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Comprehensive Eye Examinations
Contrary to popular belief, your clarity of vision is only one of the many concerns we have for your eyes. During the visual examination, the health of your eyes (both inside and out) is also evaluated carefully. By studying the blood vessels and retina, toward the back of your eye, many major eye diseases (or chances of one occurring)can be detected, such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes, and macular degeneration. We provide pre- and post-operative care for cataract and LASIK refractive surgery patients, as well as medical treatment for glaucoma, external diseases of the eye and emergency eye injury treatment.
Teamwork is important not only in sports, but in using your eyes as well. Several tests are performed during the examination to see how well your eyes work together. Depth perception, color vision, and your abiltiy to change focus are tested. We also have a visual fields computer that checks the total area you see at any one time, including your central and your peripheral vision to help assess the health of the retina.
At the end of the examination, we will be able to tell you what prescription your eyes need to function at their peak.
Contact Lenses
Our professionals can help fit you into a pair of lenses that is just right for you. We are experts in fitting contact lenses and can handle the most specialized needs. Whether rigid or soft lenses, we are experienced in handling the most difficult of prescriptions.
If you have allergies, then you know allergies can be particularly annoying to contact lens wearers. In the past many people had to quit wearing their lenses during the allergy season. However, new lens materials and allergy medications have made it possible for these people to eliminate the burning itchy eyes associated with allergies. Prescription medications such as Patanol and Alocril are amazingly effective and safe even in children as young as three. Let us know when you come in for your appointment if you have special allergy needs and we will be happy to help you.
Optical Dispensing
Our highly qualified staff are able to adjust and fit your glasses to you for extended comfort and vision. We are here to help you with your frame selection and explain the many lens options including hi-index thin lenses, anti-reflection coating, tints and other options to make the lenses cosmetically appealing. We can also fit you with a prescription to allow you to enjoy and participate in both sports and hobbies.
Laser Vision Correction (Lasik)
Most people with vision correction issues are wanting to know more about LASIK and whether it is right for them. Here is a brief description of the procedure;
A flap is surgically cut in the cornea and gently folded back. An Excimer Laser is used to reshape the cornea into a flatter shape (this is much like a contact lens corrects vision by forming a new shape on the cornea). The flap is then put back in place, acting like a natural bandage. The healing process is quick and the discomfort level is quite low.
People will often say that they did not feel anything, and could see well the very first day. Most people have improved vision in 24-48 hours. but it must be noted that each person will heal at a different rate. Vision, although greatly improved immediately after surgery, often continues to improve for some weeks, even months.
LASIK is not for everyone. People's eyes are different so even though you may have had a friend who has had LASIK, it may not be the best course of treatment for you. If you are interested in laser vision correction, we will be happy to guide you in picking the right surgeon, procedure and laser appropriate for you.
After the procedure, we take great care to monitor your eyes and adjust your medication for the best possible results.
Eye Infections, Eye Injuries, Dry Eyes
Our office provides emergency services for eye infections and eye injuries. Please call our office at 307-682-2020 during office hours. Our staff will work with you to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. After hours or on weekends, feel free to call one of our doctors at home for assistance. State of the art microscopes allow us to examine the front surface of the eye and facial areas around the eye for infection or injury. After assessing the extent of the injury or infection a treatment plan will be formulated and explained to you. Treatment may include medications and supportive care. Follow-up visits to monitor your recovery will be scheduled as needed.
Dry Eyes: Symptoms include scratchy eyes, burning, mild redness and gritty feeling eyes. Oral medications, reading, computer tasks and dry environments may aggravate marginally dry eyes. Dry eyes can be diagnosed by using dyes to observe tear patterns, evaluation of the amount of tears on the front of the eye and from review of your symptoms. Treatment may include artificial tears; eye drops for treating allergies; and/or punctal plugs inserted in the tear drainage canals. Permanent plugs and restasis can be covered under most medical insurance plans.
Eye Diseases; Cataracts, Glaucoma, Diabetes
Cataracts: The natural lens in the eye gradually becomes less clear as we get older. When opacities develop in the lens and the lens gets too hazy, vision will be impaired. Our office can diagnose and manage cataract care. When the cataract affects the vision to the extent that you cannot read or see distant objects comfortably, we will recommend cataract surgery. Our office co-manages with cataract specialists that are proven experts in cataract surgery. Cataract surgery can provide you with a bright new world of vision.
Glaucoma: Glaucoma gradually destroys the optic nerve tissue in the back of the eye. The greatest danger of glaucoma stems from the fact that the disease is painless and without obvious symptoms until significant damage has occurred. The most common cause is from pressure being too high inside the eye, but vascular disease and other diseases can also cause glaucoma. We always monitor for glaucoma during routine eye examinations. Tests include checking the pressure of the eye, screening for peripheral vision defects and analyzing the appearance of the optic nerve. If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, we typically prescribe medications that lower the eye pressure. Most forms of glaucoma are successfully treated with eye drops. Laser treatments and eye surgery are secondary treatments that offer alternative ways to treat more advanced glaucoma.
