Cataract surgery is a procedure to remove your eye’s clouded lens and replaces it with an artificial lens to restore clear vision. When the presence of your cataracts interferes with your daily activities, surgery is likely the best option.
The team at Valley Eye Associates has performed over 55,000 surgical procedures over a combined 50 years of experience. Our expertise and commitment to excellence helps us provide a premium cataract surgery experience to all patients. Valley Eye Associates offers the following cataract surgery options:
Traditional Cataract Surgery
- Corneal incisions are made manually by your surgeon.
- A traditional replacement lens eliminates dimmed, fuzzy vision caused by cataracts.
- The procedure is covered by Medicare; you will still need corrective lenses, especially for near vision.
High Definition Laser Cataract SurgeryTM
- Corneal incisions are made with a laser for a more precise cut.
- Advanced lens options not only replace the clouded cataracts, but also address other vision problems like astigmatism, nearsightedness or farsightedness.
- High Definition Laser Cataract Surgery may eliminate the need for glasses or contacts for many or most activities.
- A portion of the procedure is covered by Medicare. Additional fees may apply.
Intraocular Lens (IOL) Options
There are more IOL options available than ever before, and choosing the proper IOL for your vision goals and lifestyle will ensure you are completely satisfied with the outcome of your cataract surgery. You will meet with your surgeon to discuss your vision goals and determine which lens best fits your lifestyle.
Monofocal IOLs
A monofocal IOL is an advanced acrylic lens that focuses vision on a single point. This lens will allow you to see clearly at one distance and require you to wear glasses or contact lenses to see at other distances. Many people who choose this lens decide they want to see clearly in the distance and wear reading glasses for near vision (cell phone) or intermediate vision (speedometer). Valley Eye Associates is proud to feature the TECNIS Monofocal Lens and the Alcon Acrysof in its cataract program.
TORIC IOLs
For patients with moderate or advanced astigmatism, the TORIC IOL is an excellent option when combined with HDLCS to achieve clear vision at one distance (usually far) without glasses or contact lenses.
Multifocal IOLs
A multifocal IOL is a premium clear lens that features concentric focus rings, allowing you to focus and see clearly at multiple distances after surgery. The goal of a multifocal lens is to help you see near, far, and everything in between to reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses. Multifocal IOLs are a fantastic option for those willing to invest in lens technology for a more active and spectacle-free lifestyle.
ORA Intraoperative Technology Benefits
ORA is a powerful tool for improving your cataract surgery, and Dr. Vrabec, Dr. Salm, Dr. Unger and the team at Valley Eye Associates is the first in the region to offer this exciting technology.
- ORA allows your surgeon to accurately review your vision during your cataract procedure
- ORA offers measurements for more accurate calculations to guide your cataract procedure
- VerifEye+ Technology validates the ORA data in real-time during your surgery, adding another layer of precision
- ORA is clinically proven to result in more consistent accuracy for your cataract procedure, leading to higher patient satisfaction
- ORA is highly beneficial for patients with astigmatism, as well as patients who have had previous eye surgery, such as LASIK or PRK
- ORA reduces the need for follow-up treatments after your cataract surgery
Want to learn more about High Definition Laser Cataract Surgery? Join us for our next Live Cataract Seminar with Dr. Michael Vrabec at Pinnacle Cataract & Laser Institute:
Tuesday, September 24
5:00 pm
Wednesday, November 13
5:00 pm
Get to Know Dr. Daniel Nowak
CommunityGet to know Dr. Daniel Nowak (pictured right), one of the optometrists on our Valley Eye Associates team!
What has been your favorite thing about working at Valley Eye Associates?
I like the variety. I may see something as straightforward as a routine eye exam, to someone with glaucoma, or other potentially blinding conditions and helping them. It makes me keep up-to-date in eye care to provide the best possible care I can. Plus, I like the great staff we have throughout the clinic, from the business office to patient services, techs and surgery schedulers, and to the doctors, who are easily accessible to consult with when asked.
How do you relax after a long day at work?
It depends on the time of year. During the warm-weather season, I like being outside doing yard work and keeping the yard looking sharp. During the cold-weather season, I like doing woodworking, which I am just starting to take up.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas—the season for goodwill. The time of year that holds hope for humanity.
