"Great Doctors in South florida?" Posted by Beth - Hollywood, FL on 17:08:21 7/08/2000
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Hi I am interested in finding out about Dr. A. Mitchell in Boca. I have heard wonderful things about him as he has done surgeries on 5 people I know. I am scheduled to see him for a consultation on July 18. Any comments are requested. Thank you. Beth
I am not familiar with the surgeon you have mentioned, but if 5 of your friends have been treated by a particular surgeon and they are happy, it should be a good sign.
Please feel free to ask me any further questions
Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL
2. "surgeon" Posted by Beth - Hollywood, FL on 14:39:05 7/09/2000
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Dear Dr, Trattler,
I have been reading all the information that you have given to many people and I am impressed. Do you work out of Baptist Hospital in Kendall? My brother-in-law was the director of the Cath lab there for many years. Do you know Dr. Michael Collins? After reading so many conflicting reports on all the different web-sights, I am interested in knowing if you have any statistics on the positive outcomes on the surgery. Also today in the Sun-Sentinal there was an article on the implantable contact lenses which they stated was only in the experimental stage. Should I wait for a couple of years or keep on my path now for the eye sight I have not had since I was 7. (I am now 44) I have worn hard lenses since I was 14 and gas permeable's for the last 14 years. Thank you for all the information you have given to me through all the mail that I have read. Beth
Beth - What is your level of myopia? This is a critical issue when discussing LASIK success rates, as well as discussing whether the implantable contact lens (also called the phakic intraocular lens) will be of interest.
I personally am excited about phakic intraocular lenses, but they do have some very serious risks - including serious infection (which has a much higher chance of causing blindness than an infection with LASIK), as well as retinal detachments, glaucoma, and cataracts. There are 3 competing intraocular lens products that are undergoing FDA evaluation, which includes a 3-5 year study on the risks of these and other complications.
My father, who is also an ophthalmologist in our practice, sends his regards to your brother in law. Dr. Collins has an excellent reputation as a cardiologist at Baptist
Please post your level of myopia and astigmatism so that I can answer some more of your questions. As you can tell from my postings, I enjoy answering questions.
4. "Regards" Posted by Beth - Hollywood, FL on 19:47:12 7/10/2000
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Dear Dr. Trattler,
I also have regards to your father from Dr. Collins. This afternoon I went to my optometrist
and he gave me my eyeglass prescription, my contact prescription and my original k's. They are as follows:
eyeglass pres: od:sphere -475 cylinder-25 axis 60
os -575 -50 axis 105
contact prescription od:sphere -425 B curve742
os: -525 diameter 9.0
original k's 1995: od 46 x 4575
os 46 x 4575
I have been without my gas permeables for three weeks and if I am a candidate for the surgery, don't anticipate the surgery until the first week in August. Thank you for any more information.
Beth
Beth,
RGP lenses can mold one's cornea, so there is no absolute standard for the length of time it takes for one's cornea and refraction to stabalize. I have had stability with some patients after 2 weeks, but it is possible for the cornea to take a few months to completely stabalize.
I check stability by performing a manifest refraction and corneal topography in both eyes, and then recheck thes 2 weeks later. So for example now that you have been out of your contacts for 3 weeks, you would get your eyes checked now and then 2 weeks later. The refraction and topography must be stable, and if not - you will need to wait another 2 weeks or so and have another recheck.
One other aspect that often gets overlooked is dry eyes. Contact lens wearers will often have dry eyes, due to the contact reducing corneal sensitivity. There is a reflex between the cornea and the lacrimal gland that helps keep a good level of tears - but the reflex is dampened by long-term contact lens wear. Therefore, staying out of one's contact lenses for a few weeks prior to LASIK can help minimize one's dry eye problem after LASIK. As well - if you currently do have dry eyes - it is important that the dry eyes are appopriately treated prior to having LASIK.
I hope this information is helpful. Feel free to give me a call at my office if you have further questions ()
