Throughout life we often have experiences that are “eye-opening,” but two patients of Thomas Eye Group say their eye surgery experiences literally changed the way they see the world.
At age nine, more than 50 years ago, Cathy Crossett, was playing in the field near her Burlington, NC home when a windstorm blew a roof shingle to the ground. A friend picked the shingle up and tossed it like a Frisbee to a playmate, but unfortunately, it hit Cathy in the face, causing a traumatic cataract on one of her eyes. As a result, her uncorrected vision was 20/400.
Over the years, the cataract worsened, further impairing her vision. Finally, in 1980, Cathy began wearing contact lenses which helped, but it wasn’t until her Thomas Eye Group ophthalmologist recommended surgery that a dramatic solution was found.
Last August, Leon Gross, M.D. performed cataract surgery with a toric IOL or intraocular lens which improved her vision to almost 20/20. “I now see better than I can ever remember,” Cathy said.
Another patient, Brenda Jones of Marietta, recently had cataract surgery on both eyes and went from 20/200 (unable to count fingers at a distance of four feet) to 20/25 vision. She is thrilled that after 40 years, she no longer has to rely on contact lens or eye glasses daily.
“They whole procedure was pain free and quick,” Brenda said. “I now see everything clearly and even colors seem so much more vibrant!”
Do you have a dramatic story to tell about your experience with Thomas Eye Group? Let us hear from you at info@thomaseye.com.
With Back to School upon us, parents are making checklists of items they’ll need for their kids’ academic and after school activities. But high on the list should also be preparation for kids’ health and well-being.
August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, so now it the perfect time for parents to focus on ways to protect their kids from sport-related eye injuries (around 40,000 annually require emergency room care) and learn the signs and symptoms of declining vision and other eye maladies that can affect classroom performance.
Good schools and teachers are critical to our children’s learning process, but good vision is also an essential tool to make sure your child is getting the most of his or her education.
So, how do parents protect their kids’ eyes and make sure that their vision is functioning properly? According to the pediatric ophthalmologists here at Thomas Eye Group, parents need to educate themselves in order to prevent sports-related injuries and know the warning signs that could indicate a vision problem in their child.
For example, the majority of sports-related eye injuries usually stem from basketball, hockey, golf and soccer, but injuries can largely be prevented by:
In addition, the following symptoms may indicate your child has a vision or visual processing problem:
Because vision changes can occur without you or your child noticing them, it's a good idea for your child to visit an ophthalmologist prior to beginning school. And beyond that, visits should take place at least every two years, or more frequently, if specific problems or risk factors exist. If necessary, your doctor can prescribe treatment including eyeglasses, contact lenses or other depending on your child's needs.
Remember, a school vision or pediatrician's screening is not a substitute for a thorough eye examination.
Six year old Gianni de Jesus-Reina is another patient that has been helped through the grant program. At the age of four, Gianni was struck in his left eye with a coat hanger. The accident left him aphakic and his cornea badly scarred. He was wearing RGPs, but due to his scar, the lenses would not center, leaving him with poor vision and extreme discomfort. Soft contact lenses were not an option, and Gianni was at risk of Amblyopia and complete sight loss if the vision in his left eye could not be corrected.
Rachel Dositareah, the pediatric contact lens specialist at Thomas Eye Group in Atlanta, Georgia knew that ClearKone could give young Gianni much better vision and greatly improved comfort. Unfortunately, Gianni’s family was struggling financially and didn’t even know if they would be able to stay in their home. Through the Sharing Vision Grant Program, Gianni received the ClearKone lenses he needed and is now enjoying comfortable, clear vision.
Hundreds of patients have applied for help through the Sharing Vision Grant Program, and SynergEyes is truly grateful for the generosity of the participating eye care professionals that make this program possible. We are always in need of more practitioners that are willing to donate their services to help irregular cornea patients in need. If you are currently prescribing ClearKone and would like to participate in the Sharing Vision Grant Program, please email Christina Kirby at Ckirby@synergeyes.com
Atlanta, GA June 30, 2011: Thomas Eye Group announces the addition of Yuri McKee, M.D. to their list of doctors serving 8 locations in Georgia. Dr. McKee is a former flight surgeon of the U.S. Air Force and was also the Medical Director of the Aerospace Medicine Clinic. He will be performing LASIK surgery, Cataract surgery, complex anterior segment surgery, and treating patients with corneal disease.
