Help for Bulging Eyes in NJ

“As a matter of course we are always careful to observe and question the appearance of bulging eyes when NJ patients present at The Eye Care & Surgery Center,” remarked NJ Ophthalmologist Joel Confino, M.D. “Bulging Eyes is the common term patients use to describe eye conditions known medically as exophthalmos or proptosis’, commented NJ Oculoplastic Surgery Specialist Baljeet Purewal, M.D. Besides possibly being a bit odd looking, bulging eye conditions can also cause a number of problems such as not being able to completely close your eyes during sleep or even during normal blinking which can lead to dry eye symptoms, discomfort and ultimately damage the eye’s surface as a result of scarring. Sometimes eye bulging can restrict or interfere with normal eye movements.

“We need to be able to properly diagnose the difference between eyes that are simply “prominent” as compared to eyes that actually “bulging”, said Dr. Purewal. “In instances of true bulging eyes, we need to carefully determine the cause so that we can offer an appropriate treatment as necessary,” Dr. Purewal further explained. Causes of bulging eyes can include Graves Disease that results in hyperthyroidism and too much thyroid hormone, inflammation of the tissue around the eye and inside the bony orbit of the eye called Cellulitis, certain tumors behind, inside or around the eye, hemorrhages behind the eye and injury to the eye.

If you or someone you know suffers from bulging eyes please feel free to schedule an examination at The Eye Care & Surgery Center-908-789-8999.

NJ Longer Fuller Eyelashes & LATISSE™

NJ patients interested in longer fuller eyelashes to enhance their appearance will be pleased to learn about LATISSE™ at The Eye Care & Surgery Center with offices in Westfield, Warren and Iselin, New Jersey. LATISSE™ is an FDA approved treatment that can help you grow fuller, longer lashes. Most people who are interested in their appearance know the value of having big, bright, beautiful eyes. While eye makeup alone may be able to help you achieve a fuller and longer look for your eyelashes, LATISSE™ can actually help you grow fuller, longer eyelashes on your own! Your lashes are a big part of making your eyes more visible and adding that bright beautiful look to your appearance.

Lash enhancers have been used since ancient times to brighten the look of eyes. Today there are numerous eyelash cosmetics and treatments available to help you look your best. An option, for those who want to fully benefit from these treatments, is to make the most of their own natural lashes by enhancing their growth so that they are actually longer, fuller and darker.

LATISSE™ is a solution intended for use on the upper eyelid margins or the base of the eyelashes. It is a solution we can prescribe after an initial examination and consultation, so that it can be determined if LATISSE™ is a good choice for you. It is important to follow your physician's instructions for LATISSE™ use. You should make your physician aware of any side effects that may occur, in a small number of patients, so that they can be addressed. These can include itching and redness of the eye itself, eye irritation, darkening of the skin around the eye, and bdryness or redness of the skin around the eye. Make sure that you keep the appointments for follow-up visits with your physician, so that they can be sure you are getting the results you desire and not experiencing any of the side effects mentioned.

LATISSE™ is available from many physicians. As a Board Certified NJ Ophthalmologist and Cosmetic Eye Plastic Surgeon, Baljeet Purewall, M.D. is a NJ eye physician and surgeon who is a specialist in understanding your eyes and the delicate tissue around your eyes, including your lashes, eyelid margins, and eyelids. She are specifically trained and experienced in the examination and treatment of these areas for your eye health and cosmetic appearance-and we are here to help you look your best!

LASIK is Affordable in NJ Eye Care & Surgery Center

Believe it or not, the cost of LASIK in NJ is affordable for just about anyone at The Eye Care & Surgery Center in NJ! That’s because we work to find ways to work with you to help you achieve your personal vision correction goals at The Eye Care & Surgery Center. Here are a few ways lots of our patients choose when they have LASIK at The Eye Care & Surgery Center.

Easy Payment Plans
Many of our patients use our easy payment monthly payment plans. We can arrange the amount you pay each month to fit your budget-AND you do not even have to put any money down! You can have your LASIK procedure today WITH NO MONEY DOWN-and with 0% interest if you would like!

