Services provided at our office include:
	Vision Correction		Contact Lenses
	Optical Dispensing		Refractive Laser Vision Correction (LASIK/PRK)
	Surgery Co-Management		Emergency Services
	Eye Disease and Trauma		Low Vision Services
	Vision Therapy		Insurance Assistance

Thankfully many people have healthy eyes and do not require medical attention. Unfortunately many people do require corrective lenses to see clearly. Today we can offer three options to most patients to correct their vision: glasses, contact lenses and refractive laser vision correction. Each choice is not for everyone but we believe you should be given each option and told their benefits and limitations. Only then can you make an educated decision regarding the best option for you. It is our goal to stay up to date and current in each of these areas to assist you in your decisions.

If you would like a break from glasses but are unsure about wearing contact lenses try our guaranteed fit program. Simply stated, we will never give up on finding a comfortable and clear solution with contact lenses until all avenues have been explored. Today we have a contact lens option for almost everyone so don't hesitate to ask us about options other than glasses.

Soft Contact Lenses

Bausch and Lomb first introduced soft contact lenses in 1972. Today they account for 80% of the contact lens market. Their dominant role is due to their comfort and convenience. With the advances in design and manufacturing, almost any prescription can be fit with soft contact lenses. This includes patients with astigmatism and even prescriptions requiring bifocals. In addition, colored and disposable soft contact lenses provide cosmetic value and convenience. We now have over 100 different types of soft lenses to meet your visual needs and lifestyle.

Rigid Contact Lenses

Initially, contact lenses were made from hard or rigid plastic materials. In the beginning all hard contact lenses were made of polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA). Although this material was very durable, it did not allow oxygen to pass through the lens to your eye. As a result many complications occurred and often these lenses were very uncomfortable to wear. We no longer fit PMMA (hard) lenses but we do fit oxygen permeable rigid lenses. These lenses do allow your eye to breathe, are very healthy for your eyes and vision is typically crystal clear. New advancements in design and manufacturing have made rigid gas permeable(RGP) contact lenses more comfortable. These lenses provide excellent options for people with astigmatism and bifocals in their prescription. In addition, RGP lenses can be worn for extended periods of time and even for overnight wear. They also are very useful in correcting problems due to refractive surgery.

Disposable Contact Lenses

Disposable soft contact lenses now account for 80% of all soft contact lenses being fit. These contact lenses are extremely comfortable and healthy for your eyes. You replace your contact lenses before protein and lipids in your tears build-up on the lens surface. This provides more oxygen to your eyes without using solutions/chemicals to clean the contact lens. Today we have lenses that you wear one day and throw away. In addition we have weekly, monthly, and quarterly disposable lenses. Depending on your visual needs and lifestyle the appropriate design can be found.

One day disposable contact lenses provide the best ocular health and vision possible today. For about a dollar a day you can have the ultimate in ocular health, vision and convenience. Dailies by Ciba Vision have been released as an affordable single day use contact lens. Using a new technology known as "light stream" manufacturing Ciba Vision has given you the opportunity to experience the future of soft contact lenses. At your next eye exam ask about this exciting lens and one week free trial for current contact users.

Weekly disposable contact lenses are the most common contact lens sold today. Most people wear the lenses during the day and remove for night. The contact lenses are placed in a disinfecting solution over night. After wearing the contact lenses for two weeks the lenses are replaced. Another option is to wear the contact lens continuously for one week, and then replace the lens. This eliminates the need for disinfecting solution and provides clear vision 24 hours a day!

Monthly disposable contact lenses need to be cleaned and disinfected but offer flexibility over traditional yearly replaced lenses. Usually you do not have to use weekly enzymes as well. These lenses can be worn either on a daily wear or extended wear regimen. Ciba Vision has very recently brought a new modality of monthly wear to the American market. Focus Night & Day lenses manufactured by Ciba Vision were introduced into the U.S. market in 2002. This lens is designed to be worn for one month continuously. This is the only FDA approved lens and material to be worn in this manner. This lens material allows at least four times more oxygen to be transmitted than any other lens material on the market today.