Diabetes: Diabetic patients should have a dilated retinal examination each year. Laser treatments have proven to slow the progression of retinal eye disease for many patients. Diabetes often stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in the back of the eye, which ultimately leak and damage the retina. If this condition is discovered early, laser treatment can destroy these vessels. We have the latest instruments used to detect changes in the back of the eye. If we discover advancing diabetic eye disease that can be treated or needs further evaluation, we will refer you for consultation and further testing to a board certified retinal specialist.
Vision Therapy
Vision is more than just seeing 20/20. Eye teaming, muscle tracking, and accurate focusing are a few of the skills necessary for good vision. These skills are especially important in children when learning and reading.
Many children who are having difficulty in school, often have underlying vision problems. Vision therapy can be used to improve and strengthen eye muscle function used for tasks such as eye teaming, tracking and focusing, as well as to improve visual processing and pathways.
Our goal for vision therapy patients is always to make learning, reading and life skills easier for our patients through individualized training programs.
If your child has been struggling with reading or learning, or if you suspect any difficulty with visual skills, be sure and ask us about vision therapy as an option.
Low Vision Services
People who have lost eyesight due to injuries or eye disease need special types of products to help them function as independently as possible. We offer a full range of these products through our office. Our paraoptometric staff is trained to demonstrate the use of some of these devices. They range all the way from a simple hand magnifier to a closed circuit TV system. In addition, we can direct those who have low vision problems to products that will help them carry on the day-to-day tasks that they need to perform. In some cases we can set up a program for the low vision patient with the National Library of Congress to receive “books on tapes”, which is a service for the blind.
Insurance & Payments
T o view your VSP insurance eligibility click on the Related LInks tab above and follow the directions.
We bill most Insurance. However there are a few we don't. Please call to verify with office.
We accept: Cash, Checks, Visa, Master Card and Discover.
New Technology
First, we added a Pachymeter. This is used to measure the thickness of the cornea. The cornea is the clear window over the iris(colored part of the eye). It is used to help determine if laser refractive surgery is possible. A condition called Kerataconus, a disease of the cornea, can be monitored by following thickness changes. A new study also found that the corneal thickness plays an important part in diagnosing glaucoma. The Pachometer will help us treat this disease and, in certain situations, treat in a preventative manner.
The second piece of technology is an Autorefractor-Autokeratometer. This is a computerized instrument which takes 100 readings of each eye in a couple of seconds and gives the curvature or shape of the cornea and refraction (glasses correction). Both measurements are taken at the same time.
The third piece of technology is a Corneal Topographer. This instrument takes 8,000 point measurements of the cornea. An analogy is when topography maps are taken of the land. It measures all the "valleys" and "mountains" of your cornea. This is used on all laser refractive patients before surgery and at all post-op visits. It allows us to follow the healing process. It is done on all contact lens patients to monitor the health relationship of the lens and cornea. Small corneal changes, which may not be detected any other way, can help us keep the patient wearing the healthiest lens and also see the very best. Keratoconus can also be diagnosed and then monitored for changes to the cornea to keep the best fit contact lens and acuity.
The next piece of technology is called the Optos Panoramic 2000 Non-Mydriatic Scanning Laser Ophtholmoscope. This instrument uses 2 lasers, red and green, to obtain a picture of the retina. There is no dilation required and only 1600 are in use in the country. A wide 200 degree field of view is obtained. It takes only seconds and will be done on all patients at their annual exams. The pictures will be stored as permanent patient records. The pictures will be reviewed by the doctor and patient in the exam room. You will be able to view your own eye or that of your childs'. In the exam room the retinal picture can be magnified and moved to view different areas. This allows us to do a better job of maintaining your ocular health and monitoring any retinal disorders. Retinal disorders like glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinal detachments and diabetics or hypertensive retinopathy can be diagnosed and monitored. This is an unbelievable addition to our office to keep your ocular health our top priority.
The most exciting new technology is called the Optical Coherence Tomographer or the OCT instrument. The OCT instrument utilizes a technique called optical coherence tomography which creates images by use of special beams of light. The OCT machine can create a contour map of the optic nerve, optic cup and measure the retinal nerve fiber thickness. Beautiful high definition OCT scans and LSO fundus images provide visualization of retinal structure. HD layer maps and thickness maps reveal the critical details of histology and pathology at a glance. Advanced optics facilitate examination of patients even with cataracts or pupils as small as 2.5mm
Paragon CRT
What is Paragon CRT? Paragon CRT (Corneal Refractive Therapy) is a specially designed therapeutic contact lens that gently and temporarily reshapes the cornea while you sleep without surgery. You remove the lenses when you awake and are able to go through the day without any other correction. Paragon CRT has been proven both safe and effective for patients of all ages when worn during sleeping hours, earning this therapy FDA approval for nighttime use in 2002.
The result is great vision 24 hours a day-without the lenses during waking hours and while they are in at night- with correction of myopia (nearsightedness) and myopia with astigmatism.
Dr. Maycock received FDA certification in November 2004 and is proud to be the first to offer this service in the Gillette area. Please visit the Paragon CRT website at paragoncrt.com or call us for questions or a consultation.
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