Flex Plans-Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Many employers offer Flex Plans-Flexible Spending Accounts or FSA’s. These plans allow you to have money taken out of your paycheck over time to pay for LASIK. What is even more appealing about Flex Plans is that money is withheld in Pre-Tax dollars allowing you to get extra tax savings. It is best to come in for a free consultation to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK-and then we can tell you exactly how much to have taken out of your paycheck!

Health Spending Accounts (HSA)
Health Spending Accounts are another way our patients can use Pre-Tax dollars to pay for LASIK and elective Lens Implants. If you have an HSA, it is best to come in for a free consultation to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK so we can tell you how much to allocate.

Insurance & Discount Fee for Service Plans
More and more health insurance or vision insurance plans are offering partial coverage or a discount for LASIK to their participants. We will be happy to review your plan. Even if we are not a direct provider on your plan, if you have coverage, we will make every attempt to honor your benefit allowance when you come to The Eye Care & Surgery Center.

Tax Refunds
Tax refunds often provide a nice source of unexpected cash that you can invest in yourself! If you know that you are going to be getting a tax refund, come in for a free consultation and find out if you are a candidate for LASIK. We can even use a very short term payment plan to help you get treated today and pay with your tax refund tomorrow.

SkinMedica® Peel Questions in NJ

Who can benefit from SkinMedica® Peels?
Patients with photo damaged skin, fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentary abnormalities, acne and acne scarring can benefit from SkinMedica® Peels. SkinMedica® offers a range of different strength chemical peels that address specific skin needs.

Illuminize Peel is the lightest peel, appropriate for the first-time chemical peel patient or patients looking for a gentle, superficial peel to make their skin brighter and more radiant.
Vitalize Peel is suitable for all skin types, requires little or no downtime, and produces predictable and noticeable results.

Rejuvenize Peel is deeper than the Vitalize Peel and is recommended for patients with more severe skin damage, who require greater clinical effect. Rejuvenize Peel produces significant results with minimal downtime.

What is the mechanism of skin rejuvenation from a Chemical Peel?
Chemical Peels produce a partial thickness injury to the skin, the depth of which is determined by the chemical agents. Following the trauma to the skin, the wound healing process reorients the new skin connective tissue. Collagen remodeling is the main reason chemical peels decrease sun damage and reduce wrinkles. With SkinMedica® Peels, only the epidermis (the top layer of the skin) is penetrated. The epidermis heals in a few days giving the skin an improved appearance, more even skin color, smoother texture and a healthier glow.

How long will the effect of the chemical peel last?
Aging of the skin is a chronic, natural phenomenon. A single peel can reverse some of the clinical and histological signs of aging, but once the skin has healed from the peel, or any other cosmetic procedure, the aging process starts again. Therefore, a daily program of specifically designed products that reverse the signs of aging is necessary to maintain long-term improvement.

What can be expected after SkinMedica® Peels?
Most people leave the office looking healthy and fresh. Any redness or discoloration can easily be covered with makeup and most activities can be resumed right away. Within 48 hours following Vitalize Peel and Revitalized Peel, mild to moderate flaking will occur, which can be controlled with moisturizers. Patients who receive Illuminize Peel should not expect to see visible peeling, due to the superficial nature of Illuminize Peel.

How long will the peel procedure take?
The procedure should take approximately 20 minutes.

Is it safe to have SkinMedica® Peels on a regular basis?
Multiple treatments may be required to achieve desired results. Illuminize Peel can be repeated every 2 weeks, Vitalize Peel every 3-4 weeks and Rejuvenize Peel every 4-6- weeks. There is no limit to the number of peels a person can receive as long as improvement continues. The effect is cumulative with time and enhanced with SkinMedica daily regimen products.

How long after receiving a SkinMedica® Peel can one be exposed to the sun?
Sun avoidance during the recovery period is critical. After the peeling process is complete (approximately one week), one can resume regular outdoor activities; however, daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) is imperative for maintaining healthy skin.

Learn more and schedule a skin care consultation at The Eye Care & Surgery Center-908-789-8999 or visit us at facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule an appointment.

