All Valley Eye Associates’ locations are open and ready to serve you. Please call ahead for an appointment. In addition, all Park Place Optical locations are open to take care of your glasses and contact lens needs. No appointment is necessary at Park Place Optical.
Below are a few frequently asked questions to help you prepare for your appointment:
What measures has Valley Eye Associates taken to protect patients and visitors?
Valley Eye Associates has been and always will be committed to providing the best care possible for our patients and visitors. To prevent asymptomatic spread, every patient and staff member in our offices is required to wear a mask at all times. Masks are provided by VEA. We have also increased our extensive sanitation procedures by cleaning each exam room after each visit.
We are also striving to reduce how much time patients must spend in our office by supplementing our in-office diagnostics and evaluation with information sharing via telehealth.
Are there any measures that I as the patient need to take before coming to my appointment?
We have taken many measures on your behalf, including rigorous screening to create the safest possible environment. We do ask that, if you are not feeling well or have been in close contact with someone who is sick, please call to reschedule your appointment. We will be here to care for you and your vision when you are feeling better.
Is it safe to have eye surgery during the pandemic?
Yes, we believe it is. There have been no known cases of COVID-19 (SARSCOV-2) transmission from eye surgery. All staff and patients will wear protective equipment including masks. Additionally, we have rigorous screening criteria to create the safest possible environment.
Can I get COVID-19 by having surgery?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is spread from person to person. While there have been no known cases of COVID-19 transmission from eye surgery, it is always important to practice pre-surgery precautions like social distancing and diligent hand washing leading up to and following your surgery.
How does VEA respect social distancing?
We are taking several measures to respect social distancing. We have greatly limited traffic in our lobby areas by spacing out chairs.
May I bring a driver with me to my appointment?
Many times you will be unable to drive following a procedure, so it is recommended that you arrange for a family member or friend to drive you. As of Monday, June 7, all patients may have someone accompany them for appointments.
Our Summer 2021 Staff Retreat
CommunityLast month, doctors and staff members got together on a Saturday for Valley Eye Associates’ 2021 Staff Retreat. They met at Dave and Buster’s in Green Bay for morning training and team building. A guest speaker presented on patient service and the patient experience. They also participated in a scavenger hunt throughout Dave and Buster’s arcade. All together, the VEA team consists of four ophthalmologists, 16 optometrists, 70+ staff members, and five clinic locations, so when the whole team gets together, it’s a special treat!
Why are staff retreats beneficial?
Kara Plante, the manager of our Business Office, answered, “Our staff retreats allow Valley Eye Associates to become a stronger team as a whole by focusing on practice culture and team-building exercises. They help us build relationships and make sure we are providing the best patient care possible.”
After the morning training session, doctors and staff members met at Sunset Park in Kimberly for some fun in the sun. The after party included food trucks, a kickball tournament, and a charity dunk tank. $186.00 was raised for Feeding America – Eastern Wisconsin. We are grateful for our wonderful team!
Light Adjustable Lens Offers True Customization
CataractThe RxSight Light Adjustable Lens® (LAL) is the world’s first FDA-approved implant that can be adjusted and reshaped after surgery.
Just what, exactly, does all that doctor-speak mean for you, our patients? An unheard-of level of customization for your cataract surgery.
The most performed procedure in the U.S., cataract surgery replaces a cloudy, natural lens with a clear, artificial lens known as an IOL. Because there are several kinds of IOLs to choose from, prior to surgery our doctors will visit with you about your needs and perform thorough measurements of your eye.
This is so that together you and your doctor can select the best lens. All of our pre-operative care also gives your surgeon precise information to ensure the best possible post-operative outcome.
However, no matter how sophisticated our diagnostics, they can’t perfectly anticipate how your eye will heal. In other words, your vision will be greatly improved after surgery, but you may still have a slight case of myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. This has always been the case, and cataract sufferers in particular still tend to need their glasses.
Enter the Light Adjustable Lens. With it we have the flexibility to adjust your vision after surgery. Once you’ve completely recovered — which usually takes about three weeks — your surgeon will use UV light to adjust your new lens’ power in a very specific and mathematical way. Up to three light adjustments can be performed and once a patient’s desired correction is achieved, a final “lock in” treatment is applied.
