iLASIK and Refractive Multifocal Cataract Surgery

Showtime with Pam!

Screen Shot 2017-09-19 at 4.34.56 AM
Live Facebook ,  (tap here), is quickly becoming our newest path of communication for the Pacific Northwest community.  Pam Miller, Refractive Consultant, connects with our staff and patients for a glimpse of what goes on in the background of The Harman Eye Clinic, in Arlington WA, before visiting our center.

Join us!  Get notifications of upcoming Live Talks with Pam by “liking” us at The Harman Eye Clinic Facebook page  Patients tell us these are the best eye surgeons in the Pacific Northwest for  iLASIK, Cataract surgery, and Lifestyle Lens Implants with cataract surgery!

Screen Shot 2017-09-06 at 1.23.00 PM.png

Solar Eclipse. Eye Safety First!

IMG_1322

The Next Total Solar Eclipse: Aug. 21, 2017 across North America

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has provided a list of vision safety precautions for next month’s solar event.  You can access this article here.

The AAO provides a wealth of Eye and Eye care information on a dedicated website for our patients, Eyesmart

 

_______________

Common Complaint 20 Years After LASIK

Many of our first LASIK patients from all walks of life were in their 20’s, 30’s or 40’s in 1996 when we first offered LASIK.

All walks of life

Now, some 20 years later, patients are returning with stories of sailing around the world, running marathons, taking on new career opportunities and/or raising families who now have children of their own and hoping for LASIK.

One common complaint prevalent to almost all of these patients is this:  their arms are too short!  They complain that they no longer can read without reading glasses and this is really annoying!Business Woman

Fortunately we are able to assist our grown-up LASIK patients with new solutions of a refractive lens exchange, better known as an RLE.

RLE takes care of three birds with one stone.  First, it takes care of the need for reading glasses.  Second, it takes care of fine tuning vision for distance, intermediate and near.  Third, it takes care of the need for cataract surgery in the future.

One of the most popular lifestyle premium lens implants is the Tecnis Symfony.  A popular video helps describe this important breakthrough.

Whether you are ready to move into the grown-up lifestyle premium refractive lens implants or help your children toward sight without glasses through LASIK, we are here to help!  For more information, call our Refractive Consultant at 360-474-2561 or visit http://www.20Better.com.  We look forward to seeing you again.

 

 

 

Patients are pleased with Symfony Lens

 

For those suffering from presbyopia and cataracts, there is a new IOL on the market called the Tecnis Symfony. The Symfony is the first of its kind that’s able to treat both cataracts and presbyopia, while improving a full range of vision. Unlike most intraocular lenses, the Symfony IOL exhibits low instance of the effects of halos and glare around lights. Instead, patients are left with clear, crisp vision. Even if a patient has cataracts, they get the full range of their vision back: intermediate, distant and near vision. The Symfony IOL allows for a higher quality of life and a lessened dependence on reading glasses.

How Does The Tecnis Symfony IOL Work?

The Symfony IOL is ideal for patients who are already candidates for receiving cataract surgery. During cataract surgery, the Symfony IOL is implanted in the eye. The Symfony IOL is used to replace the cataract affected lens in the eye, leaving in its path clearer vision. The Symfony IOL doesn’t affect the way that cataract surgery is performed. Instead, it only changes the way that you see after. Most patients are able to see more clearly almost immediately after surgery, and full results are achieved thereafter.

Why Should You Choose The Tecnis Symfony?

A big advantage of the Symfony IOL is most patients who receive it find that they no longer need their reading glasses to see things. Standard lenses used during cataract surgery will not change the need for glasses, and in many cases do not correct presbyopia. Another advantage over standard lenses is not having to worry about pesky halos and glare surrounding lights. The Symfony IOL improves vision for patients at all distances, which standard lenses cannot do.

How Do I Get The Tecnis Symfony?

Since the Symfony IOL lens is new technology to the United States, it can be difficult to find practices at which it is offered. Not to worry, because The Harman Eye Clinic is now offering the brand new Symfony presbyopia-correcting IOL. Contact us for more information about cataract surgery consultations.

