Many of the testimonials that you see below are from athletes who have enjoyed life-changing results at ICON Eyecare. Icon’s LASIK surgeons in Colorado have performed LASIK eye surgery on thousands of individuals some of whom are professional athletes but much more who simply want to improve their quality of life. In addition to the professional athletes who have had LASIK you will see lots of testimonials below from some Denver celebrities and maybe even a friend or two.

Flavia Oliveira – World-Class Cyclist – ICON Eyecare Patient

 I have been struggling with my eyesight for quite some time. The squinting and headaches were making it hard for me to focus on my training and racing. I began to worry that I might not be able to accomplish my personal goals. I finally made the decision to get ICON Eyecare surgery and it was the best thing that I could have done. The team of doctors and staff at ICON were amazing and extremely professional and made me feel very at ease, making the entire process painless.  I highly recommend it!! Thank you ICON Eyecare for making this year my very best one, so far!! Now, I can truly see a clear picture of where I want to go as a professional athlete.” – Flavia Oliveira

2015 Giro de Italia Donne (Mountains Jersey Winner)
2015 Military Olympics Gold Medalist (overall team)
2015 2nd Overall at Tour of Costa Rica

Creigh Kelley- Emcee- ICON Eyecare Patient

 It’s now been over a month since I took the plunge at ICON! I’m the guy who absolutely depends on clear vision. As an event announcer and emcee for over 30 events each year, a mistake in misidentifying someone competing in a marathon is unforgivable. There have been times in the recent past where my contacts were not measuring up. Squinting seemed the order of the day. Deciding to visit ICON in Lone Tree was a huge step for me and propelled me on a journey with an amazing outcome: I can see so clearly I now take it for granted! Yes, Dr. Campbell is extraordinary. Frankly, if I hadn’t received the “white glove” customer service from my first step into the reception area until it was time to meet the doc, I’m pretty sure I would’ve bailed. The staff from top to bottom provided me with care and knowledge every step of the way. As a lead announcer and emcee at the Walt Disney World Marathon, Disney makes DISNEY with above and beyond customer service. A big decision? You bet! A great decision, you bet! I look forward to jumping in a pool, skiing down the slopes at Breck and never worrying if my contacts will slip or come out!
Creigh Kelley

JR Hildebrand – INDY 500 Racer – ICON Surgical Eye Care Patient

 JR Hildebrand – ICON Patient – Finished 8th in the 2015 INDY 500. JR had PRK with ICON this year.

John Elway

 “Had to take a break from football to get annual eye check up. Without my guys at ICON Eyecare Denver, I wouldn’t be able to see the film or read the scouting reports. Now it’s my job to help make the right draft picks. Had to give those guys a shout out. I do recommend ICON Eyecare highly.” From a Facebook Post

 

 

Cody Donovan – UFC Fighter

 “When the UFC called me to fight in Australia on nine days’ notice, I had to say yes. And when they told me I needed to get and eye exam, I knew exactly where to go. ICON Eyecare was the only choice. They came highly recommended from my teammates Nate Marquardt and Tyler Toner, and they did a fantastic job on my fiancées Lasik surgery last year. I went to the Denver location and Kris got me right in. They were fast, friendly and professional. I was very impressed with their cutting edge facility and staff. They made me feel comfortable and at home. Thank you ICON Eyecare!” – Cody Donovan, High Altitude Martial Arts, Easton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

 

Charlie Weglius – Garmin-Sharp – Team Manager

 “I chose to travel over 5,000 miles from my home in Finland to visit ICON Eyecare in Denver because I wanted the best for my eyes. I was not disappointed. The staff was all incredibly professional and helpful. Within 48 hours of landing in Denver my old glasses were in the bin ! The operation was over in a matter of minutes, and the staff followed up of the next day to make sure that I was on my way. Life without glasses is amazing, I would recommend ICON Eyecare to anyone who values perfect vision.” Thank you Icon – Charlie Weglius, Garmin-Barracuda – Team Manager.

 

Lucas Euser – Professional Cyclist – Boulder Resident

 “You do realize you’re in the business of changing lives, not just vision, right?” Lucas’ only problem is now no one recognizes him without his signature glasses. Lucas is seeing 20/15 or better in both eyes. Lucas finished in the top 10 at the 2012 Tour of Utah and got 4th at the 2013 Tour of Utah!!! Cheer Lucas on at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge! Read the press release announcing that Lucas Euser selected ICON Eyecare. Thank you Icon – Lucas Euser, United Health Care Pro Cycling

 

Chris Brewer LIVESTRONG 15 year cancer survivor

“I just wanted to take a moment to once again thank you for the amazing experience I had at ICON Eyecare recently! While I fully expected to have my vision corrected (and no less than 20-20 by the next morning), it was the outstanding positive professionalism and efficiency of your staff that was a very pleasant surprise. From the moment I checked in, to the pre-testing, to my screening with my optometrist, to the actual surgical procedure, every single person was truly proficient in the area and had a great attitude. I felt like everyone really cared and was there to make sure I had the best possible experience – and I truly did. Thanks so much for this life changing experience, and also for your support of the great support of cycling. I hope our paths cross again very soon, and if we can ever be of service, please don’t hesitate to contact me personally.” Very sincerely, Chris Brewer Sr Mgr Development Communications LIVESTRONG / 15-year cancer survivor Team Journalist, Team RadioSchack Pro Cycling.

