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Complete
Eye Care Services
Founded
in 1979, Nashua
Eye Associates, PA. has become
one of the largest eye care providers in
the Nashua, Lowell, Chelmsford, Milford,
Merrimack, Hudson, Bedford, Manchester and
other Southern New Hampshire and Northern
Massachusetts locations. Together, Nashua
Eye Associates, the Nashua Optical Company,
The Contact Lens Center, and the Nashua
Eye Surgery Center are able to offer complete
eye Care services that are truly state-of-the-art.
Here
you will find a group of professional and
caring individuals, highly credentialed
in their specialties:
- American
Board Certified Ophthalmologists
- Licensed
Optometrists
- Registered
Nurses
- Ophthalmic
Technicians & Assistants
- Certified
Opticians
- Patient
Care Coordinators
- Public
Relations Coordinator
- Patient
& Office Support Staff
Our goal is
to work together to provide our patients
with the best possible eye care available.
We
Offer:
For
appointment times and to schedule an appointment,
please call 1(603) 882-9800.
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Insurance
and Payment Policies
At
Nashua Eye Associates, we are very mindful
of keeping eye care costs down. For this
reason we contract with many of the area's
health insurance programs. If you are unsure
if we participate with your health care
plan, please check with our billing office.
It
is important to determine what procedures
and items your insurance pays for, as coverage
varies. You are responsible for the portion
of your charge not covered by insurance
in accordance with our payment policy.
A
clear understanding about fees and payments
is important. We would be happy to answer
your questions relating to insurance and
billing mailers.
To
speak with a representative in our billing
department you may call directly (603) 882-7143.
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LASIK ( : watch our
Lasik Videos )
LASIK
surgery is a safe, modern procedure that
utilizes the precision of the excimer laser
to drastically improve vision. How effective
is the LASIK procedure? For many patients,
LASIK is overwhelmingly successful, allowing
many to pass a driver's test without the
use of eyeglasses or corrective lenses.
In a small number of cases, an additional
procedure may need to be performed to fine-tune
a patient's eyesight.
The
Procedure
Harnessing the precision of the excimer
laser, the LASIK procedure reshapes the
cornea, improving the eye's ability to refract
light. The surgeon begins by sliding a microkeratome
across the cornea, folding back its outermost
layer. The excimer laser then sends gentle
pulses of ultraviolet light to reshape the
cornea. This process takes approximately
one minute, and is accurate to within .25
microns. The excimer laser beam can be adjusted
to account for serious myopia (nearsightedness),
farsightedness and astigmatism. Once the
cornea has been reshaped, its outermost
layer is replaced. Patients usually recover
very quickly from a LASIK procedure due
to the cornea's extraordinary ability to
heal. LASIK is performed on an outpatient
basis and takes approximately one half-hour.
The surgeon will apply an "eye drop"
anesthesia to insure a painless process.
Following the procedure, patients may experience
some mild discomfort, although this is alleviated
through medication. The vast majority of
patients experience significant improvement
in their sight within the first 24 hours.
A small percentage of patients may have
temporarily blurred or fluctuating vision.
Patients can usually return to work and
resume their normal activities a day after
the surgery.
The
Best Candidate
LASIK is
ideal for patients past the age of 18 whose
corneas are healthy and strong. If your
prescription has increased significantly
within the past year, you should consider
delaying your LASIK procedure. The LASIK
procedure should not be performed on patients
who suffer from certain medical conditions,
or on pregnant women.
LASEK
This
procedure resembles LASIK and PRK. With
laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK)
the surgeon makes an ultra-thin flap of
corneal epithelium and then applies an alcohol
solution to loosen the flap which makes
it easy to manipulate.
The
surgeon then uses an eximer laser to ablate
the corneal tissue to resculpture the contour
fo the eye. Following that, the surgeon
rolls back the epithelial flap to where
it belongs. Antibiotic drops are prescribed
and a clear contact lens is placed on the
eye for a few days.
The
LASEK procedure is gaining popularity because
it is now available for those patients who
are unable to have LASIK due to thin corneas,
and for those people who would otherwise
need PRK. LASEK helps reduce the recovery
time of PRK and postoperative pain.