Quarterly replaced lenses are usually cared for the same as traditional yearly soft contact lenses. Some patients have difficulty after about three months of wearing their contact lenses due to deposits and lack of sufficient oxygen. This regimen can solve this problem and provide a new clean lens every quarter of a year.

Colored/Tinted Contact Lenses

Colored contact lenses can be used to either enhance your natural eye color or even change the eye color altogether. In addition special designs can be placed on the lens for a fun statement! These lenses are available from Wesley-Jessen as Wild Eyes and Coopervision as NFL LOGO lenses. Specialized tints are also used to help patients with disfigured or scarred eyes. With these lenses we can often help your appearance and self esteem. A special tint is also available to help those patients with RED/GREEN color vision difficulties. With the appropriate tint, better color perception can be achieved when wearing the lens.

Contact Lenses for Astigmatism

Patients with astigmatism have a warped front surface to their eye. This complicates the fitting of contact lenses. Today we have soft toric designs to provide a comfortable solution. These lenses incorporate many special designs used to stabilize the lens on your eye.

Bifocal Contact Lens

Bifocal contact lenses do exist. They are available in both soft and rigid materials. In addition, there are several different designs available to best meet your visual needs; often we will use a combination of these designs to successfully eliminate glasses. We now have several new options that did not exist just a year ago, so if you do not enjoy glasses, ask again about bifocal contact lenses.

Contact Lens Policy

We offer a guaranteed fit for your contact lens experience. Simply stated, if we cannot achieve a successful, comfortable clear fit for you within three months, we will allow a 100% credit of all contact lens fees (includes professional fees and materials fees) towards updating your glasses.

We have a large optical dispensary with over 900 of the latest frames styles available. Each frame line was chosen carefully to provide you with different design styles, materials, and color from around the world. We have added several new lines that we felt provide the best quality and value available. Every effort is made to offer quality frames at a price to fit your budget. Each frame has a one/two year guarantee with unlimited free adjustments. Please stop in at any time and browse through our optical showroom. No appointment is necessary.

If you need broken glasses repaired or a new set immediately, our in house optical lab can help. We can tint lenses while you wait to help decrease sensitivity to the sun and glare.

History of Ophthalmic Lenses

The word "lens" comes from the Latin word "lentil," a species of bean that rather vaguely resembles the shape of a lens. Single pieces of convex-shaped glass or rock crystal have been found in ruins dating back thousands of years. These primitive lenses were used as magnifiers but it wasn't until the 13th century that anyone thought of combining them into spectacles. The very earliest spectacle lenses were made of quartz crystal and were given the name "pebble lenses" in the optical trade. Next hand-blown glass was used until flat sheets of glass replaced them. These sheets of glass were then heated until they softened enough to drop into cavities forming the shape of a lens.

The earliest origin of eyeglasses is a matter of dispute. It is believed that the practice of inserting a "lens" into a frame started during 1214 - 1294 as described by Roger Bacon. Glaziers in Venice, Italy produced the earliest spectacles. Lenses in these first eyeglasses were produced by gold craftsmen who were experienced in working with rock crystal when producing jewelry. Spectacles did not come into common use until some time after Guttenberg invented the printing press during the mid-1500s. That event marked the real beginning of the need to correct vision with eyeglasses.

Today, advances in lens material and design provide you with many choices depending on your lifestyle and visual needs. New manufacturing techniques and frame materials provide anyone an appealing and functional option to correct their vision. The difficulty is not a lack of options, but the overwhelming number of choices available to use in designing your glasses. We hope the following information is helpful the next time you purchase eyewear.

Ophthalmic Lens Design

The logical place to start is with lens materials and designs. Every ophthalmic lens material has three physical properties that will dictate how the lens will work. These properties are:

1. Specific Gravity

2. Reference Index of Refraction

3. Abbe Number

The specific gravity of a lens material is a measurement of density or weight of a particular material. A material with a lower specific gravity will be lighter than another material with a high specific gravity. This is why plastic lenses are lighter than glass lenses.

