Protecting Eyes from Sun UV Damage & Injury

NY Ophthalmologist Andreas Wolter, M.D. advised patients to take the necessary precautions in order to protect their eyes against damage and injury from the sun and excessive UV light exposure. “May is a time when we begin to spend more time outdoors enjoying the beauty of our Hudson Valley NY scenery. May also marks Ultraviolet or UV Eye Protection Awareness Month so we wanted to comment on UV protective eyewear and precautions people should take,” commented Dr. Wolter of Seeta Eye Centers with offices serving the Hudson Valley in Poughkeepsie, Fishkill and Carmel, New York. With more exposure to the sun and ultraviolet or UV rays on a daily basis, we need to be reminded to use proper UV eye protection”, remarked Dr. Wolter. 

Almost everyone is aware of the potential damage that sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause to their skin. However most people either don’t know or don’t appreciate the negative impact UV light can have on eye heath and vision. Exposure to UV has been linked to many eye problems and in some instances is thought to quicken the onset of eye diseases such as cataract, age related macular degeneration (AMD), certain cancers on the delicate skin around the eye, Pterygia-a growth of white tissue on the surface of the eye-and even photokeratitis, a type of sunburn of the cornea. One of the most concerning aspects of UV eye damage and injury is that it is cumulative and often doesn’t become noticeable to patients for many years. 

Some precautions regarding UV eye protection include: 

• Always wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses without UV protection may shade the eyes but actually cause the pupils to dilate, allowing in even more harmful rays. 
• Wear a brimmed hat along with sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. 
• Choose wrap-around sunglasses to protect the eyes and the skin around the eyes.
• Be aware that although some contact lenses may offer UV protection, they cannot protect the entire eye and the skin around it. 
• Choose sunglasses made of unbreakable polycarbonate, especially for children and for those who lead active lifestyles. 
• Be sure to ask your doctor about the photosensitizing side effects of any medications that you might take. 
• Always wear eye protection when using a tanning bed. According the American Academy of Ophthalmology, tanning beds can produce UV levels up to 100 times more than the sun, which can cause serious damage to the external and internal structures of the eye and eyelids. 

If you or someone you know has a question or concerns about UV eye damage or injury call Seeta Eye Centers and schedule an eye examination by calling 845-454-1025, visiting Seeta Eye Centers or facebook.com/seetaeyecenters. 

Seeta Eye Centers is conveniently located for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County including Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Middletown, Kingston, New Paltz, Newburgh, Beacon, Bedford, Catskill, Cornwall, Eastchester, Ellenville, Florida, Goshen, Harriman, Harrison, Highland, Highland Falls, Kerhonkson, Mahopac, Monroe, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New City, Scarsdale, Saugerties, Spring Valley, Tarrytown, West Point, White Plains, Woodstock, Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, NY.

Dr. Modi Speaks On Laser Cataract Surgery

Cataract & Refractive Surgeon Satish Modi, M.D. just returned from the 2013 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) where he was speaking and teaching other cataract surgeons about bladeless laser cataract surgery which he has been performing at Seeta Eye centers and the Dutchess Ambulatory Surgery Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. for more than a year. “A year ago there was considerable patient interest in laser cataract surgery. However today after a year of seeing the results friends and relative experience patients are routinely initiating the request that we perform their cataract surgery with the laser rather than the manual technique,” commented Dr. Modi. “Patients really do appreciate that cataract surgery is a technically complex and requires considerable surgical skill for a number of steps that are typically performed manually. The Alcon® LenSx® Femtosecond Laser helps me deliver a number of these skill intensive steps in a safe, more precise and even gentler eye surgery,” he further explained.

“While I regularly host eye surgeons in our practice who want to learn more about laser cataract surgery, the opportunity to speak and share my experiences at the ASCRS meeting in San Francisco with so many cataract surgeons from all over, was really thrilling,” summarized Dr. Modi.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about cataracts, laser cataract surgery or lens implants, please call Seeta Eye Centers and schedule an eye examination by calling 845-454-1025, visiting Seeta Eye Centers or facebook.com/seetaeyecenters.

Seeta Eye Centers is conveniently located for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County including Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Middletown, Kingston, New Paltz, Newburgh, Beacon, Bedford, Catskill, Cornwall, Eastchester, Ellenville, Florida, Goshen, Harriman, Harrison, Highland, Highland Falls, Kerhonkson, Mahopac, Monroe, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New City, Scarsdale, Saugerties, Spring Valley, Tarrytown, West Point, White Plains, Woodstock, Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, NY.

Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery & Exercise

Patients having bladeless laser cataract surgery and lens implants at Seeta Eye Centers will find that they are able to resume exercise as well as most daily activities pretty shortly after their eye surgery. Cataract Surgeon Satish Modi, M.D. reviewed guidelines for resuming exercise after cataract surgery and lens implants at Seeta Eye Centers. “My bladeless laser cataract surgery and lens implant procedure allows for a quick practical and visual recovery for the majority of patients,” stated Dr. Modi. “This is important to so many patients-especially as they want to be able to resume their daily activities and lifestyle quickly. One area we always discuss with patients is how long they need to wait or restrict their exercise routine,” Dr. Modi further explained. “Certainly exercise guidelines may vary slightly depending on your cataract surgeon and on the specific details of your cataract surgery, but in general within 24 to 48 hours you should be able to do light walking. Avoid any heavy lifting or bending from the waist to get objects from the floor until you get approval to do so from your cataract surgeon. Swimming and water activities should be avoided for at least the first week after surgery because getting water in your eyes could increase the risk for infection. However, most patients are completely back to their exercise routines within one month after surgery.”

If you or someone you know has questions about cataract, cataract surgery, bladeless laser cataract surgery, lens implants and exercise restrictions please feel free to call Seeta Eye Centers and schedule an eye examination by calling 845-454-1025, visiting Seeta Eye Centers or facebook.com/seetaeyecenters.

Seeta Eye Centers is conveniently located for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County including Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Middletown, Kingston, New Paltz, Newburgh, Beacon, Bedford, Catskill, Cornwall, Eastchester, Ellenville, Florida, Goshen, Harriman, Harrison, Highland, Highland Falls, Kerhonkson, Mahopac, Monroe, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New City, Scarsdale, Saugerties, Spring Valley, Tarrytown, West Point, White Plains, Woodstock, Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, NY.

Bladeless Cataract Surgery, Flying & Air Travel

“As more and more patients opt to have bladeless laser cataract surgery it is not infrequent that they wish to be able to schedule a vacation or business trip that requires flying and air travel shortly thereafter. Having bladeless laser cataract surgery doesn’t pose a significant barrier to air travel or flying,” stated NY Cataract Surgeon Satish Modi, M.D. of Seeta Eye Centers with offices serving the Hudson Valley in Poughkeepsie, Fishkill and Carmel, New York. “My cataract patients-especially as they seem to be getting younger-are continuing very active lifestyles. Often they need to get on an airplane or take advantage of air travel arrangements after cataract surgery and don’t want to be delayed.” 

Most cataract surgeons require their patients to be examined the first day after cataract surgery and again at about 5-8 days after a cataract operation. This is the period of time where rare, but potentially serious, complications would likely be detected, if they were to occur. Beyond this period of time it is more a matter of making sure that you have access to continued follow up care at your cataract surgeon’s direction. If you are contemplating a trip after your cataract surgery you should discuss this with your cataract surgeon and we can give you any additional advice you might need regarding air travel as it would apply to your post operative instructions.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about cataract surgery, air travel and flying please feel free to call Seeta Eye Centers and schedule an eye examination by calling 845-454-1025, visiting Seeta Eye Centers or facebook.com/seetaeyecenters. 

Seeta Eye Centers is conveniently located for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County including Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Middletown, Kingston, New Paltz, Newburgh, Beacon, Bedford, Catskill, Cornwall, Eastchester, Ellenville, Florida, Goshen, Harriman, Harrison, Highland, Highland Falls, Kerhonkson, Mahopac, Monroe, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New City, Scarsdale, Saugerties, Spring Valley, Tarrytown, West Point, White Plains, Woodstock, Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, NY.

Multifocal Lens Implant & Laser Cataract Surgery Experience

NY Cataract Surgeon Satish Modi, M.D., F.R.C.S. (C) of Seeta Eye Centers in Poughkeepsie, New York commented on his experience and results using multifocal lens implants with laser cataract surgery. “Along with the further improved safety profile and ability to make the cataract surgery operation even more gentle, the  precision and quality of optical vision correction results has been striking as well-particularly for patients receiving near vision presbyopia correcting lens implants such as the  AcrySof®  ReSTOR® multifocal implant. Of my patients having laser cataract surgery with a ReSTOR® lens implant over the  past 12 months, 95% tell us that they now no longer rely on eyeglasses-which is pretty thrilling for them,” shared Dr. Modi.

