Services provided at our office include:
	Comprehensive Eye Examinations		Contact Lenses
	Optical Dispensing		Laser Vision Correction
	Surgery Co-Management		Eye Infections, Eye Injuries, Dry Eyes
	Eye Diseases; Cataracts, Glaucoma, Diabetes		Optomap
	Orthokeratology (Corneal Refractive Therapy)

Comprehensive Eye Examinations

When we do eye exams, we refuse to cut corners. We always schedule ample time so you will never feel rushed. We provide complete eye care for both adults and children. Our comprehensive eye examinations check your eyes inside and out for glaucoma, cataracts and all other eye diseases as well as high blood pressure, diabetes and other systemic diseases. Your visual skills and abilities are carefully evaluated and we pride ourselves on the accuracy of our eyeglass prescriptions. In spite of our track record for highly accurate prescriptions, there are eyes that can be unstable for reasons ranging from medications to illness. In these rare cases, we will gladly re-examine the patient and remake the glasses.

Technology is rapidly changing the eye care industry. We utilize the latest in diagnostic equipment and are committed to keeping up with whatever advances will come next.

 Contact Lenses

We fit a wide range of single vision, bifocal, and specialty contact lenses.  There have been many changes in materials and designs in recent years allowing patients better vision and comfort than ever before while wearing contact lenses.  Although rigid contact lenses are a shrinking segment of the industry, we still have a large number of patients who wear them.  We also design and fit specialty contact lenses for high amounts of astigmatism and bifocal lenses for people who wish to see well without glasses. 

The gas-permeable lens materials available today far surpass those available just a few years ago in terms of eye health and comfort.

Allergies can be particularly annoying to contact lens wearers. In the past many people had to quit wearing their lenses for a month or two during the allergy season. New lens materials and allergy medications have made it possible for these people to eliminate itchy eyes. These medications such as Patanol are amazingly effective and safe even in children as young as three.

Optical Dispensing

Our optical laboratory has the latest in equipment to not only fabricate your glasses, but to maintain and repair them should they become broken or damaged. We are able to tint, coat, harden and edge spectacle lenses. We are able to provide you with any frame or lens design available. Our highly qualified opticians and staff are able to adjust and fit your glasses to you for extended comfort and vision.

Laser Vision Correction

Everyone is talking about LASIK. Our office is affiliated with TLC Laser Vision Center in Eau Claire, WI.  We perform your pre-operative exam to determine if you are a good candidate for refractive surgery and discuss options with you to determine the best procedure for your vision correction. 

Here is a brief description of laser vision correction (Lasik).

A flap is cut in the cornea and then the flap is gently folded back. An Excimer Laser is used to reshape the cornea, much like a contact lens forms a new shape on the cornea, only the laser is permanent. The flap is then put back in place, acting like a natural bandage.

The "Wow!" effect of Lasik is the very rapid recovery of vision and the decreased level of discomfort post-operatively. You hear from people that they did not feel anything, and could see well the very first day. Most people have functional vision in 24-48 hours, although this is true in some cases, it must be noted that each person will heal at a different rate. Vision, although greatly improved immediately after surgery, continues to improve for some weeks, even months.

Everyones eyes are different. Even though you may have had a friend who has had LASIK, it does not mean it is right 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. For many of you who are long-term contact lens wearers my pre-operative input can make the difference between an excellent result and a mediocre one.

Post-operatively we can monitor your eyes, and taper medications to arrive at the best possible result. After all, no one knows your eyes better than your optometrist.  We will follow you to make sure your eyes are healing properly and continue caring for your eyes years into the future.  You will continue to need regular eye health check-ups to monitor for eye diseases even if you have great vision after laser surgery. 

Surgery Co-Management

Our office provides co-management of surgical services such as cataract surgery, laser surgery, refractive surgery and strabismic surgery. We work closely with local eye surgeons should the need for surgery arise. 

Eye Infections, Eye Injuries, Dry Eyes

Our office provides emergency services for eye infections and eye injuries. Please call our Chippewa Falls office at  715-726-9077 or our Thorp office at  715-669-5631.  Our staff will work with you to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Our doctors are also available after hours.  Call our offices for emergency contact numbers.  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, bandage soft contact lenses, 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; anti-inflammatory medications; eye drops for treating allergies; and/or punctal plugs inserted in the tear drainage canals to prevent the tears from draining from the eye surface. 

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, including retinal imaging devices, automated visual field instruments, and high powered microscopes. 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 retinal specialist.

 Orthokeratology (Corneal Refractive Therapy) 

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) or Corneal Molding is a non-surgical procedure to reduce one's nearsightedness. Ortho-K lenses work by genlty reshaping the curvature of your eye with therapeutic contact lenses that you only wear during sleep. When you wake up, you remove the lenses and enjoy clear vision all day long. It's that simple! The effect is temporary lasting one to three days, so you must wear the lenses each night. These lenses are custom designed using the Wave Contact Lens Design Program.

Optomap

We are one of the few Practices in the state to have the Panoramic 200 that takes Optomap images of patient's retinas (the back of the eyes). Our doctors not only look through your pupils, which are windows into your health, they also utilize an optomap exam yearly to see 200 degrees or more of your retinas (very often eliminating the need for dilation). An optomap exam allows the doctors to look for diabetes, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, cholesterol damage, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors and alot of other diseases that, if caught early, can be treated more easily and effectively. Optomap images are stored on our computers, allowing our doctors to monitor change over time. The Optomap is quick, easy and painless, requiring just a few minutes to perform. And, in most cases, you do not have to be dilated, allowing you to resume normal activities immediately after your eye exam.