Several contact lenses have become available for our patients who have astigmatism or need reading glasses.  So, if you have been told you are not a candidate for contact lenses, or became frustrated with lenses that were not a good fit for you, now may be your time to check into it again.  The latest design and materials make these new lenses more comfortable and visually superior to previous lenses on the market giving us more options for our patients.  All of our optometrists can discuss your specific vision need with you and whether it is eyeglasses, contact lenses or even refractive surgery like LASIK or ICL, we are here to share the latest technology available with you.  Call the Williamson Eye Center today  at 225- 924-2020 to schedule  your appointment.

-  Christine Norred, OD

The Williamson Eye Center offers the entire family of SynergEyes lenses.  Their first generation of lenses includes SynergEyes A for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.  SynergEyes PS is for patients with refractive errors from corneal surgery such as RK, LASIK or corneal transplants. Also, for the over 40 population, SynergEyes now has the multifocal lens, which provides good distance and near vision.  We are very excited about the KC and CLEAR KONE series which are designed for any corneal abnormalities and keratoconus.

Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition where the cornea things, becomes irregularly shaped and bulges.  It can make wearing contacts impossible. We have some patients who have to give up their jobs or give up driving due to keratoconus.  Many are surprised to learn that we have a contact lens option for them that can potentially offer 20/20 vision again.

SynergEyes has introduced its second generation of lenses called Duette. Now available to the public, Duette is the first silicone hydrogel hybrid lens specially designed for patients with normal corneas.  These lenses provide superior correction for most soft lens patients and definitely offer all-day comfort as compared to rigid lens.

Insurance does not typically cover these lenses.  The cost can range from $100 to $300. For more information or to make an appointment in our Gonzales office call 225-644-7525.

- Edwin Adams, OD

Until recently, those wanting to wear contacts had only two choices, hard or soft lenses.  Now, a new breakthrough technology has produced a hybrid contact lens providing even hard-to-fit patients with crisp high-definition vision without sacrificing comfort, all in one lens.

SynergEyes manufactures these revolutionary hybrid contact lenses with a rigid gas permeable center delivering clear, crisp vision while the soft skirt on the outer rim provides all-day comfort and keeps the lens stable so debris doesn’t get underneath the lens.  This unique design allows the lens to be slightly lifted off the eye so it isn’t resting on the cornea, which makes it more comfortable.

The doctors at Williamson Eye Center in Gonzales have been working with the SynergEyes Contact Lens since the release of these products.  The ideal candidates for SynergEyes products are a range of current hard and soft lens wearers who have high visual demands due to their professions or active lifestyles.

For more information you can contact the Gonzales location of the Williamson Eye Center at 225-644-7525

-  Edwin Adams, OD

In our last blog I talked about the importance of identifying and treating Dry Eye. Now, let’s talk about treatment options:

1)      Artificial tears: These drops can vary in consistency which can act as a replacement for one’s natural tears.  Type, frequency, and duration of these tears vary on severity of the problem and overall treatment strategy. These are typically purchased over the counter at any pharmacy.

2)      Anti-inflammatory eye drops: It may be prudent to use some of these medications for usually a relatively brief period of time to bring some relief to the acute dry eye sufferer.  A prescription for this drop is usually required.

3)      Punctal plugs:  Everyone, normally, has four very small openings on the inside (nasal) corner of their upper and lower eyelids.  These openings act as part of a drainage system which wick tears away from the eye’s surface.  If our goal is to increase the tear film then very small, “plugs” may be placed into these openings to help keep more tears on the eye surface where it can help lubricate the eye.  This is a quick, simple, and pain-free maneuver.  It is typically covered by your medical insurance.

4)      Restasis eye drops: This prescription drop has helped revolutionize the treatment of dry eye. It is unique because when installed in the eye just twice a day, it helps a person make more of their own natural tears.  Unfortunately, Restasis, alone, is usually not enough to help in this initial treatment.  A combination of the above mentioned treatments may be required.

5)      Oasis  Tears is a preservative-free drop that we have found to dramatically help relieve and treat Dry Eye Syndrome.  It has a formulation of glycerin and a highly elastic viscoadaptive agent which keep the tears on the eye surface longer. This drop can only be purchased at our eye center locations.

