Your eyeglasses live the same life you do- They get baked in the summertime, frozen in the winter, grabbed by the baby, chewed on by the dog, dropped, scratched, sat on, slept in, stepped on, squeezed, jammed folded and mutilated every day of the week.

Good news! Our Premier Gallery frames include a Temple-to-Temple 2 Year Warranty.

We are one of the only practices in Missouri who uses the unique Q-2100 Lens Molding System to improve the accuracy and speed of eyeglass delivery!

Our optical laboratory has the latest in equipment to not only fabricate your glasses, but to maintain and repair them should they become broken or damaged. We are able to tint, coat, harden and edge spectacle lenses.

Most people with vision correction issues are wanting to know more about LASIK and whether it is right for them. Here is a brief description of the procedure:

A flap is surgically cut in the cornea and gently folded back. An Excimer Laser is used to reshape the cornea into a flatter shape (this is much like a contact lens corrects vision by forming a new shape on the cornea). The flap is then put back in place, acting like a natural bandage. The healing process is quick and the discomfort level is quite low.

People will often say that they did not feel anything, and could see well the very first day. Most people have improved vision in 24-48 hours. but it must be noted that each person will heal at a different rate. Vision, although greatly improved immediately after surgery, often continues to improve for some weeks, even months.

LASIK is not for everyone. People's eyes are different so even though you may have had a friend who has had LASIK, it may not be the best course of treatment for you. If you are interested in laser vision correction, we will be happy to guide you in picking the right surgeon, procedure and laser appropriate for you.

After the procedure, we take great care to monitor your eyes and adjust your medication for the best possible results.

Our office provides many of the surgical services such as Cataract surgery, Laser surgery, Refractive surgery and Strabismic surgery. We offer this in conjunction with the hospital and local eye surgeons.

Additionally, we have working arrangements established with other specialized eye care doctors to manage such things are retinal detachments, retinal tears and hemmorhages.

Cataracts: The natural lens in the eye gradually becomes less clear as we get older. When opacities develop in the lens and the lens gets too hazy, vision will be impaired. Our office can diagnose and manage cataract care. When the cataract affects the vision to the extent that you cannot read or see distant objects comfortably, we will recommend cataract surgery. Our office co-manages with cataract specialists that are proven experts in cataract surgery. Cataract surgery can provide you with a bright new world of vision.

Glaucoma: Glaucoma gradually destroys the optic nerve tissue in the back of the eye. The greatest danger of glaucoma stems from the fact that the disease is painless and without obvious symptoms until significant damage has occurred. The most common cause is from pressure being too high inside the eye, but vascular disease and other diseases can also cause glaucoma. We always monitor for glaucoma during routine eye examinations. Tests include checking the pressure of the eye, screening for peripheral vision defects and analyzing the appearance of the optic nerve. If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, we typically prescribe medications that lower the eye pressure. Most forms of glaucoma are successfully treated with eye drops. Laser treatments and eye surgery are secondary treatments that offer alternative ways to treat more advanced glaucoma.

Diabetes: Diabetic patients should have a dilated retinal examination each year. Laser treatments have proven to slow the progression of retinal eye disease for many patients. Diabetes often stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in the back of the eye, which ultimately leak and damage the retina. If this condition is discovered early, laser treatment can destroy these vessels. We have the latest instruments used to detect changes in the back of the eye. If we discover advancing diabetic eye disease that can be treated or needs further evaluation, we will refer you for consultation and further testing to a board certified retinal specialist.

The Optomap captures a wide-view image of the inside of the eye without eyedrops, blurred vision, or light sensitivity. It is fast, easy, and stores a permanent digital image of your eye in your patient file. The Optomap allows the doctor to quickly evaluate your eye for any serious eye disease or disorder, some which can occur at any age and may not have symptoms. The founder of this technology set out to develop a patient-friendly examination tool after his young son lost vision in one eye from a retinal detachment that was not detected during a routine eye examination.

What is Macular Degeneration?

Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a disease caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, known as the macula.  Early symptoms of ARMD can include distortion, causing lines to appear wavy, and blurring in your central vision, causing difficulty in reading, driving, and recognizing faces. ARMD is the leading cause of blindness in adults, and there is no cure. The effects of this disease are both permanent and irreversible.

Because ARMD is so debilitating, it’s important to understand what puts you at risk. Risk reduction can begin now, even if you are young. Don’t wait until you develop symptoms of ARMD. Subtle symptoms can be present long before you notice any change in your vision.

Known Major Risk Factors:

• Family history of macular degeneration

• Smoking (Even if you have quit)

• Low Macular Pigment

• Having light skin and light eyes

• Having had unprotected exposure to the sun

• Being Overweight

• Gender – Females are more at risk

• Diet – especially one that is low in anitoxidants

The New Way to Assess Your Risk for Macular Degeneration

QuantifEYE is an instrument offering a valuable technology that can help us assess your risk for Macular Degeneration.

The test is simple, quick, and non-invasive. A base-line measurement of the amount of pigment in your macula is taken, and then results are assessed along with other risk factors. If your test results reveal that you are at a higher risk of macular degeneration, we may recommend vitamin supplementation to restore depleted levels of the antioxidants zeaxanthin and lutein in your macula.

You may be eating a healthy diet,(including dark, leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach and broccoli, and other foods like carrots, orange peppers, and corn). However, even then it can be difficult to consume enough zeaxanthin and lutein needed to replenish what your macula has lost.

Some of the underlying causes of Dry Eye can include the following:

• Environmental Factors
  Smoke, air pollution and/or sunny, windy, cold or dry air conditions.


• Contact Lenses
  Contact lens wear can promote the detrimental effect of increased tear evaporation resulting in general discomfort, infection, and/or increased protein deposits.


• Age
  Tear production usually decreases with age and research has shown more than half of individuals over age 65 suffer from mild to moderate dry eye.


• Medications and Conditions
  There are several conditions,such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren’s Disease, and medications which can lower your ability to produce tears.


• Hormone Changes
  Changes in hormone levels associated with pregnancy, oral contraceptives and menopause can contribute to dry eye.

The Dry Eye Tear Test measures the quality of your tear film by measuring the lactoferrin level in your tears. Lactoferrin is an important protein in the eye and has been proven in clinical studies to be an indicator of both dry eye and overall ocular health. Tear chemistry is the most accurate and advanced method to determine the exact disease state of patients with Dry Eye.

Is the Test Right for me?

If you experience symptoms associated with Dry Eye you may be a candidate for the test. If left untreated, Dry Eye symptoms can often continue to intensify. If you are unsure about your dry eye symptoms, ask your physician or eye care specialist if the test is right for you. Common dry eye symptoms include:

• Redness


• Dry Eye Feeling


• Mucous or Discharge


• Sandy/Gritty Feeling


• Foreign Body Sensation


• Itching or Burning


• Allergies


• Constant Tearing


• Blurred Vision


• Eye Pain/Soreness


• Sties


• Chronic Infection of Eye or Lid


• Contact lens discomfort


• Contact Lens Solution Sensitivity


• "Tired" Eyes


• Watery Eyes

People who have lost eyesight due to injuries or eye disease need special types of products to help them function as independently as possible. We offer a selection of these products through our office including magnifiers and high power readers.

In addition, we can direct those who have low vision problems to services and products that will help them carry on the day-to-day tasks that they need to perform.