Online Patient Registration
We are now offering registration forms online. You can go to our forms here.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)
Also known as Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, MIGS have become much more popular in recent years. Traditional glaucoma surgeries, such as trabeculectomies and tube shunts, are considered major eye surgeries. They are associated with potentially serious risks, but when necessary, can lower intraocular pressures significantly. MIGS, on the other hand, may not lower the pressures as well, but are associated with significantly fewer risks. Here at the San Jose Eye Institute, we offer the iStent, the iStent inject, and the Hydrus microstent, all of which can be performed through the small incision used in cataract surgery.
CALLISTO Eye for Cataract Surgery
We are pleased to be one of the few in the Bay Area to offer computer assisted cataract surgery using the CALLISTO Eye system. The system uses measurements and graphical data taken at the time of the pre-op evaluation and imports them directly into the microscope at the surgery center. During cataract surgery, the surgeon can see the clinical information superimposed onto the eye through the microscope. If the eye moves or rotates during the surgery, the CALLISTO Eye system will dynamically track, providing the surgeon the opportunity to adjust surgery as needed for optimal outcome. To read more click here.
ORA for Cataract Surgery
We now offer the ORA Intraoperative Wavefront Aberrometer to our cataract surgery patients. In essence, this revolutionary technology is used at the time of cataract surgery to re-measure, and then to re-calculate the best-fit intraocular lens for the patient once the cataract is removed. The end-result is better, uncorrected vision for the patient. To read more, click here.
CMS Ruling
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have changed their regulations, allowing patients to pay for an upgrade to a premium intraocular lens during cataract surgery if they desired.
Premium intraocular lenses specifically refer to lenses which help to restore the patient’s ability to see far and near without the use of reading glasses. Prior to this ruling, Medicare beneficiaries who had cataracts were not allowed to have these lenses during cataract surgery, even if they were willing to pay for the entire surgical procedure out of their own pocket.
Now, if a patient has cataracts and desires to have a premium intraocular lens, Medicare would cover the cataract surgery portion of the procedure, including a standard intraocular lens, and the patient would then be responsible for paying for the upgrade to the premium lens. The change in the CMS regulations paved the way for other insurance companies to follow with similar guidelines.
Today, the number of premium lenses have proliferated and patients have many choices that allow them to become less dependent on glasses. If you are interested, ask Dr. Decker or Dr. Yang which lens options is best for you.