Your
Eye Examination
A
normal examination includes an internal
and external examination of the eye, refraction
for visual correction, a painless glaucoma
test and muscle balance test. We may also
use drops to dilate your pupils for a more
extensive examination of the back of your
eye. Although the drops do not usually disturb
distance vision, they can increase the eyes
sensitivity to light temporarily. It may
be helpful to have sunglasses, or arrange
for transportation home after this procedure.
 Please
bring your glasses and a list of any medications
you may be taking. You will be asked about
your general health, including any operations
or medical treatment, any allergies and
about your family's medical and eye history.
To
assist the doctors, our staff will be working
with you throughout the examination process.
Our technicians perform various data gathering
tests, utilizing the latest in ophthalmic
equipment.
If
needed, special procedures are available
on site, such as visual field testing, fundus
photography, or laser treatment.
The
outlook for good vision is excellent when
you have your eyes checked regularly. We
recommend that healthy adults have a check-up
every two to three years. For those over
60 years old, an exam every one to two years
is recommended. The frequency of examinations
for those with a particular eye or health
problem, such as diabetes, should be set
on an individual basis. Contact lens wearers
should be seen every year. Children with
no obvious problem should be seen at about
age three.
Our
staff will strive in every way to make your
visit a pleasant one.
Laser Equipment Available
To Help Diagnose Glaucoma
Laser scanning technology,
called the Gdx Nerve Fiber Analyzer, is
being used to help in the diagnosis and
follow-up of glaucoma. The GDx has shown
to quickly and accurately determine whether
a patient may have signs of glaucoma damage,
prior to any visual loss.
Glaucoma is caused by
excessive fluid pressure inside the eye.
The fluid, called aqueous humor, circulates
in the eye to supply nutrients and oxygen
to the cornea and lens. Normally the fluid
produced drains away through microscopic
channels in the eye. Glaucoma results when
the fluid does not drain away properly.
The resulting increased pressure damages
the optic nerve and causes loss of vision.
Usually this occurs slowly without symptoms
or discomfort.
A person may have
glaucoma over several months or years without
knowing it. By the time a person notices
a loss of vision, a significant part of
their vision may be lost. For this reason,
periodic eye examinations to monitor the
eyes for any changes is important to maintain
good vision.
A New Imaging Device to
Help Analyze Eye Disease
New information to analyze
certain eye diseases is now available due
to an instrument that uses an optical measurement
known as low-coherence interferometry. The
Optical Coherence Tomography, or OCT, is
much like that of an ultrasound, but uses
light instead of sound. The testing is performed
in the office, with the patient seated comfortably
at the tomographer. No drops are needed
and there is no probe to eye contact, making
the test more patient friendly. The resulting
scanned data helps diagnose and manage the
care of individuals with glaucoma or retinal
disease. This technology adds to the clinical
examination for detection of eye changes.
The OCT is not a substitute for other diagnostic
testing, but enhances the assessment.
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The
Contact Lens Center At Nashua Eye Associates
At The Contact
Lens Center we believe that contact lens
success depends on the fit, instruction,
and follow-up care you receive from you
eye care professionals.
We specialize in contact
lens fitting and care, and offer many excellent
quality contact lenses. We prefer to custom
design lenses for patients with astigmatism
or more complicated prescriptions.
Our trained technicians
work closely with the doctor gathering important
eye measurements used in the fitting process.
State-of-the-art equipment, such as the
corneal topographer, provides more accurate
information to help achieve a better lens
fit. During individualized training sessions,
our technicians assist new contact lens
wearers to master the proper care and handling
of lenses.
Wearing schedules, optimum
replacement schedules and effective solution
care systems are tailored to each patient's
needs. Everything you need to care for your
lenses is here. Initial lens care solutions
are provided when you receive your new lenses.
We recommend the proper cleaning regimen
for your specific lenses so that you can
have a safe, enjoyable, and trouble-free
time wearing your contact lenses.
Our doctors recommend
regular follow-up visits to monitor the
health of you eyes and the condition of
you lenses. If you need a replacement lens
in a hurry, we probably have it in stock.
If not, in most cases we are able to offer
a comparable substitution and will place
your order that day.
For more information
about contact lenses and a no obligation
trial contact lens evaluation, visit the
Contact Lens Center at Nashua Eye Associates
(Nashua, Merrimack, Milford, or Hudson).