Eye Refractions Billing & Cost

One of the most basic parts of an eye exam is checking the refraction of your eyes or an eye refraction test. This allows us to determine what your best possible vision is at that point in time while wearing a prescription optical lens and gives us the basis for prescribing a prescription optical lens. The most common type of eye refraction is called a Manifest Refraction and is performed without the use of eye drops so that we can examine the eye in a natural state. If you have ever had and eye exam you are probably familiar with the “which is better, one or two” test-this is a Manifest Refraction. Another type of eye refraction is called a Cycloplegic Refractions which is performed after the instillation of eye drops to temporarily immobilize the Ciliary Muscle of the eye. This temporarily prevents you from accommodating or “focusing” up close and is used when there is a need for an even more precise measurement of refractive error. In addition the eye drops will also dilate the pupil so the eye doctor can easily see the back of the eye to examine the retina, optic nerve and blood vessels in order to evaluate their health.

From an insurance standpoint, eye refractions are considered part of a routine eye exam. Because refractions are normally used to determine refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, and therefore prescribe glasses or contact lenses, many insurance companies, particularly Medicare and Medicaid, do not pay for them. It's important to understand that when patients are having their eye exam, refractions are a necessary part of a routine eye exam and must be paid for out of pocket. If you have questions about the cost of your refraction or billing questions about refraction please call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999 and we will be glad to assist.

About Your Eye Health Risk & Smoking

Smoking can have a great effect on your eyes-especially in terms of your risk of Cataracts and Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Avoiding smoking, or quitting, is one of the best investments you can make in your long-term eye health. Smoking-even in your teens or twenties when your senior years seem far away-increases your future risks for Cataracts and Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The more a person smokes, the greater the risks. In general if you quit smoking the risks of these eye diseases decreases to approximately the same level as if you never smoked at all. Keep on mind that smoking also increases your risk of cardiovascular disease which also can affect your eyes. Besides the vascular problems mentioned smoking and even being around smokers and their second hand smoke increase the likelihood of dry eye. Learn more about eye health and smoking at The Eye Care & Surgery Center-908-789-8999.

Pre-Med: A Student’s Story

A pre-med student is born the moment they accept the challenge and accompanying reward of a selfless life predicated upon helping others. While this might seem like a remarkable endeavor, it is definitely not one to be taken lightly. That being said, this individual must be certain, beyond all fathomable doubt, that this is the one and only thing that they could see them self doing for the rest of their life. If there is any inkling of desire in any other field, this person, in my opinion, should not go into medicine. There exists the common misconception that many people pursue a medical degree for the monetary rewards. This is a fallacy. Financial success can be achieved in many fields outside of medicine. Those who do in fact pursue the dream of becoming a medical doctor, do so for the underlying satisfaction that is derived from playing a pivotal role in the lives of their patients. These professionals assume a direct responsibility for the healthcare and wellbeing of those individuals. The realization unfolds during the evolution of the doctorate process, it is not the doctor who is above all, but in fact, the immeasurable compassion and desire to help that ultimately becomes larger than life.

As one of these students, I have embraced this way of life with arms wide open. For the past several years I have been working as an intern at The Eye Care & Surgery Center. The unbelievable opportunities and relationships this practice has given me will undoubtedly help me along this path. For this, appreciation could not be expressed through mere words. The schooling involved on the road to a medical degree, may feel life-consuming at times. The demands may seem daunting, especially for students that also hold down jobs while attending school. There is “required” research, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) that requires hundreds of hours of studying, as well as an exam to determine acceptance to any top tier school. These tests essentially determine if your undergraduate work and efforts put forth have been in vain.Often the question is posed, what kind of grades does prospective medical student need to attain? In today’s competitive admissions process, a “B” is a mere symbol of inadequacy. As humans, we are imperfect by nature, yet you must flirt with perfection if you want to be considered for a seat in a medical school. Regardless, as a very wise man once told me, “while all your material possessions can be removed, no one can ever take your education away.” No matter what the sacrifice, no matter how hard or painful it is at times, achieving this goal and becoming a successful surgeon is the culmination of everything I could ever dream of.

Thank you to our guest blogger: Zack Mildrum, Medical Student