WASHINGTON – Laser eye surgery may improve one’s visual horizons, but it doesn’t qualify as a travel expense, a congressional office says in a report on abuses of the federal travel card system.The Congressional Research Service, in a recent survey, found that federal employees in a wide range of agencies misuse travel cards to buy goods for their personal use, travel first-class or simply bilk the government.

Among the examples: a Federal Aviation Administration employee who charged $3,700 for laser eye surgery; a Pentagon employee who received reimbursements for 13 airline tickets totaling almost $10,000 that he never purchased; and a State Department employee who took an unauthorized trip to Hawaii on a first-class ticket.

Auditors had also determined that certain agencies have not collected reimbursement for millions of dollars worth of unused airline tickets and had repeatedly failed to pay travel card invoices in a timely manner, according to the report.

“A private travel agency would be out of business running this kind of operation,” said Scott Amey, general counsel of the independent Project on Government Oversight. He said the CRS report points out the need for immediate improvements, including better oversight of all transactions and increased penalties for misuse.

A 1998 law requires any federal employee who travels more than five times a year to use travel cards. The CRS said travel card spending increased from $4.39 billion in fiscal year 1999 to $8.28 billion in fiscal year 2008.

The report said one major problem is the failure of agencies to determine whether tickets have been used. It cited a Government Accountability Office study finding that over a seven-year period the Department of Defense may have purchased more than $100 million in airline tickets that were not used and had not been processed for refunds. Similarly, the State Department failed to seek reimbursement for $6 million in unused airline tickets over an 18-month period.

Her prescription — so strong  she says she was legally blind.
But it wasn’t until recently, when her vision got in the way of a job that she decided it was time to make a change, and this is where laser eye surgery comes in.

“I had to get my corrected vision tested and my uncorrected vision tested and for that job I was basically too blind to do it,” said Samantha Smith.

Smith was told that her vision must be retested for her to be cleared for training as a mounted border patrol officer. So she called up Dr.Daniel Sambursky of the Laser Eye Center of the Southern Tier. The day after her surgery she says life is completely different.

“When I woke this morning, it really was amazing. It was a miracle that I could see,” said Smith.

Smith’s speedy results were achieved with the use of a new and safer procedure made possible with new technology.

“We use a tiny little beam, it’s less than a millimeter and it flies around in a special pattern. And it actually is applied 400 times per second and the time that the person is under the laser turns out to be just a matter of seconds,” said Dr. Daniel Sambursky.

This cutting edge technology is not only safer, it’s quicker, cutting procedure and recovery time in half.

“On average 8 to 12 minutes is what a patient would expect to spend under the laser from start to finish of the procedure,”  said Dr. Sambursky.

Dr. Sambursky says that 14 post-op patients who came in for their day after check ups reported they’re feeling 100 percent.

“I would say every patient was 20/20 in at least one eye. The worse vision I saw was 20/25,” said Dr. Sambursky.

A life changing surgery that’s just gotten better being offered right here in the Southern Tier.

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 17, 2009 — Beginning in the mid 40s, everyone with good distance vision starts to experience blurred vision at near points, such as when reading a book, newspaper, putting on eye make-up or even working at the computer. This happens to everyone with good distance vision, even if they never used glasses before, states Kevin Niksarli, MD of Manhattan Lasik Center.  This increases the demand for laser eye surgery among the population.

Kevin Niksarli, MD estimates that approximately 100 million people in the United States either have presbyopia, or will develop it by 2016. This is generating a huge demand for eyewear, contact lenses, and surgery that can help presbyopes deal with their failing near vision.

Boston Laser, a leading laser surgery clinic is lead by one of the renowned experts in the field of laser assisted surgery. Dr. Samir Melki is a leading authority on Cataract, Corneal and Laser Vision Correction Surgery. After more than 6,000 procedures, his experience and technical skills are much sought after by patients. It’s their only set of eyes and they are looking for specialists with the skill and proven technology.

“Cataracts are not a disease, but a progressive condition which causes the eye’s natural lens to become cloudy,” said board-certified ophthalmologist Jeffrey Baumann, MD, of Mid-Florida Eye Center.

“When a cataract is removed, the cloudy lens within the eye is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL),” he added, providing an option to laser eye surgery.