The refractive index measures the effect a material has on the bending of light as it passes through it. A higher index will have a greater effect on light and less lens thickness is required to produce the desired prescription. This will result in thinner and lighter lenses than a lens material with a low index.

The Abbe number is a measure of the effect the lens has on separating light into colors. A lens with a high Abbe value will not cause color fringes and distortion of light. A low Abbe value means that your vision will not be as sharp.

Therefore, if you would like to design a lens that provides the clearest vision with the least amount of material and weight you should pick a lens with a low specific gravity and a high reference index and Abbe number. Currently all the lens materials can be separated into four categories:

• Glass: The hardest to scratch material available today. But it is also the heaviest and easiest to chip or break. It is the least impact resistant.

• CR-39: Polymer "Plastic" Conventional hard resin lenses are half the weight of glass lenses and can be tinted to almost any color and intensity.

• Polycarbonate: This is the most impact resistant of all materials currently available. It is also the thinnest and lightest of all materials. It does have the drawback of having the greatest distortion or optical aberrations of any material.

• High Index Plastic: Modern technology has created the improved lenses that bend light differently so that stronger corrections are thinner than when made with conventional plastic materials.

In general high index plastic lenses will closest meet the goal of lightweight, thin and optically clear lenses. In addition to choosing the material, it is often more important in how the lens is ground. For high prescription lenses it is best to use an aspheric design. An aspheric lens design will provide better cosmetic appearance while preserving or enhancing good vision. Each lens material has its advantage and you should discuss your lifestyle and visual needs with your optometrist. Often a specific lens for occupational, sport, or computer use provides the best option.

Ophthalmic Lens Types

Single Vision Lenses: When correction is needed for only one distance or only one power is needed to see clearly at all distances, a single vision lens is most appropriate.

Progressive Lenses: When you need a different prescription for reading than for distance, a progressive lens offers the benefits of a multifocal lens (with gradually changing power) without lines between powers. These lenses provide more natural vision by allowing clear sight at all distances(distance, near, and everywhere in between). They are available in all materials.

Bifocals Lenses: Bifocals provide correction in 2 powers-distance & near. As the need for a reading lens progresses to stronger powers, a bifocal is no longer able to adequately provide clear intermediate vision. A gap develops between the distance and near clear zones causing blurred vision at arms length.

Trifocal lenses: Trifocals provide correction for 3 powers-distance, arms length & near. This can provide limited correction for the gap left by a bifocal when higher correction powers are needed for reading. While not as continuous as a progressive lens design, a trifocal does provide clarity beyond the reading distance out to approximately three feet.

Computer Lenses: Extensive computer use requires correction for the computer distance in the straight position of the lens (so you do not have to tilt back, extend and stress your neck in order to see clearly at that working distance). Computer lenses are designed to provide computer correction in the middle of the lens with reading below and distance correction in the upper portion of the lens so you can look up and see clearly across the room.

Occupational Lenses: Occupational designs are available to meet the special needs presented by certain work environments. Many occupations require extensive near work both below and above eye level (carpenters, mechanics, plumbers, electricians, etc.). Specially designed lenses can provide near correction in both the top and bottom portion of the lens.

Sports Glasses: Many lens designs and lens treatments are available for the special requirements of sports enthusiasts. From swim goggles to ski goggles, fishing lenses to shooting and mountain climbing lenses, they are designed to help you get the most out of your endeavors with visual efficiency, comfort and safety. Polycarbonate is the material of choice for active sports. For more information on types of sunglasses available, please visit the Oakley Sunglasses website.

Polarized Sun Lenses: Polarized lenses eliminate reflected glare from surfaces illuminated by bright sunlight. They are great for driving, fishing, hunting and all types of outdoor activities.

