Consumer Guide

Is Cloudy, Blurry Vision Robbing You of Life’s Special Moments?

How to Choose the Best Vision Correction Procedure For Your Condition

You have options available that can restore both near and distance vision

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Which of These Eyesight Symptoms Are You Experiencing?

o Difficulty with driving at night or in the rain

o Having to be ‘on top of ’ road signs to see them clearly

o Difficulty seeing near objects clearly (reading, hobbies)

o Glasses or contacts no longer effective or needing frequent prescription changes

o Hazy or blurry vision

o The need to hold things farther away to read them

o Faded, dull, or dim colors

o Difficulty looking at a computer screen

o Sensitivity to light

o Eye strain and/or difficulty focusing

Depending on how you answered these questions, you may have symptoms suggestive of age-related vision changes (Presbyopia = difficulty focusing sharply with near vision) and/or cataracts.

The good news is that in either case, you have options available that can restore both near and distance vision and reduce the need for glasses or contacts.

In this consumer guide, we explain those options to you, and answer the questions you may be asking yourself.

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Give Us The Eye Facts

What you should know about age-related vision changes (presbyopia) and cataracts.

FACT: By the age of 50, the lenses in our eyes show signs of age-related change and by the age of 65 over 90% of us will develop a cataract.

FACT: Everyone will experience some degree of presbyopia in their lifetime (difficulty focusing sharply with near vision).

FACT: Nearly half of all reported cases of presby-opia are either inadequately corrected or go completely uncorrected.

FACT: Cataracts are an age-related degenerative process resulting in clouding of the clear lens in our eye. As a result, light entering the eye becomes scattered, which creates blurry vision, faded colors, and glare at night.

FACT: Worldwide, cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss and blindness, and affect more people than glaucoma, macular degenera-tion, and diabetic retinopathy combined.

FACT: 22 million Americans over the age of 40 and 50% of Americans between the ages of 65 and 75 have vision loss related to cataracts.

FACT: While presbyopia and cataracts can’t be prevented, both can be easily detected and effectively treated.

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What Is The Best Corrective Eye Procedure For You?

While there is no single corrective eye proce-dure that’s right for every patient, thanks to advancements in

medical technology, there are several options available for you to choose from, depending on your specific eye problem, expectations, lifestyle, and budget.

If you have cataracts, surgery will involve the removal of the clouded lens of the eye and the implantation of an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Presbyopia may be treated at the same time with the implantation of multifocal or accommodating lenses to reduce your dependence on glasses.

On the opposite page is a chart of what you can expect from each of the choices available to you.

The procedure itself is a quick and painless outpa-tient procedure that typically lasts between 15 and 30 minutes and requires no overnight stay, no general anesthetic, and no stitches.

If, in addition to cataracts and/or presbyopia, you have astigmatism, your doctor should have tech-niques to correct the problem during your proce-dure. The correction of the astigmatism should provide you with clearer vision and further reduce your need for glasses.

Quick and painless outpatient procedures for your specific condition and lifestyle

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IOL DEVICE

Monofocal Lenses: These lenses provide a single focal point and help with distance vision. They are best suited for patients who don’t mind bifocals or constantly taking readers on and off to see up close.

Multifocal Lenses: These lenses are designed to have multiple focal points, which allow for clear near, intermediate, and distance vision. They are best suited for patients with active lifestyles who do not want full depen-dence on readers or bifocals.

Accommodating Lenses: This type of lens is designed to shift or move with the iris muscles in the eye to help patients focus at different distances. They are best suited for distance and intermediate (arm’s length) vision.

ADVANTAGES

Excellent distance vision.

Addresses both cata-racts and presbyopia and should dramatically reduce the need for distance and near glasses. Driving, watching TV, reading, using your cell phone/iPad/laptop, seeing price tags, menus, golf scorecard, all typically done without glasses.

Driving, watching TV, seeing price tags, menus, golf scorecard at arm’s length, all typically done without glasses. Reduces some of the on and off with readers for these kinds of near tasks. No halo effect at night.

DISADVANTAGES

Glasses are required for near or interme-diate activities such as reading, checking your cell phone/iPad or watch, computer work, seeing price tags, menus, golf scorecard, etc.

Mild halo effect around lights while driving at night (97% of patients find this does not bother their night driving).

Most patients still need readers for actual reading, newspaper, etc.

Note: There is no surgery, technology or technique that guarantees results.

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Benefits of Cataract Surgery

Although people can heal and respond differently, most patients experience the following:

3 Significantly clearer vision, typically within just a few days

3 Colors brighter and more vibrant

3 Improved confidence in driving— especially at night or in the rain

3 Less dependence on glasses or contacts

3 Return to work 2 days after surgery (with some bending/lifting restrictions)

3 Begin enjoying every precious moment in your life

Begin enjoying every precious moment in your life

Note: There is no surgery, technology or technique that guarantees results.

