Happy New Year
I’d like to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2008 and welcome you to our new website and blog. I will use this blog to provide timely updates on eye care with an emphasis on new technologies and in particular refractive surgery. 2007 was a great year for Philadelphia Eye Associates, our employees and our patients. We brought new technologies to the offices such as OCT (Ocular Coherence Tomography) for the evaluation of the retina and optic nerve, the IOL Master for measuring the axial length of the eye, new visual field machines to help in the management of glaucoma, and some major changes in refractive surgery. Last year TLC laser center of Mt Laurel, where I perform all my LASIK surgery, merged with Kremer Laser of Cherry Hill and combined their operations at the Cherry Hill location. After a lot of work, the end result is nothing short of amazing. The facility is great, and as a result of the merger we were able to bring in two of the newest technologies in refractive surgery: Intralase and Pentacam. In addition the center has two full time Optometric refractive specialists, three surgical technicians, two ophthalmic technicians and a great front office staff. NO laser center provides better technology or personnel and for you the patient, no one provides a better laser vision experience. As you can tell I’m quite pleased with the result.If you have any questions about Philadelphia Eye Associates or any of the vision care services we offer, don’t hesitate to email me through the website. Mark H. Blecher, M.D.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I’m so pleased with the result of my April 2007 surgery. For years I wore contact lenses, without any issue, but my vision was bad enough that I could not navigate my house without glasses after I removed my lenses. Dr. Blecher was wonderful, and took a lot of time to make me comfortable with my decision to proceed. Despite the date of the surgery, Friday the 13th, I had amazing success. The people at TLC/Kremer are wonderful, and made me comfortable for the surgery. I also found it helpful to watch the procedure on youtube.com, so I knew exactly what was happening. After a few hours of rest, I cleaned out my eyes to 20-20 vision for the first time in over 20 years!
After only a few weeks, I was better than 20-20, and remain there almost one year later. I have only one regret about the surgery…that I wasted years considering the surgery and did not go forward sooner. Dr. Blecher is a wonderfully skilled surgeon, and his pre-care and after-care ensure success. This is an amazing technology, and Dr. Blecher and TLC/Kremer gets my highest recommendation.
If someone is considering the surgery and is undecided about moving forward, I would be happy to speak with you, if this website or Philadelphia Eye Associates so allows. I feel it is the best decision and best investment I’ve made in years. I have no side effects, beyond perfect vision, I require no eye drops, and now only yearly eye check-ups.
Michael Sweeney
May 17th, 2008 at 8:17 am
On Monday, May 12th Dr. Mark Blecher performed cataract surgery on my left eye at the Wills Eye Institute. I had been dealingwith blurry vision for several years but of course no one rushes into surgery especially on the eyes. It eventually interfered with my driving and I knew it was time. After much research I found Dr. Blecher. From the initial consultation I knew he was the surgeon for me. He answered my long list of questions with direct and complete answers.He continued to be efficient and thorough throughout the entire process. From the moment I checked into Wills on the day of surgery their efficiency impressed me. I was taken in and had a great nurse, John and anesthesiologist who addressed all of my needs. My left eye was marked and had to be signed by Dr. Blecher before I was moved into the operating room. After that I don’t remember much and the next thing I remember was the recovery room where my care continued to be outstanding.I walked out of the operating room a few hours later and went to a local restaurant with my husband for breakfast. The next day when I saw Dr. Blecher in his Wills office my first words were…”When can I do the right eye?”… The clarity which I now have in the left eye is amazing and I can’t wait for my June surgery on my other eye. I even drove home to New Jersey the day after surgery. Amazing! Thank you Dr. Blecher!
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:02 am
As a Newbie, I am always searching online for articles that can help me. Thank you
May 29th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Has anyone had trouble with the crystalens H.D. 500.? I had my right eye done in March and still having trouble,can only see up close, not any distance like they advertise they do.Please let me hear from you.Thanks, Arline Biemiller
May 30th, 2009 at 6:19 am
The Crystalens can work very well for many patients but its not for everyone. Preoperative evaluation is very important. Ideal paitents should not have any residual astigmatism, no other eye diseases, and the calculation of the correct power is very important. Of course good surgical technique is essential.
Its impossible to say what exactly is the problem, but it sounds like you wound up nearsighted after surgery. For the lens to have any chance of working as advertised you need to have no residual prescription. This can be fixed in some cases with a second procedure such as LASIK. This will give you better distance vision, but it will decrease your near vision to some degree. There is always a trade off. The Crystalens, when working perfectly, tries to minimize the trade off but no lens works as well the one you were born with.
best of luck with your problem
July 19th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
It’s been about two years since my LASIK procedure and I’ve got to say it’s been life-changing! I’d worn contacts for about 30 years prior to my surgery and they were never very comfortable. Dr. Blecher was recommended by a friend and, after checking out his credentials, I decided to set up a consultation. I’d gone to a different laser center a few years prior and left too afraid to have the surgery and I felt like a lot of my questions were left unanswered. When I met Dr. Blecher, he answered all of my questions (I must have had three pages’ worth) and didn’t rush me. I was very impressed with his track record and decided to undergo the procedure. Everything went smoothly. I am very, very happy with my results and have no side effects. As other patients have said, I just regret not having LASIK sooner.