replace blade in Corneal Flap creation; eliminate many LASIK surgery complications
Woodhams Laser and Lens Implant Center introduced the next-generation of LASIK to Atlanta. Currently the most experienced provider of the "all-laser" approach in Atlanta, Dr. J. Trevor Woodhams, M.D., explained, "Lasik vision correction surgery is a two-step process - first, a thin flap of the eye's corneal tissue is created and folded back before a laser reshapes the interior of the cornea. In traditional LASIK, the corneal flap is created with a mechanical, hand-held device, which utilizes a metal blade to slice the top layer of the cornea. This step is frequently seen as a source of complications. In the all-laser approach, the INTRALASE FS (femtosecond) Laser and accompanying IntraLASIK software, create a smoother edge with a safer and more reliable degree of accuracy, and a precise refitting of the flap after the reshaping treatment is completed."
PATIENT BENEFITS: The precision of the all-laser vision correction surgery virtually eliminates many of the complications associated with the traditional approach.
- custom-tailored, precise corneal flap creation, especially important for patients with thin or misshapen corneas.
- safer intra-operative procedure.
- relief from worry about surgical complications.
NOTES:
- The all-laser approach with IntraLASIK software is FDA-cleared.
- Lengthy experience demonstrates this improvement over the traditional LASIK procedure: no complications reported with the bladeless IntraLASIK approach.
Please visit www.intralasik.com for visuals.
For more information, call 770 394 4000.
Woodhams Laser and Lens Implant Center offers WaveFront technology
WaveFront analysis is the newest technology we offer in the diagnosis and measurement of visual dysfunction. It offers us the ability to "map" even subtle errors in the eye's focusing system. Often, these are not detectable with the traditional "Which is better- # 1 or # 2?" type of visual measurement. Woodhams Eye Clinic was the first clinic in Georgia to implement WaveFront (part of the WavePrint™ system), and is the most experienced in its use.
Below you see a typical PSF (Point Spread Function) in visual format. The left image represents how a point-source of light (the headlight of a car for example) would look to you if your visual system were distorted by an optical abberation called "coma." The left "smear" of light is not detectable by traditional refraction methods. Yet the tail of light is consistently seen by this patient's eye.
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