NEWSLETTER - SUMMER 2001

Highlights

• Dr. Fine receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Contributions in the Advancement of Ophthalmic Technology — Laurie Brown, C.O.M.T., C.O.E.
• Treating Presbyopia at the Time of Cataract Surgery — Dr. Hoffman
• Truly “No-Touch” Laser Thermal Keratoplasty, or LTK — Dr. Packer
• Testimonials

We're So Proud!
By Laurie Brown, C.O.M.T., C.O.E.

American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery incoming President Dr. Fine with outgoing President, Dr. Koch.

This year, April showered Dr. Fine with professional accolades: First he was named president of the prestigious American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, an international educational and scientific organization whose 8500 member ophthalmologists specialize in cataract and refractive surgery. In making the announcement, outgoing ASCRS president Douglas Koch, M.D. called Dr. Fine a “brilliant surgeon and innovator, a great advocate for our patients and our profession, and a remarkable individual.”

Also in April, Inside Eyecare Technology awarded Dr. Fine its Lifetime Achievement Award for Contributions in the Advancement of Ophthalmic Technology. The annual award is presented to individuals who have “changed the face of ophthalmic technology through innovation and/or advanced techniques in surgery resulting in better patient care.” But in addition to recognizing his “prolific” technical contributions, Inside Eyecare Technology also praised Dr. Fine for contributions of a more personal nature.

“Early in life, I was told that we have an obligation to share our talents with others and to pass on our wisdom,” writes Nick Mathe, IET’s editor-in-chief. “Dr. Fine embodies this philosophy, living an unselfish life by sharing his time and talent with others, so that ultimately, patients around the world may also benefit from the higher degree of skill among doctors who learned from Dr. Fine.”

As Mathe pointed out, Dr. Fine has served as a Core Clinical Investigator for “nearly every” phacoemul-sification system and intraocular lens developed in recent years and has developed techniques and instruments that have “revol- utionized eye surgery.” He has been a visiting professor at 23 medical schools here and abroad, has presented more than 800 courses worldwide and has demonstrated live surgical techniques in more than 30 countries. In recognition of these and other accomplishments, he was named one of the 25 most influential ophthalmologists of the Twentieth Century by a vote of 16,000 ophthalmologists worldwide.

Calling Dr. Fine “an exceedingly gracious gentleman,” Mathe concludes that “the future is bright for ophthalmology and medicine as a whole, considering we have been blessed with such gifted teacher-innovator-surgeons as Dr. I. Howard Fine. He has shown us the way by living an exemplary life of sharing his God-given talents and providing new instruments, techniques and devices to the world, resulting in better patient outcomes, more highly skilled surgeons and giving us a roadmap on how to live the good life while making a huge difference in the world.”

Congratulations, Dr. Fine, for these latest in a lifetime of achievements. [ top ]

Truly "No Touch"
By Mark Packer, M.D.

Mark Packer, M.D

Laser Thermal Keratoplasty, or LTK, is a new procedure that allows the correction of farsightedness with the Sunrise laser in just a few seconds while you are seated in one of our office exam rooms.

The Sunrise LTK Procedure was designed specifically for people age 40 and older who have low to mild farsightedness. If you’ve been farsighted all your life or if you’ve suddenly noticed you need glasses when you didn’t need them before, the Sunrise LTK Procedure may be the option for you.

• be at least age 40 for the Sunrise LTK Procedure;
• have stable vision for at least six months and have healthy eyes;
• be in the low to moderate range of farsightedness (+0.75 D to +2.50 D).

Our office participated in the FDA clinical investigation of the LTK system, and found it safe and effective for the treatment of farsightedness. The treatment begins with the patient seated at the laser in our office. In just three seconds a ring of laser spots is eral cornea, shrinking corneal collagen and steepening the central cornea. LTK is truly a “no-touch” procedure, as no surgical instrument ever comes in contact with the eye. Patients appreciate the added safety benefit that the central cornea, or visual axis, is left untouched.

Drs. Fine, Hoffman and Packer can help you determine if you are a good candidate for Sunrise LTK laser vision correction. To learn more about the Sunrise LTK Procedure or to schedule a complimentary screening call Tony Reynolds at (541) 687-2110. [ top ]

Treating Presbyopia at the Time of Cataract Surgery
By Richard S. Hoffman, MD

Richard S. Hoffman, M.D.

The Array® multifocal intraocular lens has been used with great success in our practice and has allowed many patients to function without glasses at distance and near after cataract surgery. A multifocal lens creates multiple focal points behind the lens and allows patients to maintain functional vision over a range of distances. One of the drawbacks of multifocal lenses is the potential for halos around lights at night and individuals who frequently drive at night may not be the best candidates for this lens.

Our practice is one of fifteen practices in the United States currently investigating the new C&C Vision CrystaLens™. The CrystaLens is a monofocal accommodating lens that is hinged next to the optic of the lens. This allows the optic to move forward slightly during an accommodative effort such as for near tasks. This “pseudo-accommodation” simulates the way our natural lens worked before age 45, and allows patients to function at both distance and near without the potential halos of multifocal lens technology. The accommodating IOL is currently being investigated by Drs. Fine, Hoffman, & Packer as part of an FDA monitored clinical trial. Early results within our practice have been very exciting.

To be included in the CrystaLens study, patients need to be greater than fifty years of age with visually significant cataracts. They should have less than one diopter of astigmatism and have no other significant ocular diseases. [ top ]

Bullseye!
By Laurie Brown, C.O.M.T., C.O.E.

Cataract surgery patient, Marjorie Wilkinson

Marjorie Wilkinson is a patient with some very special accomplishments to share. She was one of the first female Alaskan bush pilots and hunting guides. She received her first pilot’s license in 1948 and went on to get her commercial license one year later. She was in the air 364 days a year, piloting planes outfitted with skis in the winter and floats in the summer. She would fly parties of ten in and out of the Alaskan bush for fall moose hunts followed by caribou, sheep, and bear the last hunt of the season. Marjorie was in high demand “because she could fly and cook, and if there was a woman in the party, it made her feel more comfortable.”

Margie is quite a markswoman, too. She claims her “new eyes” allow her to “hit dead center now!” Out of necessity, she learned a lot about guns in her days in the bush and brought us the target in which she recently shot four bullseyes in a row at 100 yards with her 357 Magnum. Margie also shares a great love of motorcycles with Dr. Fine and brought in this picture of her on her Harley. [ top ]

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