What is your favorite meal of the day? What would you be eating?
Lunch. I like the diverse restaurants in Appleton and getting to try something different.
What made you decide to go into optometry?
I always found vision and the eye to be fascinating. I decided in high school that being an optometrist was my destiny.
How Can an HSA or FSA Save You Money?
LASIKA health savings account (HSA) or a flex spending account (FSA) is one of the best ways to save courtesy of Uncle Sam with triple tax benefits. You put money in on a tax-free basis (usually through salary deferrals), it builds up tax-free (you can invest it), and it comes out tax-free to cover out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Depending on your tax bracket, that can save you 20% or more on eyeglasses, contacts, or even medical procedures like LASIK or High Definition Laser Cataract Surgery.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
You can contribute to an HSA if you’re in a qualifying high-deductible health plan at work. For 2020, that means a plan with a minimum annual deductible of $1,400 for individual coverage or $2,800 for family coverage. At a minimum, you should contribute enough to cover your deductible. Do you have an unexpected doctor’s bill? You can put money into your HSA, take it out right away, and the government just paid 25% of the bill. (The higher your tax bracket, the bigger your savings.) An HSA is a savings account that goes with you and funds stay in the account as long as it is open.
Flex Spending Account (FSA)
FSAs are a great way to pay for elective and non-elective procedures and cover deductibles and co-payments for medical services and prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs that have been prescribed by a doctor, all pre-tax. The funds from an FSA can be used toward the payment of certain authorized dental and vision expenses, including for dependents and spouses. So, depending on your tax bracket, that could end up being major savings! The only problem is that you have to use your FSA balance by the end of the year or risk losing it. So if you have an FSA, be sure to check your balance and then look at your options for an eye exam, vision correction surgery or even eyeglasses before the end of the year.
The good news is that consumers can save ($2,700 per person in an FSA) and even save more in an HSA depending on your plan, to pay for procedures you want. Think of this as an opportunity to access the procedures you need and save 20% or more by using flex spending or health savings account dollars.
Why Is This Important?
Elective procedures, like LASIK, PRK, Implantable Contact Lenses, and Refractive Lensectomy, are discretionary medical expenses. FSA and HSA accounts can help lower the cost of better vision with or without glasses or contact lenses.
How Much Screen Time is Too Much for Children?
Eye HealthThe World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending children under age 5, spend one hour or less on digital devices and those under age 1 spend no time at all on a daily basis. The WHO study refers to sedentary screen time, which includes watching television or videos, or playing computer games.
Screen Time Recommendations by Age
Developing the ability to “use” vision starts at birth, says Glen Steele, O.D., professor of pediatric optometry at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. When a baby watches a parent form words or point to objects, their actions lead to development of a baby’s “looking” process, which fosters their internal curiosity, he says. That curiosity leads to the baby wanting to get to an object out of reach and a desire to move toward it.
Symptoms of Screen Time Exposure
According to the Vision Council, 72% of American parents report their children routinely engage in more than two hours of screen time per day. 30% of parents report their children experience at least one of the following symptoms after being exposed to more than two hours of screen time per day:
Any of these symptoms could potentially affect academic performance and social interactions.
Vision-Related Problems for Children Ages 8 and up
According to Common Sense Media, children under age 8 now spend more than two hours a day with screen media. For 8 to 10-year-olds, screen time triples to six hours a day. And it’s not unusual for kids in middle school and high school to spend up to nine hours per day looking at digital displays.
Risks Associated with Too Much Screen Time
Children who spend multiple hours staring at digital devices are at risk of developing these vision-related problems:
What to Do
While it’s not realistic to think that children will stop using modern technology, here are some easy things you can do:
The Value of Back to School Eye Exams
Eye HealthAccording to experts, up to 80% of the learning children do is through their eyes. Having an undiagnosed vision problem can hinder a child’s education, confidence, and ability to socialize. It can also subsequently affect their success later in life. Unlike adults, kids might not know how to explain what’s wrong. When you don’t know how other people see, it’s difficult to say you’re having trouble seeing the world around you.
