VI S I O N

B E T T E R
Ophthalmology Associates of Aberdeen

CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE THINGS

up on my nose. For months after Dr. John Bormes performed LASIK surgery and he no longer wore glasses, Merkel recalls, I was still pushing them up. That was in 2007. Now even those phantom
310 EIGHTH AVENUE NW ABERDEEN, SD 57401 605 226-2108 1-800-255-7448

Old habits can die hard, according to Danny Merkel, 26, of Mobridge. Having worn glasses since middle school, he says, I was always pushing them back

specs are gone. A former offensive lineman for Northern State University, Merkel had tried contact lenses, but they were more bother than help. Theyd move all around [in my eyes]. Before Id get out on the field Id often throw them away, they bothered me that much. And while he says that poor vision didnt affect his game all that much I played offensive line, so the guy I was going to hit would run Sara and Aaron Johnson

SPRING 2009
CURT WISCHMEIER, M.D. JOHN BORMES, M.D.

OPHTHALMOLOGY ASSOCIATES IS NOW OFFERING THE LATEST ADVANCE IN LASIK TECHNOLOGY: THE INTRALASE METHOD

into me. there was a downside. My roommate played defense, Merkel says, and I never really got to see him play. Now I play softball," he says, adding with a laugh, "and its so much nicer to see whats going on! Dannys brother Sam Merkel, 22, agrees. A student at Northern, Sam had LASIK in July 2008. This is the

first time Ive ever actually been able to play a sport and see what was going on. He adds, Its been a whole new world to me. As a running back at Northern, he tried three types of contacts, but comfort was always an issue. I could see better, but I always felt like there was sand in my eyes. Sam Merkel

Following his older brother, father, and uncle, Sam asked Dr. Bormes to do the surgery two years ago, But you have to be 21, Sam says, to make sure that vision is stable. The average age of a LASIK patient is 40, which puts Aaron Johnson near the mid-point. Now 37, he farms in the Bristol/Holmquist area. Like the Merkels, he opted for the surgery because of problems with contacts. In a word, dust especially during harvest. And Johnson, too, was following the example of a family member, his wife, Sara, 25. Dr. Curt Wischmeier performed the surgery for Aaron in January 2009, after Saras excellent results a year earlier in August. Prompted by problems with contacts that seemed to bring on eye infections, she says, I tried to switch them around and find a pair that fit right, with no luck. And now? She echoes Aarons enthusiastic endorsement: LASIK is awesome!

LASIK MAY BE FOR YOU IF . . .

You are 21 or older. Your vision has been stable (no change in glasses or contact lens prescription) for at least two years. You dont have a disease vision-related or otherwise that could affect your ability to heal. You are not pregnant or nursing.

THE BASICS OF LASIK

Good vision depends on the ability of the cornea and lens to bend (refract) light rays to focus on the retina at the back of the eye. Refractive errors (blurred vision) occur when

light rays dont focus on the retina. Refractive errors include farsightedness (hyperopia), nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism, which means vision is distorted both up close and at a distance.

All three conditions can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses that focus light rays on the retina. Remove eyewear or contacts, though, and the world slips out of focus. With LASIK, a trained physician changes the shape of the cornea (the clear covering at the front of the eye) to permanently correct vision. A tiny flap of the cornea is lifted to permit laser modification of the surface beneath. Put back into place, the corneal flap heals quickly without sutures. Describing the actual procedure as easy, Danny Merkel says it took less than a minute. An hour or so later, like all LASIK patients, even those who live minutes away, Danny got a ride home to Mobridge with a family member. Brother Sam concurs with Dannys assessment of the ease of the procedure, You dont feel anything at all. Despite enthusiastic endorsements from patients, Drs. Wischmeier and Bormes caution that LASIK isnt right for everyone. And while risks are infrequent, they include the possibility of over- or under-correction, visual abnormalities and the eventual need for glasses or contact lenses as part of the aging process. In addition, dry eye symptoms, which are common immediately after surgery, occasionally persist or get worse. My eyes were a little dry afterwards, Aaron Johnson says, but it was just amazing. I could see right away. Both eyes at the same time!

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING LASIK

First, have a complete vision screening with an ophthalmologist to discuss potential benefits, risks and complications. Talk with friends and acquaintances who have had any type of LASIK surgery. Ask them: Who performed your procedure? Were you satisfied with the care you received? How is your vision now? How much did the procedure cost?

NEW INTRALASE TECHNOLOGY

Ophthalmology Associates of Aberdeen is now offering a new LASIK technology, the Intralase Method. It uses a special laser instead of a blade to create the hinged flap of

the cornea. A benefit of the Intralase Method is that it is associated with

significantly fewer complications from LASIK surgery and it also lessens the chance of eye infection. In addition, patients with thin corneas who were once ineligible for LASIK may now be able to have the surgery, along with those who have had previous corneal surgery. Recovery is similar to that of traditional LASIK. While the Intralase Method may be the best choice for some, everyones eyes are different. Only you, in consultation with your surgeon, can decide what is right for you and your eyes. If youre considering LASIK with the Intralase Method, the wisest first step is to consult with your eye-care professional. Danny Merkel

PROTECT YOUR VISION

Ophthalmology Associates With offices in Aberdeen, Britton, Eureka, Faulkton, Gettysburg, Huron, Milbank, Miller, Mobridge, Redfield, Webster; in North Dakota at Bismarck, Ellendale and Oakes; in Minnesota at Graceville, Ortonville and Wheaton.

WHO NEEDS SUNGLASSES?

From old to young, everyone needs protective eyewear even youngsters. Its estimated that 80 percent of lifetime exposure to

the sun takes place before age 18. Sunglasses protect the eyes and the area around them. Choose glasses with a UVA or UVB level of 90 to 100 percent.

ARTIFICIAL TEARS

Artificial tears can soothe irritation and discomfort that occur with dry eyes. But preservatives in many types can increase irritation

and redness. So when shopping, look for preservative-free artificial tears.

REGULAR EYE EXAMINATIONS

See your eye doctor every two or three years until age 40. After that, schedule an annual eye health examination to check for vision

changes and screen for eye disease. Diabetes, high blood pressure and atherosclerosis are serious health problems that can often be detected with an eye exam. And see an eye doctor immediately if you experience loss of vision, fluctuating vision, soreness or inflammation in one or both eyes.
Copyright 2009 by Curt Wischmeier, M.D. and John Bormes, M.D.
No portion of these printed materials may be reproduced for any purpose without written permission.