WINDHAM EYE GROUP SERVICES INCLUDE:

Complete eye exams:

The technicians and the doctor will record your vision and refract you to attain the absolute best vision with glasses.  Your eye will be completely checked, including an intraocular pressure for glaucoma and a retinal exam (you probably will need to have your pupils temporarily dilated by eye drops for a thorough exam).  Any abnormal findings will be discussed with you and educational materials given to you, if you wish. All your questions will be addressed.  If needed, you will leave with a prescription for new eyeglasses and medication if indicated.  You may also be given an appointment for additional testing if any findings warrant it.

Eyeglass prescriptions:

As part of your complete exam, you will be refracted.  During this highly technical process, you will be measured by a computerized machine and then at the phoropter in the exam room for the exact prescription you need for clear distance and near vision. This final measurement will be written in a prescription form for you to get eyeglasses. While every exam is careful and precise, there are circumstances (for instance, how the glasses are made by the optician) over which we have no control. We are happy to check your new glasses if you are having a problem once you receive them.

Contact Lens Fitting:

Unless already done recently in this office, you will require a complete eye exam (see above).  Then, additional measurements will be taken and you will receive new contacts.  The type of contact will depend on your lifestyle, your ocular needs and your prescription.  If you have not worn contacts before, you will go through an educational session, during which you will be taught how to insert and remove the lenses. You will also be shown how to clean and care for your contacts.  You will then buy the number of months supply of contacts you desire (if disposable lenses are chosen).  It is recommended that you have yearly examinations if you wear contacts to avoid preventable problems from developing over time.

Cataract Surgery:

Cataracts are very common and they are the main reason worldwide for blindness. If vision is decreased and glasses are no longer helpful, surgery is usually recommended.  Cataract surgery has been improved to the point that 99% of recipients see 20/40 or better after the procedure.  This is the most successful surgery in this country, allowing people to continue their productive lives through this incredible technology! The cloudy cataract is removed and replaced with a clear, plastic lens that is permanent.  It is not felt by the recipient, but allows good focus, often without glasses, after surgery. The surgery is done in a sterile operating room, with local anesthesia or general if necessary or desired.  The patient goes home after a couple hours and has few restrictions post-operatively. The risks include infection, retinal detachment and chronic inflammation, called uveitis.  Fewer than 1% of people have these problems. The surgeons at Windham Eye Group, Drs. Reardon and Woods, are very experienced and have an extremely successful record in the state of the art techniques of Cataract Surgery, using the cutting edge equipment in the Eye Suite at Windham Community Memorial Hospital.

Laser Refractive Surgery (LASIK, PRK and others):

Windham Eye Group offers the most advanced laser vision correction currently available.  Using a state of the art laser to reshape the surface of the eye, our refractive surgeon is able to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, and eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses.  This remarkable procedure, using the latest generation VISX StarS4 excimer laser, and wavefront technology, is in some cases able to achieve vision that is superior even to that provided by a patient's original glasses or contacts.

Refractive surgery at Windham Eye Group is performed by Dr. Kevin Cranmer.  Dr. Cranmer received his medical training at Harvard Medical School, and his training in opthalamic and refractive surgery at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, rated by US News and World Report as one of the top three hospitals in the United States.  He is certified by the manufacturer of the VISX StarS4 laser, and employs the latest technologies to achieve the best possible results for his patients.

To see if you are a candidate for laser vision correction, call (860) 423-1619 to schedule an appointment for a free evaluation.

Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment:

Glaucoma is actually many diseases, but the final process involves damage to the optic nerve, the large electric cord (full of tiny wire-like nerves) that goes from the eye to the brain to allow us to see our world. Glaucoma sometimes, but not always, is associated with a high eye pressure.  As part of a thorough eye exam at Windham Eye Group, your eye pressure is measured.  You will also have a confrontational visual field to rule out gross side vision abnormalities. Then your optic nerve will be examined, to detect damage that is a sign of the form of glaucoma that is not associated with a high eye pressure. If any of these tests are abnormal, further testing by a computerized visual field machine and/or a Glaucoma Diagnostic Testing device will be run.  You may also have photographs of your optic nerve to document the signs detected during your exam, and to be used for comparison in later exams. All your findings will be discussed with you and you will be given educational material if you so desire.

Macular Degeneration Treatment:

As we age, we can develop a slowly progressive build up of waste material and a gradual death of cells in the very center of our eye where we read and see color.  This area of the eye is called the macula and the process is called Macular Degeneration.  The early types are called "dry".  If the macula develops leaky blood vessels that cause the macula to fill with fluid or blood, this is the wet form. The cause of macular degeneration is unknown, but it is associated with being farsighted, smoking, and having relatives with the disease. Research suggests that ultraviolet rays can also cause this disease, and therefore, glasses which block 100% of UV A+B rays are recommended. Some scientists also believe that eating a diet rich in antioxidants (dark green leafy vegetables, like kale, parsley, spinach, mustard or turnip greens, and Swiss chard, as well as purple fruits like plums or grapes) can decrease the risk of the dry form of the disease, or at least slow down the degenerative process. The wet form can sometimes be treated successfully (if seen early enough) A routine complete eye exam will show if you have the disease and steps taken to try to halt its progress can be begun.