Denver Talk Show Host Craig Silverman Selects ICON Eyecare

“I wore glasses and then contact lenses for decades. I had severe astigmatism and near-sightedness. ICON was my choice for Lasik because of its success rates and dedicated staff. ICON is the volume leader in this region for good reason. No Lasik provider has more experience. Dr. Andersen and Icon take great pride in having all of the latest and greatest technologies. The doctors have vast knowledge and understanding of all aspects of Lasik procedures. Icon respects the time and money of its patients. Icon provides quality Lasik at a small fraction of the price of other quality providers so why pay more when the best costs less? Within ten hours of my surgery, I had no discomfort and great vision – able to read up close which I need to do as part of my law practice and talk radio job; and also able to play sports and see things perfectly at a distance.” Thank you Icon! – Craig Silverman

Nate Marquardt – Selected ICON Eyecare

 “When I was ready to choose an eye surgery center, I had the utmost confidence in ICON Eyecare, especially since Icon has helped so many pro athletes improve their vision through LASIK or PRK,” says Nate “The Great” Marquardt.”

 

 

Michael Speer Denver’s Channel 7 & KHOW

 “Michael Speer an Exec. VP at Presidential Brokerage, Inc. in Denver and financial commentator on Denver’s Channel 7 News, 740 KVOR, and 630 KHOW selected ICON Eyecare for his surgery.

 

 

Cody Waite – xTerra Top 10 Finisher – Denver Based Endurance Coach/Owner EPC

 The following is an excerpt of a lasik review that Cody Waite did after he had LASIK in Denver. You can read the full lasik review by clicking on the link at the bottom of his testimonial. Cody is one of the top off-road triathletes in the world and lives right here in Denver. “It was 7:15 AM, the morning after the procedure, and I was driving in the early morning light and could read the road signs as clear as day! I had perfect vision. Back at ICON, everything checked out. I was prescribed some medicated eye drops to use for the next ten days to ward off any chance of infection while things completely healed up. In the meantime, I was already enjoying my perfect vision, sans eyeglasses and contacts. I was back riding my bike and running the next day, and after a week I was able to get back in the pool. The entire process could not have gone any better or any easier than what they did for me at ICON Eyecare. I can’t say enough, how thrilled I am with the whole experience. I was telling everyone that would listen for the next week how amazing ICON and their doctors are and how great LASIK is. Now I’m writing this a little over a month out, fully healed and enjoying better than perfect vision. If you or someone you know can’t stand their glasses or contacts anymore, then you need to look into LASIK and the docs at ICON Eyecare get my stamp of approval as the place to go. You WILL NOT regret it. Get it done. End of story.” Read Cody’s full story about getting LASIK at ICON. Cody Waite, Professional Off-Road Triathlete

 

Sean Jarrett – Professional Baseball Player

I play professional baseball, and contacts have always been so bothersome. I’m a pitcher and without great vision, the results probably won’t be too good. So in other words my eyes are my livelihood. With that said, I was very apprehensive about having the procedure done, but the ICON Eyecare doctors and staff made me feel very at ease, they answered any and all questions I had. I had my eyes done by the ICON Eyecare this past off-season, and by the time spring training came around I had 20/15 vision! Without having to deal with the hassle of glasses and contacts. It’s truly a life changer to be able to wake up and not fumble around for your glasses! The best investment for my body, and career that I’ve made yet! Thank you!
Sean Jarrett-Colorado Rockies

 

 

 

Tyler Toner – Icon Patient – Professional WEC Fighter

I’ve had poor vision for as long as I can remember. I had accepted the hassle of eyeglasses and contacts as a part of my life. I’ve had issues with my contacts lenses countless times in my sparring and training sessions, and the loss of a contact has hindered my performance in several of my fights. In October of 2009, I got the biggest call of my professional career. All of my work and personal sacrifices had come to fruition. The world’s biggest and most prestigious promotion for 145lb. fighters, the WEC, had offered me a five fight contract. My first fight was supposed to take place on Dec. 19th, 2009 against an undefeated fighter from Hawaii. I put myself through a grueling seven week long training camp in preparation for the fight. On Dec. 12th, a week to the day before the fight, I got an unfortunate call from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. After going through a gauntlet of health tests and screenings, it was my eyesight that made them decide to deny my license to fight. I immediately started doing research to find a respected vision correction facility in the Denver area. After speaking with one of my training partners about my situation, he recommended ICON Eyecare, whom he had chosen for his procedure due to their experience with working with high level athletes (if it’s good enough for John Elway, it’s good enough for me). Although I was nervous about the procedure (read: terrified), the whole process was much quicker and easier than I expected. I had several preliminary appointments to determine which procedure would be best suited for me, and I was scheduled for surgery in less than a week. The fact that my surgeon had performed over 80,000 similar procedures put my mind at ease, and the actual surgery took less than fifteen minutes. Although a bit hazy, my vision was noticeably better within 30 seconds of the surgery than it was beforehand. Within a week, I was seeing more clearly than I ever had in my life (including with contacts and eyeglasses). I was back to training within a month, and I have my WEC debut set for April of this year. The only regret I have with the entire process is that I hadn’t gotten it done earlier in life. Thanks to Dr. Anderson and the rest of the staff at ICON Eyecare, Tyler Toner.