Valley Eye Associates is excited to offer this customizable new lens! Many cataract patients fit the LAL’s criteria for use. Contact us at (920) 739-4361 to schedule an examination and learn if you’re a candidate.
Valley Eye Associates is Best of the Best for 15th Year
CommunityEach day, the team at Valley Eye Associates uses the best technology available to give our patients the best vision possible.
While it’s exciting to learn and implement the latest advancements, that isn’t what makes our team look forward to their work. It’s you, our patients. We deeply appreciate the trust you put in us to improve your vision and the way you share your life during your appointments. Your stories about kids and grandkids, the shenanigans of your pets, or the insider tips from the latest trip you took brighten our days!
Because of the bonds we form during your visits, we’re especially honored when you vote us “Best of the Valley” and “Best of Winnebago County” in the LASIK Surgery Center category. You’ve allowed us to share our expertise and for that, we’re sincerely thankful.
Valley Eye Associates has won the Best of the Best contest — sponsored by the Appleton Post Crescent and Oshkosh Northwestern — for 15 consecutive years in the Valley and for five consecutive years in Winnebago County. We plan to work hard to ensure we continue to earn this honor from the communities we serve.
COVID-19 Updates and FAQs
CommunityAll Valley Eye Associates’ locations are open and ready to serve you. Please call ahead for an appointment. In addition, all Park Place Optical locations are open to take care of your glasses and contact lens needs. No appointment is necessary at Park Place Optical.
Below are a few frequently asked questions to help you prepare for your appointment:
What measures has Valley Eye Associates taken to protect patients and visitors?
Valley Eye Associates has been and always will be committed to providing the best care possible for our patients and visitors. To prevent asymptomatic spread, every patient and staff member in our offices is required to wear a mask at all times. Masks are provided by VEA. We have also increased our extensive sanitation procedures by cleaning each exam room after each visit.
We are also striving to reduce how much time patients must spend in our office by supplementing our in-office diagnostics and evaluation with information sharing via telehealth.
Are there any measures that I as the patient need to take before coming to my appointment?
We have taken many measures on your behalf, including rigorous screening to create the safest possible environment. We do ask that, if you are not feeling well or have been in close contact with someone who is sick, please call to reschedule your appointment. We will be here to care for you and your vision when you are feeling better.
Is it safe to have eye surgery during the pandemic?
Yes, we believe it is. There have been no known cases of COVID-19 (SARSCOV-2) transmission from eye surgery. All staff and patients will wear protective equipment including masks. Additionally, we have rigorous screening criteria to create the safest possible environment.
Can I get COVID-19 by having surgery?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is spread from person to person. While there have been no known cases of COVID-19 transmission from eye surgery, it is always important to practice pre-surgery precautions like social distancing and diligent hand washing leading up to and following your surgery.
How does VEA respect social distancing?
We are taking several measures to respect social distancing. We have greatly limited traffic in our lobby areas by spacing out chairs.
May I bring a driver with me to my appointment?
Many times you will be unable to drive following a procedure, so it is recommended that you arrange for a family member or friend to drive you. As of Monday, June 7, all patients may have someone accompany them for appointments.
Can the Vivity Lens Help You?
CataractCataracts are a normal, expected part of aging, and, counterintuitive as it may seem, for some patients, they present an opportunity in disguise.
Here’s why: during cataract surgery, a cloudy, natural lens is replaced with a clear, artificial lens. In other words, your cataract surgery may do more than clear your cataracts. Depending on which lens you select, it may upgrade your overall vision. The advancements and technology behind artificial lenses (or IOLs as they’re more commonly known) is constantly improving, leading to more and better options for patients to choose from.
One of the lenses we’ve seen very positive results from is Alcon’s AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™. What sets this lens apart is that, while other IOLs split light into several separate focal points, the Vivity uses a non-diffractive technology called X-Wave that bends and stretches light. Because of that, patients benefit from an extended range of vision.
Furthermore, the way other IOLs split light into several focal points often results in glare, starbursts, and halos even after your cataracts have been corrected. Patients with the Vivity report fewer visual disturbances, and often find that they can resume driving at night, something that wasn’t possible with cataracts and even after surgery could be troubling due to the glare, starbursts, and halos associated with other lenses.