These are by no means the only lens materials, designs, or treatments available. Please tell us your work or leisure visual interests and we can tailor exactly the right lenses for all your visual needs.

Ophthalmic Lens Treatment

Several lens treatments are available to enhance your lenses and provide your eyes with protection and clearer vision. Several of these treatments are:

1. Scratch protection

2. UV blocking

3. Anti-reflective coatings

4. Tints

Scratch Resistant Coatings: Scratch coatings enhance the value of all hard resin (plastic) lenses and minimize scratches. A variety of premium lenses now include factory-applied scratch coatings, which give the added security of a warranty. We recommend using these lenses whenever possible.

Ultraviolet Block Coatings: Ultraviolet radiation from the sunlight can harm the human eye. Your eye is more sensitive to these harmful light rays than your skin, and it is important for everyone to have ultraviolet protection in their ophthalmic lenses. It is thought that the ultraviolet wavelengths of light play a role in the development of cataracts and macular degeneration of the retina. Children should all wear protective sunglasses or have this filter added to their glasses. The UV filter itself is clear and does not alter the appearance of the lens. Several occupations have an increased risk due to the use of UV energy and anyone who works outside should use this inexpensive feature to prevent damage to the structures of the eye.

Antireflective Coatings: Anti-reflective coatings are multi-layer coatings of gasses applied under a vacuum on the front and back surface of the lens. All lenses will provide clearer vision with less reflection if an anti-reflective coating is applied. High index materials should have an anti-reflective coating to improve appearance and function. Untreated lenses will only transmit 88% to 92% of light, but coated lenses will transmit 99.5% of light while reducing reflections. In the past these coatings would scratch easily and were difficult to keep clean. However, new advances have addressed these problems and the new Crizal anti-reflective coating is very durable and easy to clean. If night driving is a problem ask us about this new coating!

Tints: Tinting an ophthalmic lens can provide many important uses. Many people tint lenses to help with the brightness of the light. Others use special tints to enhance vision for specific tasks such as hunting and driving. Some would like to have lenses that change from light to dark and reduce the need for sunglasses. Now new photochromatic lenses are available in glass, plastic and high index materials. Ask us about the new Transition lenses - the lightweight photo changing lenses with a scratch coating and ultra-violet filter all in one!

Ophthalmic Frame Materials

Our optical dispensary has a wide variety of spectacle frames available. Many designer lines are presented including: Ralph Lauren Polo, Giorgio Armani, Coach and Donna Karen just to name a few. We have over 900 frames in stock. In addition to the economy and designer frames available on display inour Optical Dispensary, we can special-order almost any frame available in the world.

Each of the above materials has different properties that have advantages and disadvantages. Today most "plastic' frames are made of zylonite, cellulose propionate or polyamide. The "metal" frames are usually made from nickel silver and Monel. Today we recommend titanium frames for their high tensile strength and ultra lightweight and impressive corrosion-resistance. If you would like a plastic material the polyamide materials hold their color very well and are highly scratch resistant and hypoallergenic too. Please ask us about which material would be best for your lifestyle. In addition to the material used many frames are made differently:

Each frame has a different design to the bridge and this is very important when selecting your frames. If the bridge does not fit your nose then the frame will not balance the weight of the lenses and your glasses will be uncomfortable. Today plastic and metal frame materials use a different design on the bridge of the frame to make it more comfortable. In addition, temples can come in different styles and materials. Many hinges have different mechanisms that are designed to absorb the stresses of daily use.

Ophthalmic Frame Design

Now that you know about the different materials and features of ophthalmic frames how do you select a frame that enhances your appearance? This is often the most frustrating or difficult decision to make. Selecting the appropriate eyewear depends on what image you wish to present.

What are the glasses mainly used for?

Career/Professional reasons

Casual/Sporty

Dressy/Evening

Your eyewear should always reflect your personal style whether it is "conservative" or "fashion-forward."

Skin Tone and Hair Color: Your eyewear should complement overall skin tones. Determine if you have a warm (golden) or cool (blue or pink) skin tone. Then look below for the frame colors that complement your skin tone.

