LASIK continues to provide a greater degree of freedom from glasses and contact lenses for millions of active people.  Our iLASIK 100% blade-free procedure by Dr. Frantz is tailored to your individual eyes to provide improved safety, better vision, and more precision.

We offer financing plans and encourage you to use your flexible spending account, which allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars for certain medical costs, including iLASIK. If you work for a company that offers flexible spending accounts, talk to your benefits manager about the option to use your savings for your iLASIK procedure in 2010.

Request an Appointment on this website or call us at 239-791-2020 to schedule your complimentary screening, your first step to your new vision.

The American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS), Dr. Jonathan Frantz, and the entire medical community have reiterated opposition to any further short-term “fixes” and are urging the Congress, and in particular the Senate, to permanently repeal the SGR formula. Access to care for millions of patients, especially our nation’s seniors and military families, is at immediate risk because of the flawed Medicare physician payment formula. Physicians are the foundation of the health care delivery system and Congress must enact permanent reform, no more short-term solutions.

Below is a letter that the surgical coalition of ASCRS developed for patients to send to their members of Congress demanding action on this important issue. Feel free to copy and paste it in a letter to your Representative or Senator:

Representative or Senator ______________

_________House/or Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20515(House), 20510 (Senate)

Attn: Health Legislative Assistant

Re:  Medicare Access to Specialty Physicians and Surgeons.

Dear Representative/Senator _______________:

My doctor has always been there to take care of me.  I am worried about my doctor’s ability to continue to accept my Medicare insurance.

Over the past few years, increased pressures on the Medicare program have made it difficult for many doctors to continue to accept Medicare, and I am concerned that my doctors may have to quit the program or limit the number of Medicare patients they see.

On top of that, costs for doctors to provide service to me have continued to rise.  Any expansion of coverage or reform of the health care system that doesn’t first address problems in the existing system is doomed to fail.  Please find a way to replace the flawed formula that determines Medicare reimbursements with one that is fully paid for without borrowing from future Medicare payments or benefits, that is sustainable long-term, and that more closely reflects the actual increased costs of meeting the health needs of  patients like me.

Please make stabilization of Medicare a top priority.   I want to know that my doctor will be there when I need one.  Please keep my doctor in Medicare.  Thank you for taking care of an issue vital to all Americans.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Dr. Feder received her Doctor of Optometry from the New England College of Optometry and performed an Ocular Disease Residency at Boston VA Healthcare System.  She graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in Microbiology & Cell Science.

Among her professional affiliations, Dr. Feder is a member of the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, the Florida Optometric Association and Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society.

Dr. Feder grew up in South Fort Myers and has a two-year-old daughter. Her parents, Vicki and Norman Feder, now live in Naples.  She recently moved back to the area after working as Director of Eye Care Services for the South Boston Community Health Center, in Boston, MA, and Assistant Clinical Professor for the New England College of Optometry.

Dr. Feder will see patients in the Fort Myers and Naples offices of Florida Eye Health.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the main office in Fort Myers at (239) 418-0999 or online.

Dr. Canizales joined the Florida Eye Health medical team, headed by Cataract & LASIK Specialist Dr. Jonathan Frantz, in March 2006 as an optometrist in the Naples office, 2100 Tamiami Trail North.  Born in Madrid, Spain, Dr. Canizales lived in the United States all his life and moved to Southwest Florida from Miami, FL.  He received his Doctor of Optometry from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, and speaks fluent English and Spanish..

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Canizales, call 430-3939 or fill out the appointment request form here.

Dr. Nadia Kazim at The Aesthetic & Cosmetic Center at Florida Eye Health is also offering a Valentine savings of $50 on several cosmetic services through February 28 to help that special lady look as young as she feels. Customized gift certificates are available in every price range for Botox/Dysport, facial fillers, microdermabrasion packages, and Obagi Skin Care Starter Kits. Some restrictions may apply.  Call 418-0999 for more information.

You may also schedule an appointment online here.

Hurry, these offers expire 2.28.10.

“Our company philosophy is to be consistent, honest, open, respectful, objective and fair with all employees,” said Dr. Frantz. “Our annual awards ceremony gives us the opportunity to recognize our employees for longevity, loyalty, and dependability.

The Annual MVP awards are based on the following criteria:

•    Make Their Day – the person who is always doing something special for others

•    Be There – the person who is always focused on the practice’s customers and co-workers, is interactive, truly listens and is always helpful

•    Attitude - the person who consistently chooses to come to work every day with a positive attitude

•    Play – the person who is the most spontaneous and creative, has fun, makes work enjoyable and brings a smile to your face.

All employees, except managers and doctors, are eligible to win the MVP Awards and are voted on by their peers.  Recipients who received the 2009 awards at the December event were Darlene Simmons, Business Staff; Dawn Bowlin and Sally Poulton, Technicians; Cathy Schmude, Optical; Jen Krampen, Insurance, Yida Rosario, Aesthetic & Cosmetic Laser Center; Kim Barselou, Administrative Support; Maidany Vales, Naples office; and Marcy Morrow, Suncoast Surgery Center.