There’s even more promising news. Recent clinical trials found that Vivity not only provides quality vision at distance and intermediate ranges in bright and dim light, they also found that patients’ dependence on glasses or contact lenses is decreased after their surgery.
Vivity is best for patients who want improved intermediate and near vision. Intermediate vision comes into play for activities such as working at a computer; near vision is accessed for activities such as reading or sewing. This lens may not be a good fit for patients with extreme near or farsightedness.
Valley Eye has seen firsthand how the Vivity has benefited our patients, and we’d love to see the same positive results for you. To discuss whether this or another IOL can help you, schedule a Cataract Examination today.
Get to Know Dr. Parisa Sobhi
CommunityWhere did you go to optometry school?
The Illinois College of Optometry
What is your favorite thing about being an optometrist?
I enjoy helping patients understand their vision solutions and love explaining their ocular health to them.
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies include dining out, going on road trips, listening to audiobooks, and shopping for new outfits.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
My favorite holiday is Christmas because it makes my heart warm when it’s cold and I love the decorations.
Where would you love to travel to?
Bora Bora
Get to Know Dr. Sara Schalk
CommunityWhat is your favorite thing about being an optometrist?
My favorite thing about being an optometrist is the one-on-one interactions with my patients, many of whom we get to know over the years.
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies are reading, playing with my kids, and outdoor activities such as camping, skiing, biking, hiking, backpacking, etc.
What’s your favorite holiday and why?
My favorite holidays are Christmas—because we usually get together with the whole family—and the Fourth of July.
Where would you love to travel to?
I want to travel everywhere! I want to go back to Greece, go to Ireland, and see more of the National Parks out West—particularly hiking the Grand Canyon.
What has been your favorite thing about working at VEA?
My favorite thing about working at VEA is our great team! I love the people I work with and knowing that we are helping people every day.
2021: The Year Your FSA / HSA Made LASIK Possible
LASIKRemember as a kid having a piggy bank that you tucked loose pennies and dimes into? On a really good day, there may have been a whole dollar to press through the slot. Over time, those contributions added up — and so did the ways you imagined spending them.
The same happens with your health savings or flexible spending account. Little by little your monthly contributions can build toward a tangible goal, either covering the cost or putting it within easy reach.
Is LASIK among your goals? Many of our patients have used their HSA or FSAs to finally get the vision correction they’ve dreamed of, and with the whole year still ahead, there’s no better time to start planning than January.
Consultation First
In a few instances patients aren’t good candidates for laser eye correction so we strongly recommend that you contact our office to schedule an initial consultation to ensure that you’re eligible. That said, because LASIK isn’t our only tool — there are a myriad of options — it’s rare that we can’t improve your vision. It’s advantageous for us both when together we formulate a best case plan before you begin earmarking your hard-earned dollars.
Covering the Cost
If you’ve considered LASIK or another laser eye treatment, it’s likely you already know that, because it’s discretionary, you’ll need to pay for it out of pocket.
This is where the HSA or FSA offered by your employer’s health insurance plan can help take the sting out of the final bill. Contributions to both are taken pre-tax, which means the government can’t take its usual cut, and you can save up to 20% more.
Generally, an HSA:
Generally, an FSA:
Because there’s much more to know about utilizing the HSA or FSA benefits that come with your work’s health insurance plan, we encourage you to discuss your options with your employer’s insurance representative. It can be confusing; however, understanding the basics could mean the difference between clear vision now and slogging through another year with eye concerns.
Let’s Get Started
Schedule your nocost, no obligation consultation today. Our friendly staff will assess your needs, explain your best options, and create a plan that fits your specific lifestyle and schedule.
Introducing the Optima IPL Dry Eye Treatment
Dry EyeYou may have heard the saying, “Treat the cause, not the symptom.” In the area of dry eye, many of the treatments available today focus only on treating dry eye symptoms. This can offer temporary relief, but unless you treat the cause of your dry eye, the symptoms will flare up again, and again, and again.
Valley Eye Associates is committed to offering long-term relief from dry eye disease, and is proud to offer an exciting new treatment for dry eye called Optima IPL. IPL is short for Intense Pulsed Light, a powerful and gentle light treatment that goes beyond just treating your dry eye symptoms and works to end the cause of your dry eye.