The Symfony IOL is a revolutionary new lens, but not everyone is a good candidate for receiving this new technology. It’s important to talk to your doctor to see if cataract surgery is the best solution for you. For those that suffer from both cataracts and presbyopia, the Tecnis Symfony IOL lens could be the answer to regaining clear vision. To learn more about the Symfony, please schedule a consultation with one of our talented cataract surgeons.

The Harman Eye Clinic

903 Medical Center Drive, Arlington WA 98223

360-474-2561  360-435-8595  FAX 360-435-5233

http://www.20Better.com

Bring back the joy of childhood!

beachcombing

Wouldn’t it be great if you could go through the day without thinking about glasses or contact lenses to navigate?  Millions of people have discovered the freedom that comes from becoming functionally free.

Think about it.  Vision is the deciding factor for confidence, mobility, enjoyment, and on, and on, and on.  With vision, you can cook your dinner, drive your car, play tennis, swim, write a novel, play with your children, run in a race, smile at your spouse, take great selfies, read, dance, walk your dog.  It is true, you can do all these things with glasses and contacts.  And, if you are not sighted, you have learned how to get around the need for vision.  But you will agree, vision is a most wonderful sense.

Since 1995, we have been able to provide LASIK surgery to many people of the Pacific Northwest.  They have experienced a sort of rebirth experience.  Freedom from depending on glasses or contacts is invigorating, like the first day you drove with your new driving license.  It is worth looking into.

For more information, call our refractive consultant at 360-474-2561 or schedule an appointment.

 

The Harman Eye Clinic

903 Medical Center Drive, Arlington WA 98223

360-474-2561  360-435-8595  FAX 360-435-5233

http://www.20Better.com

 

Great vision provides freedom to play!

swimming-ilasik-001I have spent a lot of time lately in the swimming pool at the new Stanwood/Camano YMCA.  It is a great place and we are so lucky to have it in our area.  Having worked at The Harman Eye Clinic for over 27 years, I can’t help notice people with glasses who are teaching children to swim.  I see how they struggle with splashes and slipping glasses.  I wonder if they know how possible it is for them to live free from depending on glasses.

Our surgeons have successfully provided refractive surgery for people in the Pacific Northwest since 1984.  Among the options available are iLASIK, PRK, and Refractive Cataract Surgery with special lifestyle lens implants.  If you, or someone you know, wishes a new vision on life, it may be helpful to spread the news:  Glasses and contact lenses are not the only alternatives for vision correction.

For more information, take time to visit this website or give our Refractive Consultant a call at 360-474-2561 and see what vision options are waiting for you!  We look forward to hearing from you!

Barbara Aliaga, Executive Director, The Harman Eye Clinic.

 

Learn More

The Harman Eye Clinic

903 Medical Center Drive, Arlington WA 98223

360-474-2561  360-435-8595  FAX 360-435-5233

http://www.20Better.com

Create a meaningful doctor encounter

Prepare for your encounters with your doctor.

More and more medical offices are offering an on-line connection with private medical charting.   At The Harman Eye Clinic in Arlington WA, we encourage patients to login to a secure online website to access personal health information from anywhere with an internet connection, and at any time of the day or night.  Our staff will help you set this up during a phone call.

Even more important is the ability to supply your doctor with information PRIOR to your visit.  Patients can register any time; most patients register when they schedule their appointment.  You are able to enter information such as:

  1. Your medications with dosage and strength
  2. Your past medical history
  3. Insurance information and any recent changes in your patient demographics.

At The Harman Eye Clinic in Arlington WA, the Patient Portal records are your medical records  This means that when you want your medical records, you no longer need to request them.  They are always within reach.

Providing  patient information updates,  past medical histories and medication updates, certainly helps create a more satisfying visit.

What about cataract consultations?

As you may know, every medical surgery comes with a list of risks and benefits and it becomes the patient’s responsibility to become sufficiently informed in order to give their consent.  If you first learn at your appointment that you are a candidate for cataract surgery, it can be stressful.

A way patients can make their consultation more meaningful is to watch the Informed Consent Video before they see their surgeon.  At The Harman Eye Clinic in Arlington, WA, patients are encouraged to watch the video and learn about the different options in lens implants.  Patients print out the quiz for their visit.  They cut off about 15 minutes of their exam by watching this at home.

