LASIK, or laser in-situ keratomileusis, corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism. What’s different about iLASIK is that it utilizes IntraLase, where a beam of laser light is used to create the corneal flap, the critical first step in the iLASIK procedure.  iLASIK is 100 percent tailor-made for the patient, their vision and the unique characteristics of their eyes.

Make your appointment for your free LASIK screening online or call The Center for Laser Vision Correction at Florida Eye Health at 239-791-2020.

Glaucoma Specialist Marc G. Bodman, MD

Local Cataract and LASIK Surgeon Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, has announced that Marc G. Bodman, MD, an Ophthalmologist and Glaucoma Specialist, has joined the medical team at Florida Eye Health.

Although Dr. Bodman specializes primarily in the treatment of glaucoma, he will also see patients for general ophthalmology. Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve, responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain, is damaged. Although the nerve damage is usually associated with elevated pressure inside the eye, other factors can be involved. It may begin with the loss of peripheral vision and then advance to a reduction in central vision. Glaucoma can potentially lead to vision loss or blindness. Vision loss from glaucoma can be prevented if it’s detected and treated in time.

“We are very fortunate to have Dr. Bodman join our medical team at Florida Eye Health,” said Dr. Frantz.  “I think our patients who are at risk for or have been diagnosed with glaucoma will truly appreciate being able to receive specialized treatment at our practice.”

It is estimated that over four million Americans have glaucoma but only half of those know they have it. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world; however, it is the leading cause of blindness among African-Americans. In fact, glaucoma is six to eight times more common in African-Americans than Caucasians. Other high-risk groups include: Hispanics, people with a family history of glaucoma, individuals over 60, and those who have experienced a serious eye injury.

Dr. Bodman performed his glaucoma fellowships at Louisiana State University Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, and the Universite de Montreal, Canada. He also did a fellowship at Yale University, New Haven, CT, where he also served as a clinical instructor. He did his ophthalmology residency at LSU’s Ochsner Clinic and at the Lions Eye Institute, Albany, NY.  He was a glaucoma research fellow at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, and received his Doctor of Medicine from Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada. He graduated with honors from the University of California, San Diego, with a BS in biology.  Dr. Bodman has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors and has been involved in several research projects and has authored articles in numerous professional publications.

Among his professional memberships are the American Glaucoma Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Bodman will see patients in all of the offices of Florida Eye Health with locations in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Lehigh Acres and Naples.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the main office in Fort Myers at 239-418-0999.

the condition as a normal part of aging that is simply to be accepted not knowing there are management options beyond reading glasses. They do not understand how the aging of the lens affects their vision nor are they aware of the surgical or intraocular lens options for managing the condition.

The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Foundation undertook a project with Interbrand Health to develop an adjunct term and suggested text for educating patients about presbyopia. The selected term is Age-Related Focus Dysfunction. They wanted to develop a term such that: 1) people, particularly presbyopes, upon hearing it would be able to understand it and intuit its applicability to their own condition; and 2) it had to “medicalize” the condition with the attendant suggestion that presbyopia could be managed or treated medically.

According to local Cataract and LASIK Specialist Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, medical director of Florida Eye Health, age-related focus dysfunction, or presbyopia, is the inability to focus on nearby objects as a result of the maturation of the eye. “This condition begins to develop as people age, usually 40 years and older,” explained Dr. Frantz. “Unfortunately, it is also progressive and gets worse with time.”

In the young eye, the lens is flexible and is easily bent or flattened by the ciliary muscles. This bending and flattening is performed in order to achieve correct focus. With age, a physiological change makes the lens become stiff and more difficult to bend. The ciliary muscles have trouble moving the lens into the appropriate position to focus on nearby objects. As a result, the patient experiences blurred short-range vision.

Age-related focus dysfunction leads to difficulty with near vision tasks such as reading and close work. Patients are constrained in their routine activities and may also experience headaches or eyestrain from prolonged periods of near-range focusing. Life can be difficult and frustrating without treatment (such as lens replacement surgery, reading glasses, etc.)

“We see a lot of patients at Florida Eye Health who are over age 40 and thus experiencing age-related focus dysfunction,” said Dr. Frantz. “Normally, both your eyes work together equally when you look at an object, to produce what’s called binocular vision.  However, for years eye care professionals have dealt with age-related focus dysfunction, by producing monovision with contact lenses. We fit one eye for distance vision (typically the dominant eye) and one for near vision,” explained Dr. Frantz.  “After a period of time, the brain adjusts to the difference in perception between the two eyes,” he added.

“Many of our patients over 40 who have had great success with monovision with contact lenses choose to have LASIK laser vision correction to treat their nearsightedness while reducing their dependence on reading glasses,” said Dr. Frantz. “Of course, if someone has cataracts, they have the option of choosing CustomLens multifocal or accommodating lens implants when they have cataract surgery to restore their ability to see at all distances,” he added.