Unlike drops or medication, IPL treatment creates a gentle heat on your skin and eyelids that works to shrink abnormal blood vessels and liquifies hardened oils around your eye. These hardened oils are one of the causes of dry eye, and by liquifying and releasing the oils, IPL treatment addresses the cause of your dry eye and can reduce your dry eye symptoms for weeks or months instead of hours.
At its core, symptoms such as abnormal blood vessels and hardened oils are indications of chronic inflammation around the eye. Drops and medications can temporarily help, but IPL works to reduce or eliminate the causes of this inflammation to provide lasting relief. Until the source of the chronic inflammation is treated, dry eye symptoms will keep coming back.
Reduces Inflammatory Mediators
Decreases the level of pro inflammatory mediators, progressing the inflammation.
Alleviates Abnormal Blood Vessels
Destroys the abnormal blood vessels that are perpetuating the inflammation.
“Dry eye disease affects so many people in our area, and we’ve seen Optima IPL help people find long-lasting relief from dry eye,” says Dr. Angela Rodriguez. “As we approach the winter months, dry eye can be a real issue. We want to help more people find relief from dry eye this winter and beyond.”
With the advanced technology of Optima IPL, each treatment is customized to the exact skin type and condition of each patient. It is one of the most advanced treatments available today to treat dry eye disease. If you suffer from dry eye and are interested in a long-lasting treatment, talk to the team at Valley Eye to see if Optima IPL treatment is right for you.
Working from Home and Caring for Your Eyes
Eye HealthSince the onset of COVID-19, working from home has become the new normal for many people. Individuals have rearranged their living spaces and assembled home offices to accommodate the need to be productive.
Keeping the health of your eyes in mind is an important step as you continue to optimize your home setup. Balancing the tasks of logging in to remote conferencing, working with pets at your feet, remembering to unmute, and the many nuances of living and working within the same environment can be overwhelming to juggle. We want a healthy routine for your eyes to be as easy as possible, so we’ve outlined the top ways to care for your eyes while working from home.
1. Light
Eye strain can be bothersome in environments where excessively bright lighting is present. Too much natural or artificial light can be hard on your eyes. If possible, position your computer to the side of a window to avoid a flood of natural light directly behind or in front of your workspace. Soft white LED or incandescent light bulbs will create the best artificial light for you to work under.
Be sure to consider the screen as a light source as well. The intensity of your screen brightness should match the room you are working in. Open a page with a primarily white background to test the lighting of your screen. If the screen seems to be emitting light, it’s too bright. If the screen seems dull, it’s too dark. Play around with the screen setting on your device or turn on the setting to automatically adjust the brightness based on your surroundings.
2. Position
This tip may come as a surprise, but posture can also affect eye strain. Assuming proper posture can be one of the most challenging obstacles when working from home. Chair height and monitor distance are the key factors in setting yourself up for good posture. Your feet should rest comfortably on the floor and your monitor should be placed directly in front of you about 20 to 24 inches away from your eyes. Ideally, to avoid squinting and neck strain, the center of the screen should be 10 to 15 degrees below your eyes.
3. Exercise
We all know exercise is important and that goes for your eyes too. Healthy eyes can easily shift focus between near and far vision. Looking at a computer screen for extended periods may make it difficult for your eyes to focus at a distance. Although this is temporary, it’s a good practice to exercise your eyes to relax the muscles and reduce fatigue. Consider working the “20-20-20 Rule” into your daily routine. It’s as simple as pausing to look at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
Working primarily at a computer can also cause dry eye. We tend to blink less while looking at a screen. Studies have shown that people blink about one third less while working at a computer. Help avoid dry eye by blinking your eyes slowly 10 times every 20 minutes.
4. Contact & Glasses Care
It is always important to be diligent with hand washing before touching the area around your eyes. As with any contagious disease, it is not recommended to wear contacts while sick. If you aren’t currently ill, it is safe to wear contact lenses, but we encourage you to take precautions by properly washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and drying with a clean towel. You should also continue to follow the disinfection methods recommended by your contact lens manufacturer and eye care provider.
To avoid transferring germs to your face, it is also recommended to sanitize and wash your hands and glasses often, especially when frequently removing or adjusting reading glasses.
We know there are many things to think about and balance right now. But taking these small actions of self-care can help you protect one of your most precious assets: your vision.