6)      Finally, certain nutritional supplements such as Omega 3 fatty acids have been anecdotally helpful with dry eye.

The Williamson Eye Center offers a Dry Eye Evaluation which is typically covered by your medical insurance plan.  Please call 924-2020 to schedule your appointment today.

Brett Williamson, P.A.

Right now is an exciting time for those looking for alternatives to wearing prescription lenses.  Procedures including  iLASIK and Refractive lens options such as ICL, Crystalens, and ReStor are available at the Williamson Eye Center to an ever-widening group of people.

However, those of us with dry eyes must first be identified and the condition addressed in order to optimize vision outcome.  The Williamson Eye Center uses multiple measures to determine the severity of Dry Eye Syndrome and then we assign patients to a dry eye severity scale.  Rank on this scale thus determines what steps we take in addressing this lack of an adequate tear film. This is critical because when one stops to think about it, our tear film is actually the first area that light must pass through before ever reaching the eye itself.  A thin or oily tear film on the surface of the cornea will hamper the quality of our vision and tears are essential for keeping our eyes healthy and our vision clear.

Fortunately, there are treatments we can offer to address dry eye.  I will discuss these measures on our next blog.  So keep reading friends and ask us questions anytime.

J. Brett Williamson, PA-C

Here at Williamson Eye Center, we pride ourselves on providing our patients with their best possible vision, no matter the cost.  That’s why we strive to stay on the leading edge of vision correction technology, such as our commitment to the very best LASIK technology available in the US:  iLASIK.

But our ultimate goal is simply to have our patients love their vision.

That’s why we always say that a positive recommendation to a friend or a family member is the biggest compliment we can receive.  It tells us that you’re happy with your result, and that you trust us with your loved one’s vision.

Nowhere is this ever more evident than with our very own Kathy Day.  Ever since she was thrilled with her vision, she’s been telling everyone in her family about how great her experience was.  According to Kathy:  ”We found a surgeon we believe in and trust….Dr. Charles Williamson!!”

To this day, 9 members of her family have trusted Williamson Eye Center with their LASIK procedure:

OUR LASIK FAMILY TREE

Saundra had LASIK in 2005
Her son Lance had LASIK in 2006
His aunt Janette had LASIK in 2006
Her daughter Rebekah had LASIK in 2006
Her husband Rob had LASIK in 2008
His sister in law Rachel had LASIK in 2010
Her cousin Emily had LASIK in 2011
Her sister Valerie had LASIK in 2011

Much thanks to Kathy and her wonderful family for putting so much trust in us!  It’s stories like these that keep us motivated to continue to stay on the leading edge of vision care, like we have for over 4 generations!

Welcome to the blog of Williamson Eye Center, Baton Rouge’s most trusted eye care center for more than four generations.  Be sure and visit often, as we will be posting interesting and educational information on the subject of eye care, and especially vision correction.

If you are interested in learning more about our center, please visit our website.  There, you can see a list of all the services we offer, and learn more about the amazing qualifications of our doctors. As proponents of the most progressive vision care available to administer, we strive to stay on the leading edge of the industry.  Besides, it’s your vision and you don’t want it to get left behind!

A perfect example is our commitment to the iLASIK treatment for every one of our LASIK patients.  It’s the most technologically advanced treatment available, and coupled with Dr. Charles Williamson’s skill, amazing results are achieved.  In fact, over 98% of our patients actually see at least 20/20, with most of them seeing even better than that!  (Don’t worry.  The other 2% are cases where a patient’s vision couldn’t be corrected all the way to 20/20, due to prescription or health issues.  But they still saw vast improvements.  Nobody has ever had any vision loss due to LASIK).

At Williamson Eye Center, we want everyone to experience what our patients already have – a complete lifestyle change thanks to iLASIK. That’s why, we’re offering an introductory special through the end of April, of a $300 savings on our iLASIK procedure!

Want to find out if you’re a candidate?  Then schedule your complimentary exam with our office by calling 927-2020 today!