DR. JOSEPH DELLO RUSSO

According to an article from the July 2008 issue of Ophthalmology Times, Google has launched a new health site www.google.com/health designed to allow for patients to create pesonal online profiles, import medical records, learn more about health issues, search for doctors and hospitals. The Cleveland Clinic is a partner in this venture.

Marissa Mayer, Vice President of Search Product and User Experience at Google, said that “through our health offering patients will be empowered to manage their own records”.

A new survey conducted by the New England Eye Institute (Boston) and Transitions Optical (Pinellas Park, Fla.) has found that only 5% of consumers are aware that ultraviolet (UV) exposure can cause damage to their eyes, the two organizations reported jointly in a press release. The study also found that more than half (57%) of respondents said they do not wear protective eyewear when in the sun for extended periods. Those surveyed said they spend about 3.5 hours outdoors daily, which represents an average of 1,000 of unprotected UV exposure per year. A total of 80% of respondents were aware of the risk of skin cancer associated with UV exposure, the organizations said.

LASIK monovision is a viable and increasingly accepted method for correcting presbyopic and pre-presbyopic refractive surgery candidates, according to results from a recent study. In addition, crossed monovision, in which the dominant eye is corrected for near vision, may be applied successfully in suitable candidates.

“Although the overall success of monovision was good, patient selection is extremely important, as not every patient can adapt to monovision,” the study authors said. “Patients selecting monovision should also be aware that the reliance on one eye for distance vision makes an enhancement procedure more likely than if bilateral distance vision is chosen.”

Roger F. Steinert, MD, and colleagues retrospectively analyzed the preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes of 284 patients 45 years or older who elected to undergo LASIK to correct myopia or hyperopia. Subsequently, refractive success, functional success and patient enhancement rates were evaluated for patients treated with monovision correction. Of 284 total LASIK patients, 188 (67%) elected to undergo monovision correction and 96 (34%) chose bilateral distance correction.Editor’s note by Dr. Dello Russo: Monovision is the preferred choice if one can get adjusted. The only way to determine this before lasik is a trial with lenses prior to lasik. People with certain personalities, occupations and lifestyles are better candidates than others. If you see ads for “getting rid of reading glasses”, monovision is what it’s all about. I have mono myself.

As reported in EYENET journal of the AAO, March 2008, the wearing of seatbelts dramatically lowers the risk of injuries in a car accident. Conversely airbags reduce total body injuries but a higher frequency of eye injuries with the impact of the airbag to the facial region.

Six years ago, Dr. Joseph Dello Russo founded online Lasik FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) web site in order to provide answers to the most common questions that trouble Lasik patients and surgery candidates. It has since become one of the most popular Lasik information websites, currently serving 50,000 visitors each month — traffic has tripled since January 2007.

Dr. Dello Russo is one of the nation’s most well-known Lasik surgeons, one of the few who worked with FDA to approve the first Excimer Lasik technology. Following the Lasik approval in 1998, he noticed people’s confusion and received many phone calls and emails with questions from the public who was becoming aware of Lasik but knew little about the new surgery. “Patients complained that they could not find any reliable source online which can provide them with relevant, fresh information on Lasik-related issues,” he explains the reason he opened www.LasikFAQ.com in 2001. “I went online and found that there were no significant laser vision correction Q&A websites. Most Lasik message boards or chats were not managed by eye doctors. Someone had to take the initiative to educate the public.”

Dello Russo sought to provide a totally objective informational Lasik site, the content of which would reflect what questions were on the minds of the public who were considering Lasik: “I decided to choose a question and answer format, so people can browse through past questions and find information quickly.” The website is ad-free, hosted by Dello Russo Laser Vision centers. Dr. Dello Russo answers most of the questions himself: “sometimes it resembles a chat room when I have enough free time for act with questioners. I focus on a common problems and new developments”. On LasikFAQ.com, Dr. Dello Russo writes as an educated but independent advisor who answers questions from around the world. He normally avoids mentioning brand name products, if possible.

Traffic to LasikFAQ.com keeps surging, especially in the last few months, following an online campaign. Both Google and Yahoo link to the site’s answers for popular questions such as “how long does Lasik last?” and “how old do you have to be for a laser eye surgery?”. Dello Russo says that others choose to ask personal questions with a lot of detailed information, which has sometimes prefers to answer privately.

This is not the only online public service Dr. Joseph Dello Russo has developed. In October 2006, he opened a personal blog (www.drdellorusso.com) in which he refers to new laser eye surgery technologies, marketing practices and even recollections of the development of Lasik. Dello Russo recognized the opportunities in going online early on, and set up two practice sites back in the early internet days. Dr. Dello Russo reports that overall traffic to all of his websites has reached more than 100,000 visitors last month.

Dr. Dello Russo wished to emphasize that the information on LasikFAQ.com is delivered without any form of warranty expressed or implied, represents the opinions of Dello Russo Laser Vision and is not to be considered medical advice of any kind nor a substitute for a consultation with a medical doctor or health care professional. Dello Russo Laser Vision assumes no liability or responsibility for any claims, actions or damages resulting from information contained on www.lasikfaq.com.

NEW YORK, May 29 /PRNewswire/ — Some say that there are only two certainties in life: “death and taxes.” Joseph Dello Russo, M.D., a prominent LASIK surgeon would suggest another: the need for wearing reading glasses after forty, a condition doctors call Presbyopia. .