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Medical
and Surgical Treatment
Refractive Surgery is
a general term that applies to several procedures
that correct for "refractive errors"
of the eyes. When "refractive errors"
occur, patients suffer from myopia (nearsightedness),
farsightedness, or astigmatism. Refractive
surgery reshapes the eye's cornea, allowing
light rays to be more accurately focused
on the retina.
Refractive surgery eliminates
the need for glasses or corrective lenses.
After refractive surgery is performed, many
patients have vision comparable to, or greater
than, 20/40. In some cases, another procedure
is necessary to further improve a patient's
eyesight. Patients past the age of 40 may,
in the future, be required to use reading
glasses to see up close. Refractive surgery
is performed on an outpatient basis. Most
patients return to their normal routine
in one to two days.
Incisional
Procedures
Photo-Refractive
Keratectomy (PRK)
PRK
is a refractive procedure that utilizes
the excimer laser to improve nearsightedness,
farsightedness, and astigmatism. The amount
of tissue reshaped depends on the severity
of the prescription. In most cases, 5 to
10 percent of the cornea is removed. Once
the cornea has flattened, light rays are
more easily focused upon the retina.
Excimer
Laser Procedures
Originally
developed in the early 1980's to etch computer
chips, the excimer laser is ideally suited
for refractive surgery of the eye. The greatest
advantage of the excimer laser is that,
unlike other types of laser, it does not
damage tissues surrounding the eye. The
excimer laser sends ultraviolet light and
pulses of energy that disrupt the bonds
between corneal cells; attaining an accuracy
to within .25 microns. The excimer laser
has been utilized for refractive surgery
since 1988, and has since undergone many
improvements. Today, the excimer laser is
used throughout the world to correct for
nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
SLT
Open angle glaucoma
is the most common type of glaucoma disease,
found in people over the age of 40 and a
leading cause of blindness in the United
States. Glaucoma is a silent disease. Those
affected have no symptoms unless the disease
is advanced. Glaucoma is usually caused
by an imbalance of fluid production within
the eye. When fluid pressure inside the
eye increases, damage to the optic nerve
occurs. Left untreated, increased optic
nerve damage can cause vision loss or blindness.
Once diagnosed, treatment for open angle
glaucoma is commonly eye drops. When ineffective,
laser treatment is advised. A new procedure
called SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty)
was specifically designed for the treatment
of open angle glaucoma. The SLT laser procedure
is performed in the doctors office and takes
about 15-20 minutes. Two hours in the office
should be planned to include the preoperative
time and so that the eye can be checked
after treatment. Follow-up visits after
the procedure are necessary.
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Particle
Skin Resurfacing™
Particle Skin Resurfacing
is a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure
that uses a light spray of fine crystals
to remove the outer layer of skin and make
the face more radiant. Treatment is helpful
for problem skin conditions such as blackheads,
whiteheads, fine wrinkles, sundamaged skin,
acne prone skin, superficial age spots,
and oily skin. The average procedure takes
about 30 minutes and many people notice
an improvement after the first treatment.
Depending on the skin condition when repeated
once a week over a five to six week period,
most people will notice at least a 50% improvement
in the texture, color, and appearance of
the skin. There is minimal irritation during
and after treament and chemical and laser
treatments there is no need to worry about
recuperation time.
Evaluation of your
skin type is made by our ophthalmologists.
During this consultation, a comprehensive
treatment plan is designed to meet your
needs and your expectations.
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New
Test for Dry Eye Condition
Dry eyes is very
common condition and persists for many individuals.
The "Lactoferrin Microassay System"
is now available to collect tear samples
and determines the quality of those tears.
This is a quick painless test which can
be performed in the office. An abnormal
result shows the degree of lacrimal gland
dysfunction.
The "Lactoferrin"
test is ordered based on the individual's
complaints of dry eye syndrome, medical
or ocular history, and often prior to certain
eye surgery. The condition of dry eyes usually
causes sensations of burning, itching, blurred
vision and reflex tearing. People with arthritis,
diabetes, Sjogrens syndrome, acne rosacea,
and many other conditions are often sufferers
of dry eyes. Contact lens wearers, and post-menopausal
women also may experience dry eyes.