Frame Color Cues

Hair Color

Eye and hair colors also influence your frame color.

• Brown eyes and darker hair can wear a broader range of more vivid colors.

• Blue eyes and lighter hair should choose lighter, more delicate colors.

• Gray or white hair also will look better with more delicate colors.

Tips For All Faces and Features

Brow: Frames should follow the line of the brow but not cross it. Frames should not be noticeably higher or lower than the brow line.

Eyes: As much as possible, be certain that the eyes are centered in the lenses.

Width: Eyeglasses should be at least as wide as the widest part of the face.

Eyebrows: If you have heavy eyebrows, thicker, darker frames will provide balance.

Hair: If you prefer a blended look, your eyewear should not be darker than your hair color.

Proportion: The size and weight of the frame should match your proportion and weight, except when dramatic or strong looks are desired.

Please discuss with Dr. Cockrell, Dr. Miller and Dr. Chang or our helpful staff about your concerns and we would be glad to offer suggestions that will satisfy your needs. All of our frames include a two-year warranty and we provide unlimited service to any frame purchased in our office.

If glasses and contact lenses seem too restrictive for your lifestyle, consider refractive surgery. There are several procedures available to correct refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism) and depending upon your visual goal this may be the best or preferred option. We have spent many hours in education and have traveled throughout the United States and Canada to become experts about these procedures. We have many patients who have undergone Laser Vision Correction and they are doing great.

Cockrell Eyecare Center has Laser Vision Correction available onsite. We use the latest generation VISX STAR S3 ACTIVE TRACK excimer laser system. This is our laser of choice because this system utilizes the latest active eye-tracking system, in addition to numerous other advancements, which enable the surgeon to deliver the best possible outcome.

What is Lasik?

It is a treatment that uses a cool beam of light to gently reshape the surface of the cornea to conform to your prescription. If you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism, and you are ready to reduce or even eliminate your need for glasses and contacts, then the LASIK procedure could be for you.

LASIK is an outpatient procedure with the treatment taking just minutes. Patients are generally back to work within 2-3 days, but are usually capable of going back to work the very next day.

Am I a candidate for Lasik?

Yes, if you are at least 18 years of age, in good general health and your eyes are clear of degenerative diseases such as glaucoma or cataracts. Laser vision correction can treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

To find out if laser vision correction is right for you, talk with your own eye doctor, or you may call our office and schedule an evaluation to confirm if you are a good candidate. We can also explain the procedure in more detail and answer any questions that you may have. We will explain what results you can reasonably expect by measuring your prescription and thoroughly examining your eyes. Even if you are not a candidate now, you may become one in the future.

What are the risks?

The Laser Eyecare Center's doctors have received extensive training in the LASIK procedure, as well as, performed over 17,000 surgeries to date. Our commitment extends to a lifetime guarantee should you ever need an enhancement in the future. Our goal is to ensure that you are taken care of by the most experienced doctors and with the most advanced technology.

What kind of results can I expect?

Laser Vision Correction has proved to be extremely effective in reducing or even eliminating a person's need for glasses and contacts. A majority of our patients are now able to enjoy life in a way they could not before their LASIK procedure.

Even though LASIK has proven to be highly successful around the world, the results from one patient to the next vary depending on your prescription and your personal expectations for the procedure. During your personal evaluation, options will be discussed to ensure you achieve a successful outcome.

Will I have 20/20 vision following the Lasik procedure?

We hope so, but as with any medical procedure, there is no guarantee that you will have perfect vision or that you will not need distance or reading glasses again. In fact, almost everyone experiences improved vision, and most see well enough to pass a driver's test without corrective lenses.

Does the Lasik procedure hurt?

The LASIK procedure itself is virtually painless. Anesthetic drops are used to numb the eye prior to the surgery. After the procedure, you may experience slight discomfort but is usually resolved by resting the eyes with a short nap.