LASIK for Cyclists in Denver, Grand Junction, and Loveland, Colorado

By LeRoy Popowski, US National Team Member and ICON Eyecare patient Training and competing as an athlete, I am dependent upon excellent vision under a variety of environmental conditions. Being nearsighted, I have always required correction with glasses or contact lenses. However, I never found either glasses or contact lenses to provide me with satisfactory vision under all conditions in which I must train and compete. Glasses afforded me very little peripheral vision, significantly diminished my vision in rainy conditions, and restricted my selection of performance sunglasses. Contact lenses seemed to be the next logical choice, but I also found them to have significant limitations. The greatest difficulty I had with contact lenses was that the lenses would become very dehydrated during my training sessions, resulting in decreased vision and uncomfortable, irritated eyes. This problem was especially exacerbated in dry environments with low relative humidity. Further, during fast descents in the mountains on the bike, the wind and increased tear production would cause instability of the lenses and large fluctuations in vision. Additionally, frequent travel to race both domestically and in Europe entailed naps on flights at different times of the day and sleeping in contacts was very uncomfortable.

After years of frustration with sub-optimal vision correction and enduring the “hassles associated with contact lens care, I decided to explore more permanent means of achieving excellent vision without either contact lenses or glasses. Refractive surgery seemed to be the solution that would result in the visual performance I demanded. This would also free me from the inconveniences of contact lens care.

I chose ICON for my refractive surgery for a number of reasons. There are undoubtedly a significant number of ophthalmologists that perform refractive surgery, but most do not specialize in this specialty of ophthalmology. Rather, they will perform a limited number of refractive surgery cases a month in addition to doing cataract surgery and practicing general ophthalmology. I wanted my surgical care to be in the hands of a corneal specialist who has performed thousands of refractive surgery cases. My eyesight has tremendous importance to me and I wanted to be certain that I would have the best surgical outcome. Dr. Christianson (editor: All ICON Eyecare surgeons are contractors) is an incredibly skilled surgeon and his understanding of the physiological optics relative to refractive surgery gave me great confidence to trust my vision to ICON. I was also very impressed with the clinical arrangement at ICON. I have always seen optometrists for my vision care and have continually been impressed with their expertise and thoroughness of evaluation of the visual system. ICON has a very unique situation in that the optometrists that provided my pre and post-surgical care worked as a team in the very same clinic with the ophthalmologist performing the surgery. As a team, they have managed thousands of patients and developed an expertise in refractive surgery in addition to providing uninterrupted care throughout the entire process. I am incredibly pleased to finally have excellent vision without the hassles and inconveniences of glasses and contacts. I am very happy to awaken in the morning and be out the door to train with no thoughts of inserting contact lenses or wearing glasses. I highly recommend refractive surgery to all athletes to achieve their best vision and encourage you to trust your vision to ICON to get your best results.
LeRoy Popowski Pro Duathlete, US Pro National Team Member USCF Category 1 cyclist 2:23 marathoner Read more testimonials from Colorado lasik patients

Denver Reporter Gets LASIK

 For the last six years, it’s been my privilege to work as a reporter in Colorado. And clearly as a reporter, your job starts with being an accurate observer. Nothing matters as much as being able to trust your eyes and ears. Thanks to ICON Eyecare, I trust my eyes now more than at any other point in my life. I’m excited to say that thanks to the professionals at ICON, twenty years of wearing glasses are behind me, and I now have perfect 20/20 vision. Everything I experienced at ICON was first-rate! The initial evaluation, the surgery, the follow-up, the staff…I just can’t say enough about them! I’ll never forget waking up the morning after the surgery, and not having to squint to see my alarm clock. I’ll never forget the first time after my surgery that I saw the Rocky Mountains, and they never looked so crisp, clear, and beautiful. If you’re thinking about LASIK, let me urge you to stop thinking about it and do it! It’s a life changing experience, and you can trust the pros at ICON! Todd Shepherd is an award-winning radio reporter, and is the founder of the website, CompleteColorado.com.

When we think about maintaining our health when aging, we often think about monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol, bone health and memory. But taking care of our eyes and vision is just as important.

There are several health factors that make caring for your eyes and vision particularly important as you age. So take some time during Healthy Aging Month to address eye and vision health and make caring for your eyes part of your regular health routine.

Vision and Safety

Eye sight can naturally decrease as you age, even if you’ve had perfect vision your entire life. Low level vision changes can leave you with headaches after common tasks like reading, but not addressing your changing eyesight can have greater consequences.