Employees honored for five years of service included Susan Beck and David Hall, and four employees achieved 10-year awards including Cindy Kelberer, Tracie McCurdy, Marcy Morrow, and Beckie Reeves.  Eighteen employees were recognized for perfect attendance for not taking any unscheduled days off.

Florida Eye Health has 85 employees and provides services for its patients in five locations throughout Southwest Florida.

Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve, responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain, is damaged. It may begin with the loss of peripheral vision, advance to a reduction in central vision, and potentially lead to vision loss or blindness.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) gradually reduces your peripheral vision; however, by the time you notice it, permanent damage has already occurred. According to local ophthalmologist Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, Florida Eye Health, “If your IOP remains high, the destruction can progress until tunnel vision develops, and you will only see objects that are straight ahead.”

Angle-closure glaucoma or narrow angle glaucoma produces sudden symptoms such as eye pain, headaches, halos around lights, dilated pupils, vision loss, red eyes, nausea, and vomiting. These signs may last for a few hours, then return again for another round. Each attack reduces your field of vision.

“During routine eye exams, several tests can help us detect glaucoma,” said Dr. Frantz.  “A tonometer measures intraocular pressure. An abnormally high IOP reading indicates a problem with the amount of fluid in the eye. Either the eye is producing too much fluid, or it’s not draining properly,” explained Dr. Frantz.

Visual field testing, which involves staring straight ahead into a machine and clicking a button when you notice a blinking light in your peripheral vision, monitors whether blind spots are developing in your range of vision, resulting from glaucoma damage to the optic nerve.

“When we suspect glaucoma, we use a GDx Access Nerve Fiber Analyzer, which uses a low-level laser to scan the retinal nerve fiber layer, the part of the eye damaged by glaucoma, allowing us to make an early diagnosis,” said Dr. Frantz. The optical coherence tomography (OCT) also establishes a baseline and makes sure no obvious changes have occurred over a period of time, which might indicate progressive glaucoma damage.

Most cases of glaucoma can be controlled with one or more drugs; however, some people may require surgery to reduce their IOP to a safe level. Occasionally, surgery can eliminate the need for glaucoma eye drops. All glaucoma procedures are designed to accomplish one of two basic results: decrease production of intraocular fluid or increase outflow of this same fluid. Occasionally, a procedure will accomplish both.

According to Dr. Frantz African-Americans over 40, Hispanics, people with a family history of glaucoma, individuals over 60, people with other health conditions such as diabetes, and those who have experienced a serious eye injury, are considered at risk.  If you fall into one or more of these categories, talk with your eye doctor about how often an examination should be conducted to ensure good vision. Although glaucoma cannot be cured, early detection and treatment can usually preserve vision.

LASIK continues to provide a greater degree of freedom from glasses and contact lenses for millions of active people just like you.  Our iLASIK 100% blade-free procedure by Dr. Jonathan Frantz is tailored to your individual eyes to provide improved safety, better vision, and more precision.

At The Center for Laser Vision Correction at Florida Eye Health we strive to make vision correction affordable for every patient.  Now through December 31, 2009 we would like to help make your dream of having iLASIK come true with a $500 holiday savings.

We also offer 0% financing plans and encourage you to use your flexible spending accounts, which allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for certain medical costs, including iLASIK. If you work for a company that offers flexible spending accounts, talk to your benefits manager about the option to use your savings for your iLASIK procedure in 2010.

Also, if you’re looking for a unique holiday gift to help that special someone look as young as they feel, our Aesthetic & Cosmetic Laser Center is offering customized Holiday Gift Certificates in every price range for many of the non-surgical procedures or services.  These services, performed by either Dr. Nadia Kazim, eyelid and facial cosmetic surgeon, or Eva Maloney, esthetician and certified medical electrologist, include Botox/Dysport, facial fillers, microdermabrasions, facials, and the Obagi Skin Care System.

So, whether you want to buy a cosmetic gift certificate for someone or for yourself, or you’re ready to take the first step to your new vision with iLASIK (and take advantage of the $500 holiday savings), call us at 239-791-2020 or click here to schedule your complimentary LASIK screening online.

Happy Holidays from the entire staff at Florida Eye Health!

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the Washington DC based USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

Suncoast Surgery Center opened in June 2000 as one of Florida Eye Health’s Centers of Excellence to provide patients with a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center committed to the highest standards in quality, performance and care.  It is fully accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAAHC), the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation and recognized as a symbol of quality by third party payers, medical organizations, state and federal agencies and the public.  Suncoast Surgery Center is conveniently located on-site at the Florida Eye Health Fort Myers office complex at 12731 New Brittany Blvd.  Among the eye surgeries that Dr. Frantz performs at Suncoast Surgery Center are no injection, no patch cataract removal, CustomLens implants, YAG lasers, and glaucoma surgery.  Dr. Nadia Kazim, Director of Oculoplastic Surgery at the Aesthetic & Cosmetic Laser Center at Florida Eye Health, also uses the surgery center to perform eyelid and facial cosmetic surgeries.