Dr. McKee received his MD from Loma Linda University in California. He graduated from the LSU/Ochsner residency program in New Orleans, LA, where he studied comprehensive and subspecialty areas of ophthalmology.
“We couldn’t be happier to have Dr. McKee join our team,” says W. Kevin Thomas, M.D., president of Thomas Eye Group. “His dedication to his career and his patients makes Dr. McKee a commendable doctor and an asset to have on the Thomas Eye Group team.”
Dr. McKee also served as primary care, aviation medicine specialist, and hyperbaric specialist for the largest combat wing in the Air Force. Dr. McKee received numerous military awards while stationed in Arizona and in Japan. He currently holds a U.S. patent for the development of a novel: Sustained Ocular Surface Drug Delivery System.
ATLANTA, GA – Augustus T. Stephens, MD has merged his practice, Stephens Eye Associates, with Thomas Eye Group, effective July 1. A Board-Certified ophthalmic surgeon, Dr. Stephens founded Stephens Eye Associates in Atlanta in 2001. Dr. Stephens’ addition to Thomas Eye Group creates an eighth clinical location for the multi-specialty eyecare practice.
“Dr. Stephens brings a great deal of expertise to Thomas Eye Group,” said W. Kevin Thomas, MD, president of Thomas Eye Group. “His specialization in the management of ocular disease, including diabetes, glaucoma cataracts and macular degeneration will enhance our practice and our ability to serve the residents of greater Atlanta.”
Originally from Aiken, SC, he attended Morehouse College in Atlanta. Dr. Stephens received his medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine and completed clinical training in ophthalmology at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and the University of California-Davis. After completing his residency in 1995, Dr. Stephens served as an instructor and assistant residency director at Howard.
Dr. Stephens began in private practice at a large multi-specialty clinic in Fort Smith, Ark., and subsequently worked with Tulsa Eye Group in Tulsa, Okla. He founded Stephens Eye Associates in Atlanta in 2001.
In addition to his work with ocular diseases, he has extensive experience with small-incision, suture-free cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery and laser surgeries.
The spring pollen season in Atlanta has struck early this year, with many patients feeling the effects of increased allergens in the air. However, there are ways to reduce the discomfort of eye allergies, according to Atlanta ophthalmologist Stuart J. Newman, M.D., of the Thomas Eye Group.
“For those with sensitivities, the most common symptoms are itchy eyes, and it’s best to resist the urge to rub them,” Dr. Newman said. “By rubbing your eyes, you’re running the risk of scratching your cornea and causing injury.”
The most common allergic eye disorder is allergic conjunctivitis, usually associated with pollen and hay fever. But symptoms can also be caused by mold, dust mites or dander from household pets.
Dr. Newman recommends that patients with allergic reactions that manifest with symptoms of the eye, such as itchiness, redness, dry eye, burning, eyelid swelling or excessive watering, check with their ophthalmologist for the appropriate treatment or drops.
“I urge patients who experience symptoms to have their eyes examined by an ophthalmologist because there could be other more serious causes of itching, burning or watering,” Dr. Newman said. “Sometimes symptoms that seem like allergic reactions can indicate a more serious problem, especially if the symptoms persist.”
Among the most common symptoms that may be confused with eye allergies are:
• Dry eye, which may be caused with reduced tear production and have additional indications, such as burning, grittiness, or “something in your eye.”
• Tear duct obstruction, caused when the tear passage is blocked between the eyes and the nasal passage, most often resulting in runny, watery eyes.
• Conjunctivitis from either a viral or bacterial infection that may manifest itself in redness of the eyes and/or the presence of discolored mucus and “sticky eyes.”
“For the most accurate diagnosis, see your ophthalmologist,” Dr. Newman said. “Trying to diagnose and treat an eye problem yourself can possibly compound a situation and cause further damage. It is entirely possible that your symptoms are allergy-related, but why take a chance?”
ATLANTA, GA – Workplace eye injuries occur more than 2,000 times a day, according to Prevent Blindness America. Of these injuries, 10 to 20 percent of patients will suffer from temporary or permanent vision loss. The cost of occupational eye injuries is nearly $1 billion a year, based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“The fact is that many workplace eye injuries can be prevented,” said Paul Kaufman, M.D., with Thomas Eye Group in Atlanta. “By wearing adequate eye protection, people can reduce the incidence of eye injuries and protect their vision.” The most common workplace eye injuries are caused by flying objects, tools, particles, chemicals or harmful radiation. Wearing properly fitted devices, such as goggles, safety glasses and face shields, can prevent as much as 60 percent of all workplace eye injuries and damage. The most common jobs that require eye protection are manufacturing, construction and health care. All workplaces are governed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which outlines the requirements and recommendations for approved eye protection.