What will my recovery be like?

Possibly a slight discomfort in the beginning, but not much more than that. Though this can vary from one patient to another, recovery is much faster and much less painful than previous procedures.

When will I be able to see after the procedure?

Results vary from patient to patient. Most patients have functional vision immediately. Full visual results are usually realized within one to three weeks.

How soon can I return to work?

Some patients return to work the day after surgery, but two to three days of rest are suggested.

What's the difference between PRK, LASIK and RK?

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) and LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) both use the VISX laser system to remove corneal tissue and thereby flatten the cornea for nearsightedness or steepen it for farsightedness. In the PRK procedure, the laser operates on the surface of the cornea.

LASIK is laser surgery to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness with or without astigmatism. The surgery is similar to PRK, but does not treat or alter the front surface of the cornea. The doctor uses an instrument called a microkeratome to create a circular flap of corneal tissue. The flap is then lifted from the cornea while the doctor uses the Excimer laser to remove small amounts of underlying tissue from the exposed cornea.

RK (Radial Keratotomy) is a non-laser procedure in which the surgeon makes a series of radial incisions into the cornea.

Refractive Visual Problems

Myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism are considered "refractive" errors that require corrective lenses to properly bend (or refract) light rays entering the eye. It is the proper refraction of light onto the retina that achieves "normal" eyesight

Myopia (Nearsightedness) means that near objects are clearer than distance objects. This occurs when your eye is too long in relation to the curvature of your cornea. Light rays entering the eye come to a focus in front of the retina which produces a blurred image.

Hyperopia (Farsightedness) means that distance objects are clearer than near objects. This occurs when your eye is too short in relation to the curvature of your cornea. Light rays entering the eye come to a focus behind the retina and this also will cause a blurred image.

Astigmatism occurs when your cornea is oval and not round in shape. Usually the cornea is shaped more like a baseball but when there is astigmatism the cornea is shaped more like a football. The result is unequal bending of light rays entering the eye. This produces two different focus points causing distortion.

Refractive visual problems are measured in units called diopters. The more nearsighted or farsighted you are the higher your prescription is in diopters.

Mild Myopia and Hyperopia	Less than 3.00 Diopters
Moderate Myopia and Hyperopia	3.10 to 6:00 Diopters
Severe Myopia and Hyperopia	6.10 to 9.00 Diopters
Extreme Myopia and Hyperopia	More than 9.10 Diopters

Mild Astigmatism	Less than 1.0 Diopters
Moderate Astigmatism	1.10 to 2.00 Diopters
Severe Astigmatism	2.10 to 3.00 Diopters
Extreme Astigmatism	More than 3.10 Diopters

How to read your prescription?

Your prescription is written in three numbers which will tell you which category you fall into.

Example: -4.00 -1.50 X 180

The first number (-4.00) identifies how much nearsightedness or farsightedness you have. The sign identifies whether you ar nearsighted (- sign) or farsighted (+ sign).

The second number (-1.50) identifies how much astigmatism you have. This number can be written with either a (+) or a (-) sign.

The third number (180) is the axis which indicates the location of your astigmatism. An axis of 180 degrees means the astigmatism is horizontal.

Therefore, -4.00 - 1.50 X 180 means that the patient is moderately nearsighted, with a moderate amount of astigmatism in a horizontal direction.

Who Qualifies as a Good Refractive Surgery Candidate?

If you decide to proceed with Laser Vision correction, you will go through three distinct steps:

The Pre-Procedure-Consultation

The Laser Procedure

Post-Procedure Care

If you have myopia, moderate hyperopia and/or astigmatism we recommend Laser Vision Correction (PRK and LASIK) as a safe and effective alternative to glasses and contact lenses. In general, to be a candidate for laser Vision Correction you should:

Be at least 18 years of age or older

Have stable vision for a year prior to the procedure

Be free of certain diseases of the cornea and retina

Be in good general health

Aside from these general requirements, we recommend that you ask our eye doctor or call our office for a refractive surgery consultation. Learning everything you can about your options is the key to making an informed decision. The consultation process will help you to understand what you can reasonably expect from the procedure.