Individuals do well
using artifical tears and/or lubricating
ointments which are placed in the eyes on
a regular basis. Sometimes other options
need to be considered to improve the dry
eye situtation. Advances have made it possible
to conserve a persons own tears and improve
this problem.
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LADARVision
CustomCornea
Those who may
be candidates for laser eye surgery now
have access to the latest development
in LASIK technology, as Nashua Eye Associates
is now using the first-of-its-kind, wavefront-guided
LADARVision® excimer laser system.
Dr. Charles E. Wingate, Jr. and Dr. John J. Dagianis report that laser vision correction is even easier and more precise. According to Dr. Dagianis, "Patients were often worried that normal eye movement would affect the accuracy of the laser procedure. Until now, there hasn't been a system that actively tracked eye movement. Thanks to a newly developed system called LADARVision®, the patient's concerns have been alleviated."
Employing the same technology NASA uses in its space program, Autonomous Technologies, the manufacturer of LADARVision utilizes a small-beam scanning laser in its application to laser vision correction. It combines the small diameter excimer laser and radar active eye tracking that delivers calculated pulses to the cornea. The tracker scans across the cornea and is able to check the eye's position 4,000 times per second, so even involuntary eye movements are compensated for by the sophisticated laser system. This revolutionary new laser is the first U.S. approved active eye tracking scanning system. Currently, there is only one laser of this type in New England.
Dr. Wingate confirms, "Laser vision correction has proven to be a safe and effective procedure to reduce or correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The refractive procedures that Dr. Dagianis and I have performed in the past to reduce a person's dependence on glasses or contact lenses have produced high quality results and have been more than exciting to the patient. Performing LASIK with the LADARVision system brings us into the new millennium and will help even more people see naturally."
 The U.S. Food & Drug
Administration recently approved this new
system for wavefront-guided laser eye surgery
in the treatment of nearsightedness. With
this new system, made up of the LADARVision® 4000
excimer laser system and the new LADARWave™ diagnostic
device, surgeons can, for the first time,
measure and treat visual disorders that
previously could not even be detected.
Several types of imperfections, referred
to as lower and higher-order aberrations,
exist within the eye and can affect both
a person’s visual acuity and the
quality of vision. To date, only lower-order
aberrations, which include nearsightedness,
farsightedness and astigmatism, could be
measured and treated. However, lower-order
aberrations do not account for all potential
vision disorders. Higher-order aberrations
can also have a significant impact on a
person’s quality of vision, and cannot
be corrected with glasses, contacts or
conventional LASIK. According to experts
in the field of ophthalmology, higher-order
aberrations are linked to visual disturbances
such as glare and halos that may cause
night vision problems and are sometimes
associated with conventional LASIK surgery.
Click Here to see an animation of how CustomCornea works.
Click Here to see an animation about LADARVision.
The LADARVision system is the first-and-only
FDA approved eye surgery system that can
measure both lower- and higher-order aberrations,
and can actually be used to treat each
patient’s unique pattern of lower-
and higher-order visual errors. This highly
customized approach creates a new laser
eye surgery procedure, called CUSTOMCORNEA®,
that improves both visual acuity, which
is measured against standard numerical
outcomes such as 20/20, and the overall
quality of vision, such as increased visual
crispness and clarity. Visual acuity of
20/20, considered by most as the standard
for vision, has been traditionally measured
by a letter chart, which does not provide
for detection of many of the disorders
that may affect vision.
In CUSTOMCORNEA clinical trials, nearly
80 percent of patients who underwent the
new laser eye surgery procedure achieved
20/20 vision, but even more importantly,
they reported a quality of vision superior
to that achieved with conventional LASIK.
How It Works
In order to create
the customized map unique to each patient’s eye, the
LADARWave™ device transmits a safe
ray of light into the patient’s eye.
The light is then reflected back off the
retina, out through the pupil, and into
the device, where the reflected wave of
light is received and arranged into a unique
pattern that captures the patient’s
lower- and higher-order aberrations. All
of these visual irregularities are then
displayed as a three-dimensional map, referred
to as a wavefront map. This information
is then electronically transferred to the
LADARVision® 4000 excimer laser, and
computer-matched to the eye’s position,
enabling the surgeon to customize the LASIK
procedure to each patient’s unique
visual requirements. This is the only FDA-approved
system that actually uses wavefront data
to guide laser treatment.
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