Diabetic Eye Care and Treatment:

Diabetes is a major cause of preventable blindness in the US.  One in eleven people in the US now has diabetes and the number is rising. Diabetes affects the blood vessels, causing them to leak fluid, fats and blood into the retina.  This causes the retina to swell and become edematous. If the disease is allowed to progress, new blood vessels can develop which hemorrhage and can pull off the retina causing a retinal detachment. Lasers are very helpful to both stop the tiny leaks from sick vessels and prevent the edema from forming or treating the fluid once it has formed; and also treatment can cause the new blood vessels to shrink and disappear.  Sometimes retinal surgery is necessary and with modern techniques, this has become much more successful.  A yearly eye exam and close control of blood sugar and blood pressure are the three steps to preventing complications, including blindness, from this disease.  The doctors at Windham Eye Group are very well trained to detect and treat the eye problems associated with diabetes.

Dry Eye/Corneal Treatment:   (See dry eyes under "eye diseases")

If you suffer from burning, gritty, sandy eyes, we can suggest treatment, including over the counter eye drops, punctual plugs that stop the draining out of your own tears (these are inserted painlessly in the office without the need for anesthesia and are left in indefinitely), and the use of medicated tears if your dry eyes are associated with inflammation, especially if you have Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogren's Syndrome or other Collagen Vascular Diseases. Allergic conjunctivitis is another common problem that results in itchy, red eyes with watery discharge. There are a number of medications on the market and we can find the correct one for relief of your symptoms. The cornea is the window of the eye and if diseased, it often can cause decreased vision and discomfort.  A complete exam can determine if a corneal problem exists and treatment instituted.

Eye Injuries:

The best cure is not as good as prevention. Always wear safety glasses when doing anything that might endanger your precious eyes. The cornea often becomes scratches by foreign material or objects.  This can become a long-term problem and will require care, especially because the cornea that has been damaged can develop a corneal infection or ulcer. Working with metal, either by hammering metal on metal or working under a rusty car can result in imbedded metallic foreign bodies that need careful, delicate removal. Blunt trauma can cause bleeding inside the eye, secondary glaucoma or a retinal detachment.  There also can be fractures of the bones around the eye that can lead to double vision. If you injure your eye, it is very important to come in for an exam.

Floaters and Flashes:

These can be frightening and can sometimes be a sign of an impending retinal detachment, so need to be examined to rule out problems that require surgical attention. As we age, the vitreous jelly in the eye becomes more liquid and takes up less space.  In many people, there is a time when the jelly, along with its clear surrounding membrane comes off the retina, where it is loosely attached.  There are particles that can be seen as floaters at that point and as the membrane pulls at the attachments to the retina, there are flashes seen (tiny arcs of light, seen especially at night to the side of our vision as we turn quickly). Floaters are usually tiny flecks of condensed protein or red blood cells in the vitreous jelly of the eye.  These float back and forth as we look side to side.  While they can be a totally normal finding, they also could be a sign of a retinal tear. If you are experiencing floaters, especially if you also have flashes, you need a dilated exam as soon as possible to rule out a tear.  You should not exercise until you are seen.

Children's Eye Care/Eye Muscle Treatment:

Children have unique visual problems and needs.  If a child has one eye that turns in or out, or needs a large eyeglass prescription, while the fellow eye is normal, this child is at risk for the development of a "lazy eye".  An exam at the earliest possible time can prevent a lifetime of decreased vision.  This is especially important if there is a family history of strabismus or lazy eye. Infants can be born with congenital cataracts or congenital glaucoma.  There need treatment as soon after birth as possible.  Children are also, because of their curious nature, prone to injuries that require prompt attention.  The doctors at Windham Eye Group are very experienced in the care of children's eyes. Both children and adults can suffer from the over action or under action of the eye muscles that move the eye up and down and back and forth. This can cause lazy eye in children and double vision in adults.  A thorough eye exam will determine the cause and treatment can be planned. This often is as simple as eyeglasses, with or without prisms, or tiny optical devices that allow our eyes to see the same object in each eye. Eye exercises are also often useful.  If these aides do not successfully treat the problem, surgery to weaken a too strong muscle, or strengthen a weak one, may be required.

Cosmetic Eye Surgery and BOTOX:

As we age, the skin and other tissues of the eyelid, eyebrow and the forehead become loose and move downward.  This can cause laxity of the lids, causing tearing and exposure of the eye.  The excess tissue around the eye can block side vision, becoming hazardous when driving.  Lesions can also develop, more often in fair-skinned persons with a long sun exposure history, and some of these lesions are cancerous.  Both Dr. Reardon and Dr Woods are very experienced in addressing these problems and doing surgery to give the patient better appearance and function. BOTOX became FDA approved in the treatment of eyelid twitching, called blepharospasm, in 1989 and Dr. Reardon became the first MD in Willimantic to use this medication.  This very effective treatment is nearly painless and consists of tiny injections of the akin around the eye.  It is temporary and needs repeating about every 3-6 months.  More recently, BOTOX has been used to treat tension headaches effectively.  BOTOX is also used for a purely cosmetic reasons to decrease wrinkles and creases on the face from frowning.  Insurance will pay for functional problems (like blepharospasm and headaches) requiring BOTOX, but will not pay for cosmetic reasons. Dr. Reardon would be happy to evaluate you and discuss treatment with BOTOX with you.