Best though, is the fact that when you finally meet up with your surgeon after numerous diagnostic measurements and testing, you will better understand your surgeon’s recommendation.  It makes for a much more satisfying encounter.  We recommend that if you are considering cataract surgery, you watch this video prior to coming to your consultation.  You will be glad you did.watch-informed-consent-001

The Harman Eye Clinic

903 Medical Center Drive, Arlington WA 98223

360-474-2561  360-435-8595  FAX 360-435-5233

http://www.20Better.com

Symfony Lens Implant with Cataract Surgery

Our patients appreciate that we are leaders in cataract surgery technology.  With the recent FDA approval, the Symfony lifestyle lens implant provides an extended depth-of-focus at near, distance and intermediate.  Our surgeons are pleased to experience these wonderful results!   Gerald Balamucki shares his impression just one day after surgery.  Today he demonstrated the ability to read in the distance, intermediate and up close without glasses in the newly implanted eye.

The Harman Eye Clinic

903 Medical Center Drive, Arlington WA 98223

360-474-2561  360-435-8595  FAX 360-435-5233

http://www.20Better.com

Refractive Candidates Benefit From Additional Technology

Our Surgeons are always on the lookout for additional diagnostic equipment that will contribute to an individualized treatment plan for refractive surgery patients.  The iTrace is especially helpful when patients with previous RK surgery are ready to seek cataract surgery with lifestyle lenses.  The iTrace offers a better picture and helps open the conversation between surgeon and patient to achieve realistic expectations based on specific multifaceted data.  This article may better describe the benefits of pre-surgical refractive diagnostic testing at The Harman Eye Clinic.

 What is an iTrace exam?

The iTrace exam is a very quick reading taken with an imaging device.  The iTrace’s breakthrough technology quickly provides technical information about your vision that is nPatient-and-Operator-at-iTrace.jpgot available through other tests performed during a typical eye exam.

Our staff position you at the instrument and quickly acquires the data.  It is painless, non-invasive and does not require your eyes to be dilated.   Your doctor uses this unique information about your eyes to make clinical decisions.

How is the iTrace different?

The iTrace uses “Star Wars” technology that was first developed for space and military applications.  The iTrace measures the eye differently than any other test available and gives information to your doctor that no other tests can. Your iTrace Exam can help your doctor better answer many questions you might have about your eyes, including:

  • Am I a LASIK candidate?
  • Do I suffer from Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome?
  • Am I a candidate for a Premium Lifestyle Lens Implant?
  • If I had RK in the past, can I still choose a Lifestyle Lens Implant with cataract surgery?
  • Is my astigmatism correctable?
  • Why can’t I see well at night?
  • Why am I having vision problems even after cataract surgery?
  • Is there anything that can be done to improve my vision?

How will your surgeon use the information from your iTrace Exam?

iTrace.jpg The iTrace analysis can be used for solving many vision problems.  For example, if you are interested in refractive surgery or LASIK, your surgeon can determine if you are a good candidate. If you are in your 40s or 50s and not seeing as clearly as you did when you were younger, your doctor can know which vision component of your eye is causing the change.  If you have a cataract, your doctor will use the iTrace information to help select the best intra-ocular lens (IOL) for your eye and to plan surgery.   If you are having night vision difficulty, your doctor can analyze how your eyes see in light and dark conditions and possibly prescribe a different pair of glasses for nighttime.  The iTrace gives your surgeon information that has not been available through other tests, and this will allow him to customize his treatment options to give you the best possible vision.

The iTrace measures quality of vision and visual function using a fundamental thin beam principle of optical ray tracing, a first in eye care diagnostics.  The iTrace sequentially projects 256 near-infrared laser beams into the eye to measure forward aberrations, processing data point-by-point. This 5-in-1 system provides auto-refraction, corneal topography, ray tracing aberrometry, pupillometry and auto-keratometry.  Our Surgeons compare these measurements with the more traditional measurements taken during your exam.  What does this means for you? A higher chance of best vision after your surgical procedure or, even more important, saving you from having a surgery that cannot meet your vision expectations.

 

The Harman Eye Clinic

903 Medical Center Drive, Arlington WA 98223

360-474-2561  360-435-8595  FAX 360-435-5233

http://www.20Better.com