Whatever choices patients make, they must recognize that all age-related focus dysfunction solutions involve some degree of compromise. No currently available corrective lenses or surgical techniques can completely restore the dynamic focusing flexibility their eyes had before age-related focus dysfunction.  Being adaptable is the key — and understanding that multiple solutions exist for all over- 40 vision needs.

Dr. Frantz and his medical team offer a broad spectrum of eye care from eye exams and eyewear to cataract removal, glaucoma care, state of the art laser vision correction, and eyelid surgery.  Florida Eye Health has five office locations throughout Southwest Florida including Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Lehigh Acres and Naples.  For more information, call the main office of Florida Eye Health at (239) 418-0999.

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A state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center, Suncoast Surgery Center opened in 2000 as one of Florida Eye Health’s Centers of Excellence. It is fully licensed by both the State of Florida and the Agency for Health Care Administration (Medicare).

Suncoast Surgery Center was surveyed in July of this year by AAAHC, the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation with nearly 5,000 organizations accredited nationwide.  In a letter to Dr. Frantz, AAAHC’s Accreditation Committee stated: “The dedication and effort necessary for an organization to be accredited is substantial and the compliance with those standards implies a commitment to continual self-evaluation and continuous improvement. Your organization is to be commended for this accomplishment.”

“Everyone in our organization played a vital role in helping Suncoast Surgery Center meet the AAAHC standards,” explained Dr. Frantz.  “Our team of experienced surgeons, registered nurses, anesthesiologists, and support staff have been extremely supportive of this process,” he added. “We are proud to have met the challenge of accreditation; it challenges us to find the best ways to serve our patients, and it is a constant reminder that our responsibility is to our patients and the quality of care we provide.”

This past June, Suncoast Surgery Center was selected, for the second consecutive year, for the 2010 Best of Fort Myers Award in the Ambulatory Surgery Center category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA). Nationwide, only 1 in 70 (1.4%) 2010 Award recipients qualified as two-time Award Winners.

Among the surgeries performed at Suncoast Surgery Center are microincisional cataract removal, CustomLens implants, YAG lasers, glaucoma surgery, eyelid surgery and facial cosmetic procedures. Suncoast Surgery Center is located adjacent to Florida Eye Health’s main office at 12731 New Brittany Blvd., Fort Myers. Florida Eye Health also has offices in Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Lehigh Acres, and Naples.

To recognize Cataract Awareness Month in August, local Cataract and LASIK Specialist Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, and ophthalmologists across the country want to debunk the myths about cataracts and remind people they don’t have to live with vision loss from cataracts.

A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s normally clear lens, blocking the passage of light needed for vision. They form slowly and cause no pain. Some stay small and hardly affect vision, but if the cataract does grow and begin to affect your vision, it can usually be removed with surgery.

“Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide; however, in most cases, vision loss from cataracts is reversible,” said Dr. Frantz.  “New techniques developed over the past decade have made cataract surgery one of the safest and most successful procedures available in terms of restoring quality of life to patients.” Each year there are more than 1.6 million of these delicate eye surgeries performed in the United States.

“There are no drugs or exercises that will make a cataract disappear, and contrary to popular belief, cataracts are not removed using lasers. Lasers are used in follow-up procedures, if needed. Cataract surgery is most often done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia,” says Dr. Frantz. “The cloudy natural lens can be replaced with an artificial lens to give the eye proper focusing power. In most cases, the improvement in the patient’s vision is profound.

” So how do you know if you have a cataract? Dr. Frantz explains: “Some people notice a gradual painless blurring of vision, double vision in one eye or fading or yellowing of colors. When older patients mention sensitivity to glare and/or bright light or trouble driving at night, this may be caused by cataracts. Or, if a patient needs frequent changes to his or her glasses or contact lens prescriptions, I’ll evaluate him or her for a cataract.”

Dr. Frantz wants to dispel the notion that a cataract has to be “ripe” before it’s removed. “That’s just not true. The best time to have a cataract removed is when it starts to interfere with the things you like to do.”

“Cataract surgery, although quite safe, is still surgery. If cataracts don’t affect your quality of life, you may feel that surgery is not needed. The only person who can really decide when it’s time to have them removed is you, under the care of your doctor.”

Dr. Frantz and his medical team offer patient-focused comprehensive eye care services at five office locations including Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Lehigh Acres and Naples.  Call the main office at (239) 418-0999 or schedule your appointment now online.

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LASIK, or laser in-situ keratomileusis, corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism. What’s different about iLASIK is that it utilizes IntraLase, where a beam of laser light is used to create the corneal flap, the critical first step in the iLASIK procedure.  iLASIK is 100 percent tailor-made for the patient, their vision and the unique characteristics of their eyes.