Dr. Dello Russo has aligned himself with a team of researches who in the past have developed some of the most important advances in LASIK. They are now hard at work with what may be a most promising treatment for Presbyopia using a simple LASIK-like procedure to restore reading ability, known as accommodation.

“Restoring reading after the age of forty is the last frontier in laser surgeons’ quest to rid people of eyeglasses,” says Herman Sloane, M.D., a successful LASIK surgeon in Chicago. “I believe the potential is huge, since there are at least 100 million Americans wearing reading glasses who may be willing to have the procedure as long as it is both safe and effective. This could be an even larger market than LASIK encompassing the baby boomers who potentially have more disposable income.”

Dello Russo, who played a prominent role in the clinical trials as a former FDA researcher by helping to develop and improve the laser surgery procedure now known as LASIK, explains that the new approach for treating Presbyopia will be designed to restore the eye’s focusing ability, utilizing a unique laser technology.

Many of the same scientists and ophthalmologists who played significant roles in developing LASIK are again involved in this new research. Dello Russo feels that this experienced team of scientists may have the best opportunity of conquering the “last frontier in ridding people of glasses.”

According to recent statistics presented by Shariff Mondavi, an industry analyst writing in this month’s Review of Ophthalmology, LASIK is the most popular elective surgical procedure in the U.S. LASIK treats nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, conditions which interfere with distance vision and which unlike Presbyopia, do not occur in all of the population. Of those who could benefit from the LASIK procedure, approximately 5% have chosen to undergo this procedure in the decade since LASIK was introduced. Presbyopia occurs in everyone, so eventually, any person can be a potential customer.

Financial analyst, Gary Hager of Manalopin, New Jersey and Palm Beach, Florida, states, “Wall Street would love to embrace a technology that could create an entirely new industry.” However this will not come cheaply. He believes that as much as $75 million will be needed to bring this technology to market. This type of company (LenSar) with its potential for high growth and huge earnings makes it very attractive. The Street knows that it’s less expensive in the long run to finance a new company with great potential in its early developmental stages than for major industry players to buy in at the top after it is a success.

Advanced Medical Optics recently purchased VISX, Inc. for $1.2 billion, and more recently Intralase for $808 million. “A cure for Presbyopia could be a billion dollar industry and the growth potential is enormous, if successful,” says Hager.

Dr. Dello Russo says, “There are no guarantees that this laser technology will work. It will take at least five years to bring this through the FDA approval process. However in 1990, we had no guarantees that laser vision correction (LASIK) would succeed. Now it is a multi-billion dollar industry. We are encouraged so far with the results of the animal studies as we move on to the human trials, we think that this team of smart and experienced scientists has the best chance of succeeding,” says Dr Dello Russo.

As this New York Times recent article explains, the quality of our night vision decreases as we age due to natural changes of our eyes which are not related to glasses or a Lasik procedure. The diminished night vision is often noted while driving at night - a difficulty to read road signs, house numbers, license plates, or simply noticing glare from oncoming lights.  

A person who has had Lasik will sometimes find it to be helpful not only by eliminating the use of glasses, but also by improving night vision. Of course, Lasik only eliminates glasses, rather than turning back the hands of time…

Source: The New York Times

As many of you may be aware of, there is a lot of information about laser vision correction on the net. The great amount is also a problem since the internet is like the wild west of the 1800’s used to be. No law and no order. There are no controls on what can be put online.
There are indeed many useful sites with correct information. However, often these sites were established several years ago and are no longer as useful since advances have been made and the sites are not updated regularly.

There are other sites that are purely commercial. Sites that exist to generate income to somebody. Obviously a reader may not get unbiased info at these sites, which may be owned by venders, doctors, and laser centers. These sites do not only lack in the update department but may also be biased and not act as reliable sources.

Other sites exist to generate money to their owner by presenting negative, untrue misinformation. There are many ways of making money from such sites. You are the one who loses by getting misinformation, which may cause you to make unwise decisions about Laser Vision Correction for yourself.

Due to the fact that there are no controlling monitors for truth online, this site was established to act as a source of true information by unbiased and experienced sources, our editors. We will provide constant updates several times a week, if not every business day with useful information concerning the various aspects of Laser Vision Correction, filtered by our editorial staff.

Why would there be daily updates? Is there news every day? Frankly, no. But these daily reports will serve as an educational tool for keeping you informed, providing tips, news and updates. We will first start by presenting basic definitions, so that you will be clear on all the various topics as they are presented and we are all on the same page. We will next progress to the history of Laser Vision Correction, which is not only interesting but can help in understanding definitions and its current state. 

This site was a natural outgrowth of a long-existing Q & A site , known as http://www.lasikfaq.com/. Probably the most popular and longest lasting LASIK Q & A site online. Our editor in Chef is Joseph Dello Russo, MD., one of the true pioneers of Laser Vision Correction. In 1990, he joined with a half a dozen other surgeons to investigate and test out the Laser Vision Correction for the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). He has performed over the past 16 years in excess of 55,000 cases himself and has been a leader in implementing new technological improvements as they have come along.

The purpose of this site is not to promote Dr. Dello russo as your surgeon but to call upon him to help people with true and up to date information on his favorite subject, Laser Vision Correction. As some of you undoubtedly already know we do welcome your questions with some reservations. Most questions are best directed to http://www.lasikfaq.com/. They will definitely be answered by one of our editors, even personal questions at times, if appropriate. Questions to this site are only answered if they are of a nature to serve as an example for a general educational nature for all readers.

Comments are welcomed - let’s begin!