Poor eye sight can lead to accidents or falls in the home and may affect your ability to safely drive. As you age, it’s particularly important to have your eyes examined at least once a year for vision changes and general eye health. If you notice your eyesight changing, make an appointment right away. Even people who have worn glasses for years can experience a prescription change or my need bifocals or trifocals.

Eye Disease

Not only can vision begin failing with age, but age is often a factor in many common eye diseases, such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. In fact, one in six Americans over the age 65 has a vision impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. This is often due to a vision-altering eye disease. One study found that the risk of severe eye health issues increases significantly in patients over the age of 65. Many of these issues can lead to partial or complete blindness if not treated, so it’s important to not ignore the issue.

Luckily, many major eye diseases that become more common with age are now easily treatable with medication or outpatient procedures. ICON Eyecare offers expert treatment for glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, as well as diabetic retinopathy — which can also become more of a problem with age.

Monitor for Additional Health Issues

Monitoring eye and vision health can also help doctors easily detect early signs of other, non-eye related health issues.

Your eyes are one the easiest place to monitor your veins. Modern technology enables optometrists and ophthalmologists to take a detailed image of the inside of your eye, revealing the veins in your eye and giving them a good window into your overall health.

Routine eye exams could help your eye doctor detect signs of:

• Hypertension
• Cardiovascular disease
• Autoimmune disorders
• High cholesterol
• Multiple Sclerosis

Some new studies even indicate that specialized eye exams could be used to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s, though more research is needed in this field.

Clearly, monitoring and maintaining eye health while aging is about a lot more than just getting reading glasses. Practicing good eye health can help you maintain your overall health and ensure you’ll be able to see comfortably for years to come. Make an appointment with your eye doctor today and start making a commitment to your eye health during Healthy Aging Month.

About ICON Eyecare

ICON Eyecare is a leading surgical and medical eye care provider based out of Denver, CO. Since 1999, ICON has been building a Center of Ophthalmology Excellence empowered by an expert team of board certified physician specialists, the most advanced laser technology and a culture of quality and extraordinary patient care. In coordination with referring optometrists and physicians, ICON Eyecare specializes in treating patients with cataracts, advanced forms of glaucoma and other age and disease related conditions, while providing innovative options for patients seeking LASIK and cosmetic eye procedures. With 14 patient care centers located in Colorado and Texas, ICON Eyecare is expanding within the broader western U.S. region. For more information, please call (720) 524-1001, or visit iconeyecare.com.

ICON adds a VICTUS LASER allowing for laser assisted Cataract and All Laser LASIK Procedures

Denver, CO — ICON the leader in cataract surgery in Colorado announced today that its Denver surgery center now offers the advanced VICTUS laser platform for laser cataract surgery. The VICTUS laser platform from Bausch & LOMB provides a higher level of precision over manual cataract and refractive surgery techniques.

“The VICTUS platform allows automating steps in cataract surgery that used to be performed manually by the surgeon,” said Dr. Anderson. “Surgeons have performed hundreds of thousands of successful cataract, LASIK, and PRK procedures at Icon locations. Now the VICTUS systems improves the processes to continually produce the best surgical outcomes.”

The VICTUS platform features a sophisticated, curved patient interface with computer-monitored pressure sensors designed to provide the most comfort during the procedure. The VICTUS platform also offers real-time, three-dimensional imaging of the eye to aid the surgeons in planning and monitoring the operation. The laser itself has a rapid pulse rate that allows the portion of the cataract and or LASIK procedure to be performed on the VICTUS in a matter of only a few seconds.

“The VICTUS laser for cataract surgery gives surgeons a high degree of control as well as improved integration with our sophisticated nomograms which measure surgical outcomes,” said Dr. Anderson. “VICTUS allows the doctors to provide the latest and most advanced surgery to our cataract patients and continues the highest level of care that our LASIK patients have come to expect at all of our locations.”

Types of Cataracts

Cataracts are a clouding of the lens in the eye. Lens are clear and then can degrade and cloud with age and disease. It is estimated that over twenty million people in the U.S. have cataract surgery. This makes cataract surgery one of the most common forms of surgery. The patient’s natural lens which developed a cataract is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL). IOLs can produce much improved vision and are considered semi-permanent because if necessary they can be replaced with a different power.

About Femtosecond Lasers Use for Cataract Surgery

Femtosecond lasers are very quick bursts of energy that does not produce a heat or disruptive shock. Fermtosecond lasers have been in use in the United States since the early 200s. Their first FDA approved use was for LASIK surgery to cut the flap. Since then lasers such as the VICTUS have been approved for cataract and other eye surgeries.

About the VICTUS All Laser Platform in Denver

The VICTUS™ Femtosecond Laser Platform, from Bausch + Lomb is the first FDA approved all laser cataract and refractive surgery system. The VICTUS platform was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2012 for creation of a corneal flap in patients undergoing LASIK surgery or other treatment requiring initial lamellar resection of the cornea and anterior capsulotomy during cataract surgery.

