“We do a lot of traveling by car all over the country, and
I was having trouble reading the overhead signs. I was always concerned that I
wasn’t on the right road.
“My wife and I live in a golfing community, and I play but
could no longer follow the flight of the ball. It was no fun. I needed someone
to hold the pin for me to try for a 20-foot putt, and I wouldn’t even speak to
people I’ve known for years when we passed, because I couldn’t see them well
enough to recognize them.
“But still, I kept putting off visits to an eye doctor.”
Buster admits it was probably a combination of a little
fear and a touch of laziness that kept him from seeking help.
“Then my wife’s nurse practitioner told her about Dr.
Mallon and the Center for Advanced Eye Care,” recalls Buster. “By then I knew I
had to do something about my eyesight, so I scheduled an appointment.”
William J. Mallon, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist
and fellowship-trained ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeon, is
founder of the Center for Advanced Eye Care.
“The appointment was really a pleasant experience,”
remembers Buster. “Dr. Mallon explained everything in depth, and the staff were
so professional and committed that they made me feel right at ease. There were
multiple tests — different from any I had ever had before.”
“When a patient comes in for an appointment, we perform a
full eye exam, including dilation and refraction, which determines what a
patient’s best vision is,” explains Dr. Mallon. “We may also perform special
testing called
brightness acuity testing,
which helps determine what someone sees in the real world. As an example,
someone seeing a golf ball against a blue or white sky is significantly
different from seeing the high contrast of black letters on the white
background of an eye chart in our office.
“Once we determine someone has a visually significant
cataract, it is up to them to decide when and if they should have it
removed. I consider myself a
navigator; I try to give good direction, but ultimately patients are the
captains of their own ship and have to make the decision about when to have
surgery.”
Once Buster learned that he had cataracts, he scheduled
surgery on his right eye for the end of June and surgery on his left eye for
the beginning of July 2006.
“Several types of lens implants are available today,”
educates Dr. Mallon. “Along with the monofocal lens, there is the
crystalens
accommodating intraocular
lens, which is a hinged implant that accommodates or moves to focus. Then there
are multifocal lenses such as the ReSTOR and ReZoom lenses, which provide more
than one focal distance.
“Obviously it’s an exciting time for cataract and
refractive surgery. However, patients’ expectations need to be realistic. Not
all technologies are good for every patient.”
Buster says Dr. Mallon spent a lot of time educating him
as to what options were available.
“With today’s improved predictability of cataract surgery,
we are usually able to reduce patients’ dependence on eyeglasses for either
distance vision or near vision, and sometimes for both,” observes Dr. Mallon.
“I really listen to my patients and spend enough time with each one to find out
what is going to work best for that patient before selecting the right lens
implants. Additionally, we use two techniques — the Immersion A-scan and the
IOL Master — to measure the eye to provide the most accurate results.”
Buster chose to have ReZoom lens implants.
No needle anywhere
Among the more innovative procedures Dr. Mallon performs
in his practice is a cataract removal that does not require injections,
stitches, or an eye patch afterward.
Although cataract surgery is commonly presented to
patients today as a “no-needle, no-stitch, no-patch” procedure, Dr. Mallon
further clarifies the specific procedure he performs. “In my practice, no
needle means no needle anywhere. I numb the eye with anesthetic drops, and then
during the procedure I use what I call
verbal
anesthesia,
meaning that patients and I communicate quietly with each other
until everything has been completed. I stay in touch with how they are feeling,
provide reassurance when needed, and let them know what to expect. This
interaction keeps patients relaxed throughout the entire cataract removal and
lens implantation.”
Dr. Mallon’s success in putting his patients at ease and
talking them through procedures without the need for introducing the risks
associated with IV sedation stems from his innate sensitivity to their
feelings.
“It’s normal to be nervous about any surgery,” says Dr.
Mallon, “but I have found that with soothing words and a little extra effort on
my part, I am able to keep my patients relaxed.”
“Dr. Mallon is terrific to work with,” reflects Buster. “He
is so knowledgeable. He talked me through the entire procedure.”
“In addition,
I place the incision in the temporal cornea, which is much less likely to cause
unwanted postoperative astigmatism,” educates Dr. Mallon. “The placement of the
incision also allows it to seal without stitches. A more traditional incision
location in the superior part of the eye is a common cause of induced
astigmatism and tends to be less stable over time. I have not used that type of
incision in eight years.”
It is attention to these types of details that determines
the long-term success of the surgery and increases patient satisfaction.
Safer cataract removal
Dr. Mallon employs a procedure — used for over two decades
— called phacoemulsification (
phaco
for short), which uses ultrasound energy to break the natural lens into small
pieces that are then gently vacuumed from the eye.
“When using the older phacoemulsification technology, heat
can build up at the ultrasound tip, particularly when the cataracts are very
dense and require a significant amount of ultrasound power. The resulting heat
build-up in the eye has the potential to cause burns or injuries to the tissues
around the incision. These injuries can cause astigmatism or wound shrinkage
that can distort vision.”
Fortunately, the problem of heat build-up has now been
solved. An upgrade, referred to as
cold
phaco
, prevents heating of the ultrasound tip. “Because it reduces the
amount of energy used,” educates Dr. Mallon, “the procedure is safer and more
efficient and results in a quicker recovery.”
The doctor adds that once the cataract is safely removed,
a lens implant is then positioned in the eye to replace the original, natural
lens.
Excellent results
“It’s a whole new world out there,” exclaims Buster. “I
have no more need for eye glasses; there’s no more squinting at written words
and no more guessing where my golf ball landed. Now I not only recognize my
friends, but I also help them find their golf balls.
“Highway driving has become much easier, too, and with
that has come a whole new confidence.
“I have outstanding clarity now; it’s incredible. I never
realized life could be so nice.”