DR. JOSEPH DELLO RUSSO

Click on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlFGZKNSiVo to watch the article.
Description (in spanish): El doctor Jeffrey Dello Russo ofrece cirugía LASIK para hombres y mujeres que sirven en el ejército por 4 de Julio.

After a health risk warning from Canadian authorities, Sandoz Canada (Quebec) has recalled its prescription timolol eye drop, regulatory agency Health Canada said on its Web site. The agency has warned consumers not to use Sandoz timolol ophthalmic solution in 0.25% and 0.5% strengths, noting some bottles may contain greater quantities of the active ingredient than is represented on the label. According to a local news report, potential adverse events include red eye, eye irritation, inflammation of the eyelids and/or cornea, drooping of the upper eyelid, double vision, dizziness, headache, abnormally slow heartbeat, abnormally low blood pressure, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and cardiac failure. Health Canada will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the recall being implemented by Sandoz, which plans to send a separate notification to doctors regarding the recall. To date, no adverse events have been recorded in Canada in association with Sandoz timolol, according to the news report.

Editor’s note: Timolol has been the most popular drop for glaucoma for about 30 years. This notice does not state whether this alert restricts usage in the US. It will certainly be available again, since a simple adjustment of the concentration would seem easy to correct.

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.

Allergan will seek approval from the FDA to market an ointment that claims will lengthen eyelashes. Allergan announced on ASCRS Eyeworld’s website on June 16, 2008, that its use produced “significant growth” in recent trials.

Editor’s note: the first hurdle will be to prove to the FDA that this product does not harm the eye. The FDA will not easily approve its use since it’s simply for cosmetic use. It first must be shown to “do no harm”.

The following is a summary of a recent Aug. 31, 2007 NY Times article with Dr Dello Russo which discussed Lasik financing, as well as an evening news MSNBC article from Sept. 2, 2007.

Much has been written lately about the credit market but one area of credit is just beginning to prosper: financing medical as well as cosmetic surgery!

Cosmetic surgery like LASIK, which is used to get rid of glasses at about a rate of 1.5 million a year is increasingly being financed, sometimes at no interest penalty at all. Lasik is not covered by medical insurance so it demands a certain amount of discretionary income. Depending on a person’s credit rating, one may have lasik with Dr. Dello Russo of New York and New Jersey and not pay a penny for 12 months at which time the loan comes due and may to be paid without any interest at all. 

DR Dello Russo says that the patient arranges with the credit company to pay him and will then repay the lender according to their agreement either with no interest or heavy interest. The doctor himself plays no part in this arrangement, except to make the introduction of the patient to the lender and then allow them to work out their own particular agreement if any. 

Dr. Dello Russo says that  financing has allowed those who cannot pay in full at the time of surgery an opportunity to pay over a period of time. It has encouraged patients to undergo LASIK and all seem to benefit. Dello Russo says that it took him a while to get used to accepting independent financing in his office, but then again it took him longer to adapt to accepting checks and later longer yet to accept credit cards way back when.

A recent article in the Washington Post refers to soldiers choosing one of the above procedures instead of LASIK. What’s the difference?

There are actually two types of laser vision corrections surgeries. One with a flap, known as Lasik, and the other one without a flap – Lasek and Epi-lasik.

PRK
The original laser procedure that Dr. Dello Russo and a handful of surgeons in the nation researched for the FDA was called PRK, where you treat the surface of the cornea directly. The main disadvantage was some pain for 24 hours post surgery and it took several days for vision to return – when the cornea heals enough to a smooth surface again.

Epi-lasik and Lasek
Dr. Dello Russo helped to introduce LASIK in 1997 where the surface of the cornea is lifted in a flap before lasering. With LASIK, vision is restored as soon as the surface is put down. Some doctors who did not adjust to offering LASIK, tried to make a flap of the surface cells (the epithelium) and called it “Epi-lasik” or “Lasek”. Dr. Dello Russo believes that it is not possible to make a flap of the epithelium, but some doctors don’t want to admit that they are actually performing the old procedure (PRK) so they prefer to call it in other names. In effect, they are really treating the surface of the cornea which  is actually the old PRK procedure. There is nothing to be ashamed of, explains Dr. Dello Russo. PRK is a perfectly appropriate replacement for Lasik, when the cornea is too thin.

LASIK
In 1997 an effort was made to conserve the surface of the cornea by lifting it up out of the way of the laser treatment. When the flaps are put down, vision is immediately restored by having original surface available. It is preferable to any form of PRK. Both PRK and Lasik have the same visual results, but it takes a longer time to restore clear vision with PRK, several days instead of overnight with Lasik.

The Post’s article mentions that soldiers sent to Iraq prefer PRK over Lasik. Dr. Dello Russo’s observations:

1. The first soldiers were treated only with PRK. For a while the army would not approve of Lasik, which they now do.
2. PRK costs less to perform and the waiting list is probably shorter.
3. Dr. Dello Russo doubts that the soldiers themselves prefer PRK since they can take off four days instead of two. Soldiers don’t shirk work, says Dr. Dello Russo.