About ICON

ICON
3900 East Mexico
Suite 102
Denver, CO 80210

References in this cataract article

1. Reddy KP. Investigation into the precision and accuracy of femtosecond laser cataract surgery. Presented at: The Annual Meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS); September 8-12, 2012; Milan, Italy.

ICON is a registered trademark of the Eye Academy of America Ltd..VICTUS is a trademark of Bausch & Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates. TECHNOLAS is a trademark of Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH. All other brand/product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Contact
Kris Anderson
720-524-1001

About ICON Eyecare

ICON Eyecare is a leading surgical and medical eye care provider based out of Denver, CO. Since 1999, ICON has been building a Center of Ophthalmology Excellence empowered by an expert team of board certified physician specialists, the most advanced laser technology and a culture of quality and extraordinary patient care. In coordination with referring optometrists and physicians, ICON Eyecare specializes in treating patients with cataracts, advanced forms of glaucoma and other age and disease related conditions, while providing innovative options for patients seeking LASIK and cosmetic eye procedures. With 14 patient care centers located in Colorado and Texas, ICON Eyecare is expanding within the broader western U.S. region. For more information, please call (720) 524-1001, or visit iconeyecare.com.

MMP-9 is a inflammatory signal which is elevated in the tears of both male and female patients suffering from dry eye disease. ICON LASIK now offers a simple in office test detecting the MMP-9 marker in just a few minutes. This tests gives ICON LASIK’s independent surgeons and optometrists the answers they need to quickly treat and stabilize patient’s dry eyes before LASIK surgery.

The Importance of not having dry eyes with LASIK surgery

Of course having dry eyes is uncomfortable. Yet, more important than the simple comfort of not suffering from dry eyes is the fact that dry eyes can cause complications while recovering from LASIK surgery. Therefore, controlling dry eyes before LASIK or other laser refractive procedure results in fewer complications and faster recovery. (Ref, Mutoh T, Nishio).

Causes of dry eyes

There are several common causes of dry eyes. These include:

• Allergies
• Medication including many common Over the Counter (OTC) drugs
• Dry eye disease
• Smoking of any kind including Hookahs, cigarettes, cigars, and marijuana.
• Environmental factors including outdoors: wind, dust, and dirt. Indoor environmental factors include forced air heat in the winter. Forced air heating drops indoor humidity levels very low.

With the low humidity that we have in Colorado and the reliance on forced air heat we see a somewhat unique dry eye injury. Patients that have a heat register right above their bed are often forcing dry air right onto a partially opened eye while one sleeps. In some cases this has caused the epithelial on the eye to stick to the inner eye lid and partially tear. This doesn’t cause long term damage but can be very uncomfortable. If you wake up with very dry eyes and it feels like you have something grinding on your eye this maybe what it is. The doctors at Icon LASIK can put a protective contact lens on and administer some eye drops to ease the pain and prevent infections.

Over-the-Counter and prescription treatment solutions for dry eye sufferers

For the treatment of the occasional dry eye discomfort you can try OTC lubricating drops. Simply blinking a lot helps lubricate the eye as well.

Common dry eye conditions from skiing and cycling

If your dry eyes occur during a specific sport e.g. skiing or snowboarding you may want to try switching to a different pair of goggles. Some goggles allow to much air to flow through the vents. Goggles allowing a lot of air flow are good for pipes and terrain parks where you maybe standing around more. There, the larger vents help prevent fogging. Whereas if you are skiing long, fast runs, or racing, you can use a goggle with a lot less ventilation because very little air flow is needed to help keep your protective eye wear fog free.

The same situation often occurs in cycling. Certain brands of cycling specific frames provide less air floor to help prevent eye irritation. Smith Optics has two frames for cycling specific use that tend to fit most cycling use cases from wet conditions to the high desert dry eye of Colorado.

Some individuals may need punctal plugs to prevent excessive drainage of liquid from the eye. Punctal plugs are inserted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist in a painless in-office procedure.

Treating dry eyes

If you are having difficulty controlling your dry eyes then setting up a general eye exam at any of ICON LASIK’s locations is the fastest way to get your dry eyes under control. The independent optometrist and ophthalmologist at Icon will likely run the MMP-9 test to give you a definitive answer as to the cause of your dry eyes and a clear treatment course for your dry eyes. ICON LASIK’s doctors treat dry eyes for pre and post-operative patients for LASIK eye surgery and also general eye care for individuals that are not interested in getting lasik or are not candidates for the surgery.

References

1. Fournié PR, Gordon GM, Dawson DG, Malecaze FJ, Edelhauser HF, Fini ME. Correlation between epithelial ingrowth and basement membrane remodeling in human corneas after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. Arch Ophthalmol. 2010 Apr;128(4):426-36.

2. Mutoh T, Nishio M, Matsumoto Y, Arai K. Correlation between the matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity and chondroitin sulfate concentrations in tear fluid after laser in situ keratomileusis. Clin Ophthalmol. 2010 Jul 30;4:823-8.