Make your appointment for your free LASIK screening online or call The Center for Laser Vision Correction at Florida Eye Health at 239-791-2020.  This special offer expires 8.31.10.

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July is UV Safety Month, and local ophthalmologist Dr. Jonathan Frantz, medical director of Florida Eye Health, is joining doctors across the nation in urging Americans to protect their skin and eyes. “During the summer months the level of ultraviolet radiation is three times greater than in the winter,” said Dr. Frantz.

Suntans and sunburns are marks of skin injury. They permanently damage your skin. In addition, the damage is additive. The more sunburns that you get as a child, the greater your risk of getting skin cancer as an adult.

The Obagi Nu-Derm Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35, which is available through the Aesthetic & Cosmetic Laser Center at Florida Eye Health, delivers the most effective broad-spectrum protection available and is the best defense against both UVB and deep tissue-damaging UVA rays.  “Ideal for everyday use, it’s the only sunscreen formulated to work synergistically with the Obagi Nu-Derm Skin Health Restoration System, a proven regimen that works deep within the cell layers of the epidermis and dermis, fighting back against aging and sun exposure,” said Eva Maloney, an esthetician at Florida Eye Health. She said the results are restored color balance, smoothness and elasticity.

“Recent studies have shown that prolonged exposure to the sun’s invisible, high energy ultraviolet rays without protection may also cause eye conditions that can lead to vision loss, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration,” said Dr. Frantz.

Sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat are the best defense system for your eyes against sunlight and harmful UV rays. But what type of sunglasses should you buy? “The most important thing is to purchase sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays,” said Dr. Frantz. “Don’t be misled by the color of the lens or the price tag dangling from the frame.”

The ability to block UV light is not dependent on the darkness of the lens. UV protection can come from adding chemicals to the lens material during manufacturing or from a chemical coating applied to the lens surface.

In addition to the damage caused by repeated sun exposure overtime, you need to protect your eyes from acute damage caused by a single day in the sun. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light reflected off sand or pavement can burn the eye’s surface. Similar to sunburns, eye surface burns usually disappear within a couple of days, but may lead to further complications later in life.

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the 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.

Nationwide, only 1 in 70 (1.4%) 2010 Award recipients qualified as two-time Award Winners. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2010 USCA Award Program focuses 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.  Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. Stephen Laquis, with the Aesthetic & Cosmetic Laser Center at Florida Eye Health, also performs eyelid and facial cosmetic surgeries at the surgery center.

For more information about Suncoast Surgery Center or Florida Eye Health, call the main office at 239-418-0999.

The only treatment for cataracts is to remove the clouded natural crystalline lens (cataract) and replace it with a lens implant to restore lost vision. At Florida Eye Health, our goal is to provide the right cataract treatment for each of our patient’s individual lifestyle and eye health. Our patients now have several options when selecting an intraocular lens implant (IOL) for their visual outcome following cataract surgery, including:

1.  CustomLens Multifocal Implants: With these new technology lens implants, cataract treatment has moved beyond simply restoring vision loss.  Today patients have lens implant options that can provide the vision to read a book, drive a car, and play golf or tennis with increased freedom from glasses. Among the CustomLens IOLs used most often at Florida Eye Health are ReSTOR and Crystalens.

2. Conventional Monofocal Lens Implant: If choosing a monofocal (single vision) lens implant, both eyes can be corrected for distance vision and you will need to wear reading glasses for near vision or have both eyes corrected for near vision and wear prescription glasses or contact lenses for distance vision. A third option is monovision for people over 40 who want to reduce their need for reading glasses. With monovision, your dominant eye is corrected for distance vision, while your non-dominant eye is corrected for near vision. With monovision, you may not need reading or distance glasses.

3. Monofocal Toric IOL: If you have astigmatism, a Toric IOL makes it possible to treat the cataract and correct the corneal astigmatism at the same time. If you have both a cataract and a corneal astigmatism, you will not regain high-quality distance vision after surgery to remove the cataract unless the astigmatism is also corrected. The unique design of this lens provides significantly improved distance vision and may reduce the need for corrective lenses.

Medicare and most private insurances cover cataract surgery. However, if choosing a CustomLens implant, you are responsible for payment of that portion of the charge for the premium lens and associated services that exceed the charge for a conventional monofocal lens.

If using vision plan insurances or paying by a method other than a credit card, the patient must contact the office location of their last visit directly. If ordering online patients are required to pay using a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover card. They will receive an invoice with their shipment, which they may submit to their insurance company.

The online web store is available for the convenience of Florida Eye Health patients only. If you would like to become a patient of Florida Eye Health, you may complete the online appointment request form or call the main office at 239.418.0999.