After your pre-procedure consultation it would be your decision to proceed with Laser Vision Correction. If you wish to have surgery, our office will schedule you an appointment with a Laser Center. Currently we recommend The Laser EyeCare Center of Stillwater (www.stillwaterlasik.com) for most procedures. After the Laser Surgery we would see you back in our office the following morning for your first post-procedure visit. The remaining post-procedure visits would be at our office in Stillwater or Pawnee.

Results of Laser Correction

It is best for you not to think of the procedure as eliminating your need for glasses, but rather, as reducing your functional dependence upon them and improving your vision.

PRK	LASIK
Mild (<-3.00 D)
99%20/40 or better	99%20/40 or better
98%20/30 or better	98% 20/30 or better
80%20/20	84%20/20
PRK	LASIK
Moderate (<-3.10 to -6.00 D)
98%20/40 or better	99%20/40 or better
94%20/30 or better	97%20/30 or better
64%20/20	71%20/20
PRK	LASIK
Severe (<-6.10 to -9.00 D)
95%20/40 or better	99%20/40 or better
84%20/30 or better	95%20/30 or better
43%20/20	60%20/20
	LASIK
Extreme (-9.10 to -30.00)
	75%20/40 or better
	58%20/30 or better
	30%20/20

Surgery Co-Management

Our office provides many of the surgical services such as Cataract surgery, Laser surgery, Refractive surgery and Strabismic surgery. We offer this in conjunction with the hospital and local eye surgeons.

Additionally, we have working arrangements established with other specialized eye care doctors to manage such things are retinal detachments, retinal tears and hemmorhages.

Emergency Services

Eye injuries and infections are best handled immediately. If care is delayed, recovery is more difficult and sometimes permanent eye damage can occur. Our doctors are available "on-call" 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to protect your eyesight. Call us at any time if you think an eye emergency is occurring: Please call our main number (405) 372-1715 to receive the doctor on call's cellphone/pager number. If we do not answer your call will be returned immediately

Eye Disease and Trauma

We offer primary medical eye care services. This includes treatment of acute eye infections and pain as well as chronic eye diseases such as Glaucoma. Should an emergency arise after hours please call our main number in Stillwater for the emergency number of the doctor on call. The main number is (405) 372-1715. Your call will be returned immediately.

Macular Degeneration

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in people over 65 in the United States. It is a slow, progressive, and painless condition that affects the macula, the small central part of the retina that allows you to see fine detail clearly. Many people develop AMD as part of the aging process. This disease can occur in two different forms known as either Dry AMD or Wet AMD.

The dry form of AMD accounts for ninety percent of all people with AMD. Recent studies suggest that dry AMD is caused by the aging and thinning of the tissues of the macula, a region in the center of the retina that allows people to see straight ahead and distinguish fine details. Usually vision remains functional in this form and profound vision loss is uncommon.

Wet AMD affects ten percent of people with AMD and is a much greater threat to vision. With the wet form of the disease, rapidly growing abnormal blood vessels develop under the central area of the retina. These vessels begin leaking fluid and blood that can cause severe loss of central vision. Laser surgery is a standard treatment for treating these leaky vessels. This treatment is limited to a small number of patients because the heat generated by the high power laser treatment can damage the retina and harm vision itself.

Clinical research trials are underway to investigate a new potential treatment for the wet form of AMD. PhotoPoint is an experimental treatment that may slow down or halt the progression of wet AMD. PhotoPoint, generally known as photodynamic therapy, uses a light-activated (photoreactive) drug in combination with a low power red light. During the PhotoPoint office procedure, the patient receives an intravenous (IV) infusion of the photoreactive drug SnET2. The drug circulates to the abnormal blood vessels located under the macula of the retina. A short time later, a low-power laser beam is aimed at the macula through the pupil of the e