About ICON Eyecare

ICON Eyecare is a leading surgical and medical eye care provider based out of Denver, CO. Since 1999, ICON has been building a Center of Ophthalmology Excellence empowered by an expert team of board certified physician specialists, the most advanced laser technology and a culture of quality and extraordinary patient care. In coordination with referring optometrists and physicians, ICON Eyecare specializes in treating patients with cataracts, advanced forms of glaucoma and other age and disease related conditions, while providing innovative options for patients seeking LASIK and cosmetic eye procedures. With 14 patient care centers located in Colorado and Texas, ICON Eyecare is expanding within the broader western U.S. region. For more information, please call (720) 524-1001, or visit iconeyecare.com.

Nearsightedness (myopia) is a common vision condition in which you can see objects near to you clearly, but objects farther away are blurry.

The degree of your nearsightedness determines your ability to focus on distant objects. People with severe nearsightedness can see clearly only objects just a few inches away, while those with mild nearsightedness may clearly see objects several yards away.
Nearsightedness may develop gradually or rapidly, often worsening during childhood and adolescence. Nearsightedness tends to run in families.

A comprehensive eye exam can confirm nearsightedness. You can easily correct the condition with eyeglasses or contact lenses.

About ICON Eyecare

ICON Eyecare is a leading surgical and medical eye care provider based out of Denver, CO. Since 1999, ICON has been building a Center of Ophthalmology Excellence empowered by an expert team of board certified physician specialists, the most advanced laser technology and a culture of quality and extraordinary patient care. In coordination with referring optometrists and physicians, ICON Eyecare specializes in treating patients with cataracts, advanced forms of glaucoma and other age and disease related conditions, while providing innovative options for patients seeking LASIK and cosmetic eye procedures. With 14 patient care centers located in Colorado and Texas, ICON Eyecare is expanding within the broader western U.S. region. For more information, please call (720) 524-1001, or visit iconeyecare.com.

Many people are becoming more aware of what’s in their food, beauty and household products and are taking a healthier approach to exercise and wellness. They may forget, however, to check for threats to their vision.

Getting regular eye exams is vital to your eye health and vision because an exam can detect typically symptomless eye diseases such as glaucoma. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness and can affect people of all ages. Approximately one out of every 10,000 babies born in the U.S. and nearly three million Americans overall have glaucoma, but only half of those people know they have it.

It’s important to have routine eye exams that check for glaucoma because it can often affect you without noticeable symptoms. A survey by the Glaucoma Research Foundation found that 50% of the people surveyed had heard of glaucoma, but weren’t sure of what it was, and an astonishing 30% had never heard of it. Education and early detection are the best ways to protect yourself from glaucoma.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma refers to “a group of eye diseases causing optic nerve damage.” The culprit with glaucoma is intraocular eye pressure, which damages the delicate nerve fibers of the optic nerve. This results in blind spots, which are permanent. Left untreated, glaucoma will progress and can lead to total blindness.

What’s tragic about this disease is that many people don’t notice glaucoma-related vision problems until some permanent vision loss has already occurred. The key to preventing loss of vision from glaucoma is early detection and treatment by your ophthalmologist.

How Early Detection Works

If you are one of the 61% of Americans who have regular dilated eye exams, which is one of the most effective ways to detect glaucoma, you are on the right path to early detection. Regular eye exams by your ophthalmologist are the only way to determine if you are afflicted. The eye exam consists of a measurement of eye pressure, the drainage angle of your eye, an evaluation of your optic nerve and a test of the visual field of each eye. It’s a non-invasive exam preformed during regular yearly eye checkups.

Having a yearly eye exam is important because it can help your eye doctor detect changes in your eye that might hint at early-stage glaucoma. Glaucoma is relatively symptom-less and many patients who skip eye exams don’t realize they have this vision-robbing disease until the disease is advanced enough to create permanent blind spots. Glaucoma is best treated when detected early, when steps can be taken to reduce your intraocular eye pressure and prevent or stall vision damage.

Are You at Risk for Glaucoma?

Several factors contribute to a higher risk for glaucoma, including:

• Age — people over 60 are at greater risk
• African or Hispanic ancestry
• Thin corneas
• Family history of eye disease, particularly glaucoma
• Past eye injuries
• Smoking
• Steroid use
• Certain diseases, including diabetes and sleep apnea

If you fit any of these high risk categories, talk to your eye doctor about how best to regularly monitor for glaucoma and be hyper vigilant for any changes to your vision.

The Current State of Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma cannot be cured. However, there are several methods to manage and slow the disease’s progression. Eye drops, pills, laser procedures and operations are all treatment options available depending on the type of glaucoma and its stage. These treatments can be used in combination and changed over time to achieve a lower target eye pressure.

Medication

The advancement of medicine has led to the development of several effective eye drops that can be taken several times during the day in combination with pills. They decrease the eye’s fluid production or increase the flow leaving the drainage angle, effectively lowering the intraocular pressure causing the glaucoma. Medication is the most common way to treating glaucoma and often the first line of defense.

Laser surgery

If medication alone is not doing enough to lower eye pressure, a laser procedure may be recommended. A surgery called trabeculoplasty can enhance the way the eye drains to control eye pressure. There’s also iridotomy that improves the flow of eye fluid.