Translating Workplace Safety into the Home
While OSHA oversees the workplace, it does not outline safety guidelines for the home. However, home eye injuries account for nearly half of all eye traumas annually, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Many people don’t wear eye protection while doing home-improvement projects, yard work or participating in sports and that puts them at risk for eye injuries,” Dr. Kaufman said. “When doing any risky activities, especially activities that involve metal to metal contact, like hammering, it is imperative to protect your eyes from possible injury." The Academy now recommends that every household have at least one pair of ANSI-approved protective eyewear to be used during projects that may cause injuries to the eyes, such as working with chemicals or hazardous materials, drilling or hammering screws or nails into hard surfaces or walls, doing yard work with mowers and trimmers, using power tools or working on projects that may produce particles or dust that can be eye irritants.
“Eye injuries, even those that seem minor, should be examined by a physician to prevent any long-term damage to the eye,” Dr. Kaufman said. “As ophthalmologists, we’re trained to evaluate eye injuries and recommend the best course of treatment.”
Thomas Eye Group is looking for a positive, team-oriented, collaborative individual to be the new Director of Thomas Eye Group’s Ambulatory Surgical Center. This position is responsible for coordinating and directing patient care activities, working closely with the ASC Business manager and also reporting to the CEO.
Prerequisites for this position include: a BSN with a current state license, previous management experience in a physician-owned ASC, and the ability to work in any position within the surgical center. There are additional requirements for lifting as it pertains to patient care assistance, as well as overhead and low reaching for miscellaneous activities.
Thomas Eye Group is a fast-paced environment that involves the utilization of consistent judgment, leadership capabilities and the ability to make decisions and solve problems. Some of the daily tasks include but are not limited to: working with the Charge Nurse on staffing issues, interviewing/recruiting and performance evaluations, coordinating the quality committee activities, interacting with the Medical Director and managers to ensure that schedules are full and logistical issues are solved, keeping patients safety at the forefront of all decision making, participating in the corporate management team’s monthly meetings and annual retreats, and working with surgeons to ensure an optimal clinical environment.
If interested in this position, Applicants can send their resume to Danielle Lundsberg at: dal@thomaseye.com
ATLANTA, GA – For the fourth consecutive year, Thomas Eye Group is the recipient of the Atlanta Consumers’ Choice Award for business excellence. With seven offices throughout metro Atlanta, the ophthalmology practice was founded in 1974.
Thomas Eye Group is a full-service eye-care provider that offers routine eye exams, glasses, contact lenses, LASIK, as well as medical, surgical and cosmetic service. Thomas Eye Group has specialists in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery, glaucoma, pediatric ophthalmology, adult strabismus, retina, orbital surgery and oculoplastics. The practice also operates Thomas Eye Surgery Center, a full-service ambulatory surgery center for ophthalmologic surgery. Offices are located in Alpharetta, Atlanta-Perimeter, Decatur, Lilburn, Newnan, Roswell and Woodstock.
“We are honored to receive this award for the fourth consecutive year,” said Paul Kaufman, M.D., with Thomas Eye Group. “It is a tribute to our doctors and staff that the public holds us in such high regard for the kind of quality and high standards we place on patient care.”
The Consumers’ Choice Award is based on a survey of residents and businesses in the Atlanta Metropolitan area responding to a questionnaire about customer satisfaction. The survey was conducted by Survey Sampling International®, a global leader in customer satisfaction studies.
The Consumers’ Choice Award®, established in 1986 to identify and promote business excellence, utilizes a unique survey that asks consumers to choose the best of their city.
Respondents are randomly selected from both the business community and the general public. Based on the criteria of value, professionalism, service and any other issue they may wish to consider, respondents are asked to select the company that most merits the Consumers’ Choice Award® for business excellence.
ATLANTA – February 15, 2011 - Thomas Eye Group (www.thomaseye.com) has installed Clearwave Corporation's integrated Provider Workstation solution. In a multi-phased implementation, Thomas Eye will have inbound and outbound integrated workstations as well as Clearwave healthcare kiosks in seven of its eight locations by March 2011.