Common Vision Symptoms
Children with vision problems are unlikely to tell their teachers and parents because they don’t realize the source of the problem. Parents can help by watching for some common symptoms:
When Should Children’s Eyes Be Examined?
Comprehensive Eye Exams Go Beyond 20/20
A comprehensive eye exam at Valley Eye Associates goes beyond a simple screening performed at schools. It involves checking for color blindness, eye alignment (teaming), ocular motility (tracking), and depth perception. Valley Eye Associates will also provide a prescription for glasses, if needed.
Your family’s vision is important to us! Call (920) 739-4361 today to schedule an eye exam for your child and make sure they see their best this school year.
Introducing Mindy Harrington, OD
CommunityMindy Harrington, OD
We’d like to welcome Dr. Mindy Harrington to the Valley Eye Associates team!
Dr. Harrington grew up in Ishpeming, MI. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Michigan Technological University and graduated summa cum laude. She went on to receive her Doctor of Optometry degree from Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University, where she graduated with distinction.
Dr. Harrington was active in many organizations during optometry school, including Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (SVOSH). In 2018, she took a mission trip to La Esperanza, Honduras to provide eye care to underserved members of the community. She is currently a member of the American Optometric Association and the Wisconsin Optometric Association.
Dr. Harrington has wanted to be an optometrist since she was in middle school. She loves being able to help patients better understand their eye health. Her optometric interests include care for the whole family, contact lenses, and ocular disease.
In her free time, Dr. Harrington enjoys any activity that allows her to spend time with her family. She also enjoys being outside, playing tennis, crafting, and reading.
Dr. Harrington wants to help each and every patient achieve and maintain the best vision possible. She is excited to join and serve the community of Northeast Wisconsin.
Enjoying the Benefits of LASIK
LASIKThere are many reasons why people are interested in LASIK, but one of the biggest is improving their vision with reduced dependence on glasses and contact lenses. Some—like pilots, first responders, and athletes—turn to LASIK for work. Others enjoy an active lifestyle and want to follow their passions. You may measure your LASIK success by the pure pleasure of having around-the-clock vision and the freedom to do without contacts—or never having to search the nightstand to find your glasses in the middle of the night again.
Here are some more reasons the convenience of LASIK may be right for you:
LASIK can transform your life! No matter what your reason, there may well be a LASIK success story waiting for you.
Take the first step and come in for a Free VIP iLASIK Consultation. By talking with one of our surgery counselors, you can find out if you’re a good candidate for LASIK. They can help you understand what to expect from the procedure and what your experience will be like before, during, and after surgery.
Source: American Refractive Surgery Council
Dr. Vrabec Celebrates 25 Years of Success at Valley Eye Associates
Community25 years ago, we welcomed a visionary to our team. In his time at Valley Eye Associates, Dr. Michael Vrabec has led the way for eye care innovation in Wisconsin and completed thousands of surgeries. We’d like to thank Dr. Vrabec for his hard work, success, and incredible ability to care for his patients.
Here are a few special notes from staff members:
“It’s an honor to work with Dr. Vrabec. He is one of the most genuine and kind people you will ever meet. He is a phenomenal surgeon, with skills that are unparalleled to others. I’m proud to work with someone who is an exceptionally talented ophthalmologist and has a heart of gold. I wouldn’t want to work with anyone else. Congratulations, Dr. Vrabec, I look forward to seeing where you take Valley Eye Associates in the future and wish you all the best.”
“I’d like to thank Dr. Vrabec for his 25 years of service to the Fox Valley and beyond! His knowledge and experience are second-to-none. I also greatly appreciate the worldwide mission work he participates in. Dr. Vrabec is truly passionate about providing the best vision possible for every human being.”
“I have worked side by side with Dr. Vrabec 23 of the 25 years he has been here. I have learned so much from him over the years. He continues to teach me new things every day. He is such a skilled surgeon, and his energy and passion for eye care is astonishing. He is a great leader for the VEA team.”