Operative surgery

An operation is only recommended by your ophthalmologist if he or she feels that the potential benefit (i.e. lower eye pressure) outweighs the risks. Using a microscope and specialized instruments, your doctor will create a new bypass drainage channel to allow fluid to leave the eye with an iStent.

What You Can Do to Detect and Treat Glaucoma

Share information about your overall health and that of your immediate family with your eye doctor. You should know your own eye diseases and any eye diseases that your family may have had, including macular degeneration and glaucoma. Make regular appointments with your ophthalmologist and keep them. The testing available today, such as dilated eye exams, are effective in seeing subtle changes to the optic nerve and are thus helpful in detecting the disease early.

ICON Eyecare’s team of fellowship-trained glaucoma specialists is here to serve you. We have a variety of treatment options, many of which are painless. We care about getting your glaucoma treated quickly so you can return to your life. Talk to your ICON Eyecare doctor today to discuss glaucoma detection and treatment options.

About ICON Eyecare

ICON Eyecare is a leading surgical and medical eye care provider based out of Denver, CO. Since 1999, ICON has been building a Center of Ophthalmology Excellence empowered by an expert team of board certified physician specialists, the most advanced laser technology and a culture of quality and extraordinary patient care. In coordination with referring optometrists and physicians, ICON Eyecare specializes in treating patients with cataracts, advanced forms of glaucoma and other age and disease related conditions, while providing innovative options for patients seeking LASIK and cosmetic eye procedures. With 14 patient care centers located in Colorado and Texas, ICON Eyecare is expanding within the broader western U.S. region. For more information, please call (720) 524-1001, or visit iconeyecare.com.

Dr. Houlder will be moving to a new location in Red Rocks Medical Center to join the ICON Eyecare team and form a multi-specialty group for specialized eye care.

WHEAT RIDGE, CO (November 1, 2016) – Nancy A. Houlder, M.D., a comprehensive ophthalmologist in practice in Denver more than 20 years, is moving offices and joining the ICON Eyecare team. Dr. Houlder and her practice currently located in Wheat Ridge will be moving to ICON Eyecare in Golden early November.
Dr. Houlder is moving her practice, currently located near Lutheran Medical Center, just seven miles southwest to join the ICON Eyecare office at Red Rocks Medical Center in Golden. She will join fellowship-trained glaucoma and retina specialists, Katie Goldhair, M.D. and Ashley Sturdy, M.D., to form a multi-specialty group with ICON Eyecare. New treatment options for patients will include laser cataract surgery with advanced lens implant options, diabetic treatment and injections for macular degeneration, and in-house glaucoma and retina care.
“I am thrilled to now provide more specialized eye care with my new team of MD’s while strengthening our technology at this location only ten minutes away, said Dr. Houlder. “This is an exciting long-term partnership aimed to provide more treatment options for the advantage of our patients.”

ICON Eyecare in Golden is a full-service center of ophthalmology excellence, offering surgical eye care treatment for glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration and, eye disease and vision issues. As a technology leader in medical eye care, they offer laser cataract surgery, advanced glaucoma treatment, all-laser LASIK, and more. Dr. Houlder and her staff are all moving to Golden and joining ICON Eyecare to continue to provide high-quality eye care to their patients.

ICON Eyecare Welcomes Dr. David Litoff as Chief Medical Officer

Denver, CO (February 27, 2017) – David Litoff, M.D., a fellowship-trained corneal specialist and cataract and refractive surgeon, has joined ICON Eyecare as Chief Medical Officer for the company and medical director for the Front Range of Colorado. Dr. Litoff joined ICON Eyecare after almost 20 years with Kaiser Permanente, where he carried various positions including most recently Medical Director for Surgical Care Delivery.

Dr. Litoff will ensure surgical excellence and outcomes in his role, in addition to performing cataract surgery, refractive surgery, and corneal care for patients. He has performed over 10,000 cataract surgeries during his career.

“I am thrilled to join ICON Eyecare as Chief Medical Officer to promote the highest quality eye care to patients, said Dr. Litoff. “I am excited to lead clinical innovations and create synergies between providers to enhance ICON’s prominence while continuing to build a national center of eye care excellence.”

Dr. Litoff earned his medical degree from University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and completed his internship in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. His ophthalmology residency was at Albany Medical Center Hospital in NY, before completing a fellowship in Cornea and External Disease at University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

Dr. Litoff has participated in extensive leadership training during his career, most notably the Executive leadership Program at Harvard University. He is a Diplomate with the American Board of Ophthalmology and National Board of Medical Examiners, and is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. He has also held an Associate Clinical Professor position at University of Colorado in Ophthalmology, and is on the volunteer faculty for Denver Health.

For more information, please visit iconeyecare.com, or call 720-524-1001.