The Clearwave solution is integrated directly to Thomas Eye Group's Compulink practice management system and allows the practice to standardize and manage the check-in process while obtaining accurate and up-to-date patient demographic and eligibility data at the time of scheduling, pre-registration or at the time of service.
"There are various eligibility engines in the marketplace, but what Clearwave does is enhance that process with other services that make it unique and truly impact my bottom line," said Rod Roeser, CEO for Thomas Eye Group. According to W. Kevin Thomas, MD, President of Thomas Eye Group, "I had personal experience with the Clearwave kiosk at another physician's office in town and am truly excited to be able to offer this efficient and convenient method of check-in to my patients."
Through various points of reference (check-in through a Clearwave kiosk, scheduling and pre-registration through integration with a provider's PMS, RIS or HIS system and Clearwave's proprietary software modules), Clearwave receives patient data and cross-references it to create a single identifier for a patient to ensure that the most accurate and up-to-date patient data is used when verifying plan benefits and submitting claims. Once the patient's identity is authenticated, Clearwave then securely shares the patient data through its network that connects disparate healthcare entities and backend systems to help keep the entities in sync while also enhancing the continuity of patient care.
"Thomas Eye Group represents a classic case of an organization that knows they can drastically improve their revenue by starting with the patient access process and getting accurate information from the get-go," said Gerard White, CEO for Clearwave Corporation."Administratively they will operate more efficiently, but they will also be able to collect patient payments and submit cleaner claims more easily just by improving their eligibility verification process."
Clearwave's Patient Information Exchange software is the epicenter of a larger and more comprehensive portfolio of solution modules that enhances an organization's existing systems while improving the patient experience and current processes without major disruption. Clearwave allows healthcare organizations to share patient data, lower healthcare administration costs, comply with federal and state regulations and improve the patient experience.
Clearwave is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. The company is the leading provider of Patient Information Exchange software, kiosk and service-based solutions. Clearwave's Patient Information Exchange software integrates with healthcare provider existing systems and processes to verify patient demographics, insurance and payment information resulting in improved cash flow and administrative processes while enhancing patient experiences. Please visit www.clearwaveinc.com for more information.
Founded in 1974, Thomas Eye Group has served the greater Atlanta community by providing eye care services to patients ranging in age from infants to seniors. Thomas Eye Group is a full service eye care provider with offices in seven locations in and around the greater Atlanta area providing routine eye exams, glasses, contact lenses, LASIK, as well as medical, surgical and cosmetic services. Many Thomas Eye Group physicians have undergone additional, highly specialized sub-specialty training to offer services including oculoplastics, pediatrics, cornea, retina, and glaucoma. Completing our service offering is the state-of-the-art Thomas Eye Surgery Center offering patients comfort and convenience for their surgical needs.
Thomas Eye Group is proud to be the official eye doctor of the Atlanta Thrashers. For more information visit www.thomaseyegroup.com.
The available services at Thomas Eye Group range from comprehensive eye exams to specialty services in retinal and corneal disorders, glaucoma, and plastic surgery. To correct vision problems, our doctors are trained in the most current refractive surgery techniques. We also offer contact lenses and glasses to those who prefer a traditional solution.
Learn MoreAt Thomas Eye Group, we offer comprehensive eye care to children—specialty care especially for kids! As the largest pediatric eye care practice in the Southeast; we offer a complete scope of preventive and corrective eye care for children. From the detection and treatment of eye disorders to eye surgery, we also treat disorders of eye alignment in adults including double vision..
Learn More"To say that I am pleased with the outcome of my surgery is an understatement. What a difference this surgery has made in my life! It is so great to be able to read street signs - even the green ones - at night. Thank you so much!"
– Sally Stebbins
"Everyone the North Fulton office of Thomas Eye Group is so helpful. They feel like a part of my family now!"
- Paige Morris
At Thomas Eye Group, our board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrists have decades of combined experience in eye care. We work together as a team to bring you specialized, state-of-the-art care from caring professionals.
Our team of doctors is comprised of ophthalmologists, optometrists, and skilled support staff. Within our group of ophthalmologists, we have several sub-specialists, including glaucoma, retina, and plastic surgery or Oculoplastics. At six locations throughout the greater-Atlanta area, our group provides services ranging from comprehensive eye examinations and contact lens care to sophisticated microsurgery for cataracts, cornea and retinal disease, and refractive surgery, including LASIK.
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