“Dr. Vrabec is an excellent employer. I not only think of him as someone that I work for, but also as a teacher. He is always willing to take a step back with you and show you the “why” behind what we do. He is never too busy for a question and has a way of explaining things that just makes sense. I appreciate the time he takes to thoroughly explain things, as that is just the way my head operates. I have to know why, in order for it to “click”! He is a remarkable surgeon and it’s an honor to work under someone as knowledgeable and as talented as Dr. V!”
“I greatly appreciate the opportunity Dr. Vrabec has given me all these years at VEA. I have learned and grown a lot as an employee and person, being in his presence. Congrats on your 25 years with VEA!”
Happy anniversary, Dr. Vrabec!
June is Cataract Awareness Month
CataractCataract surgery is a procedure to remove your eye’s clouded lens and replaces it with an artificial lens to restore clear vision. When the presence of your cataracts interferes with your daily activities, surgery is likely the best option.
The team at Valley Eye Associates has performed over 55,000 surgical procedures over a combined 50 years of experience. Our expertise and commitment to excellence helps us provide a premium cataract surgery experience to all patients. Valley Eye Associates offers the following cataract surgery options:
Traditional Cataract Surgery
High Definition Laser Cataract SurgeryTM
Intraocular Lens (IOL) Options
There are more IOL options available than ever before, and choosing the proper IOL for your vision goals and lifestyle will ensure you are completely satisfied with the outcome of your cataract surgery. You will meet with your surgeon to discuss your vision goals and determine which lens best fits your lifestyle.
Monofocal IOLs
A monofocal IOL is an advanced acrylic lens that focuses vision on a single point. This lens will allow you to see clearly at one distance and require you to wear glasses or contact lenses to see at other distances. Many people who choose this lens decide they want to see clearly in the distance and wear reading glasses for near vision (cell phone) or intermediate vision (speedometer). Valley Eye Associates is proud to feature the TECNIS Monofocal Lens and the Alcon Acrysof in its cataract program.
TORIC IOLs
For patients with moderate or advanced astigmatism, the TORIC IOL is an excellent option when combined with HDLCS to achieve clear vision at one distance (usually far) without glasses or contact lenses.
Multifocal IOLs
A multifocal IOL is a premium clear lens that features concentric focus rings, allowing you to focus and see clearly at multiple distances after surgery. The goal of a multifocal lens is to help you see near, far, and everything in between to reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses. Multifocal IOLs are a fantastic option for those willing to invest in lens technology for a more active and spectacle-free lifestyle.
ORA Intraoperative Technology Benefits
ORA is a powerful tool for improving your cataract surgery, and Dr. Vrabec, Dr. Salm, Dr. Unger and the team at Valley Eye Associates is the first in the region to offer this exciting technology.
Want to learn more about High Definition Laser Cataract Surgery? Join us for our next Live Cataract Seminar with Dr. Michael Vrabec at Pinnacle Cataract & Laser Institute:
Tuesday, September 24
5:00 pm
Wednesday, November 13
5:00 pm
The Importance of Regular Eye Exams
Eye HealthApproximately 37 million adults in America have age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, or glaucoma, all of which can cause visual impairment or blindness. However, recent studies show that making healthy choices and getting regular eye exams can help reduce a person’s risk of vision loss. In support of Healthy Vision Month in May, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is encouraging everyone to take charge of their eye health and preserve their sight by following some simple tips.
Get more tips to keep your eyes healthy and safe. And don’t forget to ask your doctor if you need to schedule an eye exam!
Sports Eye Safety Month
Eye HealthEach year, an estimated 100,000 people are hurt by sports-related eye injuries. About 13,500 of these injuries result in permanent vision loss. In support of Sports Eye Safety Month, this April, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds athletes everywhere that a great majority of sports-related eye injuries can be avoided by simply wearing the proper protection.
Sports-Related Eye Injuries by Age
These sports-related injuries included infections, corneal abrasions, eye socket fractures, swollen or detached retinas, and traumatic cataracts. The source, Prevent Blindness, also offers tips on sports eye protection. Here are some below:
“Wearing eye protection should be part of any athlete’s routine, just as putting on equipment like shin guards, gloves or a helmet are,” says Dr. Michael Vrabec. “Eye accidents happen so quickly, but the effects can be painful and last a lifetime. Making sure you have the right safety eyewear can reduce serious vision impairment.”