“A variety of IOLs may be used in cataract surgery. Each one has different characteristics and its own set of advantages and disadvantages; no one lens is right for everyone,” Baumann said.

“Today, the latest innovations include presbyopia-correcting IOLs, which are designed to improve distance vision and also near vision in the same eye. These lenses greatly improve the chances a person will not need glasses, even for reading. The technology is a great advance, but some patients still need glasses for some activities.

“Traditionally, the only lenses available have been fixed-focus, monofocal IOLs, and these are still the most commonly used in cataract surgery,” said Baumann.

“Monofocal lenses have a fixed focal point that is generally set for distance vision, so reading glasses are typically required for good near vision.”

“Recent refinements in the optical quality of these lenses allow an even higher quality of vision than before.”

Accommodating monofocal IOLs behave much like the natural eye. They are used when both good distance and good near vision are desired without the use of spectacles. These IOLs have a single focal point; however the focal point can shift. This means that objects at distance are clear when the eye focuses on them, but when the eye looks at a near object, the IOL will shift its focal point to bring the near object into focus.

The lens achieves this by physically moving inside the eye in response to the focusing action of the muscles of the eye. CrystalensHD® is an FDA approved IOL of this type. Patients implanted with the CrystalensHD IOL generally enjoy near vision without glasses that is much better than those implanted with Fixed Focus Monofocal IOLs. Vision at the intermediate (computer screen) distance is superb with the CrystalensHD, making this an excellent IOL for those who spend a great deal of time on a computer.

Multifocal IOLs use a different strategy to achieve good distance and near vision without glasses. These lenses have highly specialized optical properties that can divide light to bring it into focus at more than one point at the same time. This allows the eye to see near and far and in-between, usually without glasses.

The ReSTORª mulitfocual IOL uses a patented design to divide light into two focal zones so that near and distance objects can both be seen without glasses.

“The results we can achieve following cataract surgery today are better than ever,” said Baumann. “The added freedom and convenience offered with premium lenses could make your vision problems following cataract surgery a thing of the past.”

The surgeons of Mid-Florida Eye Center helped pioneer innovations in small-incision and no-stitch cataract procedures, as well as foldable and multi-focal lens implants that are considered the gold standard of eye surgeons around the world. Today, the practice has performed more than 120,000 cataract and laser procedures.

Mid-Florida Eye Center’s surgeons have been selected to perform clinical trials for some of the most important breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the eye, including glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Tecnis Multifocal IOL study Design Methods

In a one-year multi-center study, the safety and effectiveness of the Tecnis Multifocal IOL was compared to that of a conventional monofocal IOL also produced by Abbott Medical Optics (AMO).

In the study, 125 patients had the multifocal IOL implanted in both eyes and 125 patients had bilateral implantation of the monofocal IOL, based on the patients’ preference. The study was later expanded to include an additional 225 patients who received bilateral implantation of the Tecnis Multifocal IOL.

Tecnis Multifocal IOL study One Year Results

In a recent issue of EyeWorld, surgeon and researcher Farrell Tyson, MD, reported the one-year results of 118 patients receiving the Tecnis Multifocal IOL and 116 patients receiving the monofocal IOL.

An analysis of the data for these patients revealed:
Mean uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) for distance vision for the two groups was essentially the same.

Mean UCVA for near vision was significantly better (four to five lines smaller on a near vision test card) for the group receiving the Tecnis Multifocal IOL compared to the UCVA of patients receiving the conventional monofocal IOL.

84 percent of the Tecnis Multifocal IOL patients attained simultaneous binocular UCVA of 20/25 in the distance and 20/32 at near, compared to only 6 percent of the monofocal IOL patients.

Although the Tecnis Multifocal IOL patients had lower mean contrast sensitivity scores than the monofocal IOL patients, the difference was not considered clinically significant.

Halos and glare around street lights and headlights were more common among Tecnis Multifocal IOL patients, but reading vision and speed were significantly better.

85 percent of the Tecnis Multifocal IOL patients reported having no need for eyeglasses after surgery, compared to only 5 percent of patients receiving the monofocal IOL.

96 percent of the Tecnis Multifocal IOL patients said they functioned comfortably at near without glasses, compared to 30 percent of the monofocal IOL group.

Tecnis Multifocal IOL Conclusions

The Tecnis Multifocal IOL enables patients to see significantly better at near after cataract surgery without causing a significant loss of distance vision, concluded Dr. Tyson.