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Myths and Misconceptions

There are many myths and misconceptions regarding the risks of getting cataracts, cataract surgery, and the results obtained following surgery.

Here’s what you should know:

l Cataracts are not a ‘film’ in or on your eye.

l Cataract changes involve the entire lens inside your eye.

l Almost everyone will be bothered by cataracts at some point in their lifetime.

l The best time to have cataract surgery is when they interfere with consistent, good visual functioning. Cataracts do not have to be ‘ripe’ or ‘ready.’

l 18 million cataract surgeries are performed worldwide each year.

l Cataracts CANNOT be removed with LASIK.

l Within a few days after cataract surgery, you can usually read and watch TV.

l Regardless of the type of IOL you choose you still MAY NEED to wear glasses.

l 95% of patients report much improved vision following cataract surgery.

l It DOES NOT take months to recover from cataract surgery.

l Complications following cataract surgery are less than 2% nation-wide. Very good surgeons have complication rates less than 1%.

In our experience, the more informed and educated you are about your condi-tion, the better your outcome and the faster you’ll return to the quality of life you’re currently missing.

Thanks to the advanced techniques we use, these eye surgeries are safe and effective for any age group

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Corrective Eye Surgery FAQ’s

Is this the same as LASIK surgery?

No. LASIK surgery is a surgical procedure used to

correct common vision problems such as nearsighted-ness or farsightedness. It treats the surface of your eye to reduce distance glasses or contact lens prescription. It is not a procedure used for cataracts.

How much time will I need to set aside for the procedure?Typically, the actual surgery will take 15 to 30 minutes to perform. Expect to spend 3 to 4 hours at the surgery center. You will most likely be driving again and back at work within a day or two.

Is the surgery painful?Eye drops are used to numb the eye and it would be exceedingly rare for you to experience any discom-fort whatsoever. Following surgery you may experi-ence dry eye or a slight burning sensation, but these symptoms typically go away after a few days.

Am I too old (or young) for the surgery to work for me?Absolutely not. Thanks to the advanced techniques we use, cataract/presbyopia/astigmatism surgeries are safe and effective for any age group.

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If both of my eyes need surgery, can they be done at the same time?No. We generally advise patients to wait 2 weeks before having the second eye done.

Will I be completely free of glasses or contacts following the surgery?We wish we could say that 100% of our patients never had to wear glasses again, but the reality is that a small percentage (less than 10%) of our patients continue to have some dependency on glasses.

Does insurance cover the surgery?Yes, we participate with most health insurance plans, including Medicare. That said, some of the IOL devices and/or technologies we utilize are considered “premium” devices/technologies and are not covered by insurance.

How do I find out if my vision problem is related to cataracts?You need to see an ophthalmologist—a medical doctor who specializes in the evaluation and treat-ment of conditions related to the eye—who has advanced knowledge in identifying and treating cataracts. Many cataract surgeons do not offer advanced technology options or have limited expe-rience with them. Make sure your surgeon has experience and an excellent success rate with a wide variety of advanced technology options.

For more information, contact our office at (518) 450-1080, and we’ll be glad to answer any questions you may have.

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Are You Missing Life’s Special Moments Due To Poor Eyesight?

Start really enjoying your life again—reading a book, knitting, going to a movie, playing catch with your child or grandchild, driving your car, playing a round of golf—all with better vision.

If you’re ready to eliminate the cloudy, blurry vision that’s robbing you of life’s special moments, then we invite you to schedule an evaluation and personal consultation with Dr. Chris Zieker.

In less than an hour, you’ll receive a thorough assessment of your problem, and you’ll be provided with the best treatment options for your particular condition.

Reserve your personal consultation by calling Zieker Eye Ophthalmology today.

Call (518) 450-1080.

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“I strive to stay at the forefront of the latest eye care technologies and procedures so I can offer my patients a higher quality of life by restoring and improving their vision and reducing their dependency on glasses.”

Meet Dr. Christopher Zieker

EDUCATION:Nassau University East Meadow, NYMedical Center June, 2005Ophthalmology Residency

Albany Medical College Albany, NY May, 2001

Northeastern University Boston, MAPre-medical Sciences June, 1996

University of Vermont Burlington, VTB.A. Psychology May, 1993

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:American Academy of OphthalmologyAmerican Society of Cataract & Refractive SurgeryNew York State Ophthalmological Society

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:New York State Medical License September, 2005Certified VISX LASIK surgeonCertified Catalys Precision Laser System Surgeon

AWARDS:America’s Most Compassionate 2011, 2012, Physicians 2013

Best of The Saratoga Region 2012, 2014

Excellence In Small Business Award 2012by the SBA

Patients’ Choice Award 2013

VOLUNTEER:Surgical Mission to Ometepec, Mexico 2004with World Cataract Foundation

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT (518) 450-1080

14 Mountain Ledge Drive Wilton, NY 12831

www.ZiekerEye.com