About ICON Eyecare

ICON Eyecare is a leading surgical and medical eye care provider based out of Denver, CO. Since 1999, ICON has been building a Center of Ophthalmology Excellence empowered by an expert team of board certified physician specialists, the most advanced laser technology and a culture of quality and extraordinary patient care. In coordination with referring optometrists and physicians, ICON Eyecare specializes in treating patients with cataracts, advanced forms of glaucoma and other age and disease related conditions, while providing innovative options for patients seeking LASIK and cosmetic eye procedures. With 14 patient care centers located in Colorado and Texas, ICON Eyecare is expanding within the broader western U.S. region. For more information, please call (720) 524-1001, or visit iconeyecare.com.

Dr. Mujahid Hines, Cataract Surgeon, Joins Dallas Eye Care| ICON Eyecare Team

Dallas, TX (January, 11 2017) – Dallas Eye Care | ICON Eyecare is pleased to welcome Mujahid Hines, M.D., board-certified cataract surgeon and comprehensive ophthalmologist, to the team. Dr. Hines joined Dallas Eye Care to further advance his surgical treatment options and offer additional convenience factors aimed to better serve his patients.

Dr. Hines specializes in refractive cataract surgery, including laser-assisted cataract surgery and premium intraocular lenses. He performs comprehensive eye examinations, and his expertise includes early detection and treatment of diabetes, glaucoma, and other ocular diseases.

“I am thrilled to be joining a talented team of surgical eye care specialists at Dallas Eye Care who focus on delivering quality care and outcomes for patients through the latest technology and treatment options,” said Dr. Hines.

Dr. Hines graduated from the University of Oklahoma and received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma Medical School. He completed his medical internship at Unity Health System in Rochester, NY, and was honored as Intern of the Year; his residency in Ophthalmology was at the Flaum Eye Institute of the University of Rochester in NY. He was selected as a Super Doctor Rising Star by Texas Monthly Magazine in 2016. He was previously at Laser Care Eye Center.

Dallas Eye Care has been serving the Dallas community for more than 50 years and is now part of the ICON Eyecare network. For more information, please visit iconeyecare.com, or call 214-692-6220.

About ICON Eyecare

ICON Eyecare is a leading surgical and medical eye care provider based out of Denver, CO. Since 1999, ICON has been building a Center of Ophthalmology Excellence empowered by an expert team of board certified physician specialists, the most advanced laser technology and a culture of quality and extraordinary patient care. In coordination with referring optometrists and physicians, ICON Eyecare specializes in treating patients with cataracts, advanced forms of glaucoma and other age and disease related conditions, while providing innovative options for patients seeking LASIK and cosmetic eye procedures. With 14 patient care centers located in Colorado and Texas, ICON Eyecare is expanding within the broader western U.S. region. For more information, please call (720) 524-1001, or visit iconeyecare.com.

ICON Eyecare Welcomes Dr. Michael Waggoner, Cataract Surgeon and Corneal Specialist, to Team

Grand Junction, CO (December 1, 2016) – Hoffman Eye Care | ICON Eyecare is pleased to welcome Dr. Michael Waggoner, a cataract surgeon and fellowship-trained LASIK/Corneal Specialist to the team. Dr. Waggoner moved from Arkansas to live and practice in Grand Junction, and is the only full-time practicing specialist in the region providing medical and surgical treatment for eye conditions such as Fuch’s dystrophy, keratoconus, and dry eye.

In addition to corneal surgery, Dr. Waggoner is a cataract and LASIK surgeon. He specializes in medical and surgical treatment for cataracts, including laser cataract surgery and premium lens options. He also performs laser vision correction including LASIK and PRK. His expertise also includes dry eye disease and common complications of dry eye including pterygiums and corneal scarring.

“We are thrilled to have a surgeon of this caliber join our team of advanced surgical eye care specialists,” said W Jay Hoffman, surgeon and founder of Hoffman Eye Care. “Having worked in this community for over 20 years, our patients will benefit tremendously to have a corneal specialist right here in Grand Junction.”

Dr. Waggoner attended the University of North Texas Health Science Center. He completed an internship and residency at the University of Missouri – Columbia before doing a fellowship in Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery at the Dean McGee Eye Institute in Oklahoma City. Dr. Waggoner is an active member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Academy of Ophthalmology and the International Society of Refractive Surgery.

Dr. Waggoner is married with three children and loves exercising and exploring the outdoors with his family.

For more information on Dr. Waggoner or to schedule an interview, please contact Sylvia Pankiewicz at 720-324-1956 or Sylvia.pankiewicz@iconeyecare.com. For patients wanting to schedule an appointment with Dr. Waggoner, please call ICON Eyecare |Hoffman Eye care at (970) 256-0400.

About ICON Eyecare

ICON Eyecare is a leading surgical and medical eye care provider based out of Denver, CO. Since 1999, ICON has been building a Center of Ophthalmology Excellence empowered by an expert team of board certified physician specialists, the most advanced laser technology and a culture of quality and extraordinary patient care. In coordination with referring optometrists and physicians, ICON Eyecare specializes in treating patients with cataracts, advanced forms of glaucoma and other age and disease related conditions, while providing innovative options for patients seeking LASIK and cosmetic eye procedures. With 14 patient care centers located in Colorado and Texas, ICON Eyecare is expanding within the broader western U.S. region. For more information, please call (720) 524-1001, or visit iconeyecare.com.