Although the Tecnis Multifocal IOL caused some glare and halos at night, patient satisfaction scores were very high, presumable due to the improved reading ability, reduced need for eyeglasses and large range of functional vision the lens provides.

Based on the one-year results of the study and his surgical experience with the Tecnis Multifocal IOL, Dr. Tyson is convinced bilateral implantation of the new multifocal IOL is the best surgical option for patients who desire the greatest freedom from eyeglasses after cataract surgery.

“Through superior vision care technologies and service, AMO has established itself as a leader in this multi-billion dollar medical device segment. With AMO, Abbott is enhancing and strengthening its diverse mix of medical device businesses and gaining a leadership position in another large and growing segment,” said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. “Additionally, Abbott’s significant global presence will help drive growth opportunities for this business, especially in international markets, where favorable demographics are driving demand for advanced eye care procedures and products.”

“Pearl Fractional is a unique and outstanding treatment option for the delicate periorbital area, which often shows the first signs of aging and can be the most challenging to treat,” said Brian Biesman, M.D., medical director of the Nashville Centre for Laser and Facial Surgery, Nashville, TN, and immediate past president of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. “The treatment works so well because it delivers very nice skin tightening plus it addresses skin quality – improving tone, texture and discoloration for an overall more youthful appearance.” Yet another type of laser eye surgery.
Physicians traditionally treat photo-damaged skin around the eyes with spot laser treatments and dermal fillers. The new approach, pioneered by Dr. Biesman, not only uses Pearl Fractional around the eyes, but directly over the eyelids and under the eyes too.
Dr. Biesman notes that the procedure is especially popular with patients who are approaching a milestone. “A lot of my patients come to me on the 4s and the 9s – 34, 39, 44, 49,” he said. “My patients are very pleased that they see immediate, noticeable improvement in a single treatment, with very little recovery time.”
Pearl Fractional, utilizing a specialized patented 2790 nm wavelength, received FDA clearance in 2008 and offers physicians a new and beneficial approach to resurfacing the skin. As with all aesthetic procedures, patients should consult a physician experienced in aesthetic laser procedures to ensure that their treatment is safe and effective

“Refractive errors” are the most common vision problems. This can be corrected with LASIK laser vision treatment or using contact lenses or with glasses.

Neglected eye problems can lead to poor performance in school, poor work performance, dangerous driving, and diminished quality of life. An ophthalmology exam also may detect hidden diseases of the eye, diabetes and circulatory problems.

“In study after study, Americans says vision is their most valued of the five senses,” McCaa noted. “They also rate loss of eyesight as a 10 on a scale of one to 10, according to the National Eye Institute.

“To preserve sight, May is the time of year we remind people to get regular checkups from their local ophthalmologist,” McCaa added. “We also know that there are 11 million Americans who have untreated refractive errors – which easily can be corrected to restore perfect, or near-perfect vision.”

There are four types of refractive errors, which are caused by flaws in the cornea that covers the front of the eye. The types, defined by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AA0), are:

- Myopia (nearsightedness): Close objects look clear, but distant objects are blurry.
- Hyperopia (farsightedness): Distant objects look clear, but close objects are blurry.
- Astigmatism: Vision is blurred for both near and far objects.
- Presbyopia: The eyes gradually lose the ability to change focus from distance to near (a condition which often begins at about age 40 and affects reading).
Many people will have one or more of these refractive errors.

“The important thing to remember that such refractive errors are correctable, unless there is another underlying eye problem,” said McCaa, a cornea and refractive surgery specialist with 14 years of LASIK experience. “We provide LASIK laser vision correction, as do other ophthalmologists around Mississippi. Other corrective options are eyeglasses or contact lens, which eye doctors statewide also offer.”

Healthy Vision Month in May is a national observance in the federal government’s Healthy People 2010 campaign. The 2009 goal of reducing uncorrected visual impairment due to refractive errors includes promoting eye exams.

You can check out the AAO for guidelines on how often someone should be going for an eye exam.

The need for eye exams, of course, doesn’t change for Mississippians without vision insurance. Only 17 percent of U.S. employers report offering vision insurance, although studies show that employers gain as much as $7 in productivity and other assets for every $1 spent on vision coverage, according to The Vision Council.