If you or someone you know want to learn more about multifocal lens implants or laser cataract surgery please feel free to call Seeta Eye Centers and schedule an eye exam by calling 845-454-1025, visiting Seeta Eye Centers or facebook.com/seetaeyecenters.

Seeta Eye Centers is conveniently located for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County including Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Middletown, Kingston, New Paltz, Newburgh, Beacon, Bedford, Catskill, Cornwall, Eastchester, Ellenville, Florida, Goshen, Harriman, Harrison, Highland, Highland Falls, Kerhonkson, Mahopac, Monroe, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New City, Scarsdale, Saugerties, Spring Valley, Tarrytown, West Point, White Plains, Woodstock, Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, NY.

Laser Cataract Surgery 12 Month Experience

NY Cataract Surgeon Satish Modi, M.D., F.R.C.S. (C) of Seeta Eye Centers in Poughkeepsie, New York  shared,  “After a year of clinical experience we are quite confident in having sorted through the real clinical advantages and patient benefits.”

Manual cataract surgery is indeed quite safe but it is technically a complex eye surgery requiring tremendous surgical skill. With any surgery-there is a risk of complications with increasing complexity. “While cataract surgery complications are infrequent, we are always looking for ways to further reduce their risk or avoid them completely,” noted Dr. Modi. “Cataract surgeons are always concerned about the risk of endophthalmitis from the inconsistency of manual incision architecture, capsular tears or rupture and vitreous loss from a manual capsulotomy-even in experienced hands, and less than perfect centration of a manual capsulotomy impacting lens implant results,” Dr. Modi explained. 

“Over the past year of using the femtosecond laser to perform bladeless laser cataract surgery, I can tell you that even after my thirty years experience as a cataract surgeon-I now breathe easier and complete each cataract surgery procedure with a relaxed confidence in the results-which is great for both me and the patient. During the past 12 months and after several hundred procedures I am thrilled to report that we have had no complications, patients’ eyes are quiet quicker and they see well sooner than with the manual technique,” said Dr. Modi. “This improved safety is important for routine cataract surgery in generally health eyes, but even more critical for patients with concurrent eye problems or diseases such as for patients with diabetes, a history of, or risk of retina problems, glaucoma, compromised or weakened corneal tissue or other ocular inflammatory disease, we really want to deliver as gentle a cataract surgery procedure as possible. The  femtosecond laser for bladeless laser cataract surgery really does help us provide a much more gentle procedure as we can reduce the  energy levels required to operate inside the  eye,” stressed Dr. Modi.

If you or someone you know want to learn more about cataracts or laser cataract surgery please feel free to call Seeta Eye Centers and schedule an eye exam by calling 845-454-1025, visiting Seeta Eye Centers or facebook.com/seetaeyecenters.

Seeta Eye Centers is conveniently located for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County including Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Middletown, Kingston, New Paltz, Newburgh, Beacon, Bedford, Catskill, Cornwall, Eastchester, Ellenville, Florida, Goshen, Harriman, Harrison, Highland, Highland Falls, Kerhonkson, Mahopac, Monroe, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New City, Scarsdale, Saugerties, Spring Valley, Tarrytown, West Point, White Plains, Woodstock, Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, NY.

Story of Thanksgiving Cataract Help

The week before Thanksgiving of 2009 I received a phone call from a girl named Sarah from Dr. Modi’s office. She was helping Dr. Modi participate in a Clinical Study. I am not sure how Sarah heard of me but I’m glad she did. I had become legally blind from cataracts on both eyes plus other health problems. She thought that if I qualified for her studies she might be able to help me even though I had no benefits or money. My health had forced me to resign my job. I went to Dr. Modi’s office for tests. Sarah called a couple of days later. She was sorry but my eyes were too bad to qualify for study participation. At least she tried to help me. 

A few days went by and Sarah called me again saying Dr. Modi wanted to see me. Sarah had brought my case to his attention. Dr. Modi said he did not think he could do anything about my health problems but he could help me with my eyesight. Dr. Modi offered to do my surgery and told me he was to get a surgical crew to help him. I was grateful to them all. Dr. Modi then called in his assistant and began to dictate a letter about my hardships saying “he was not going to let me fall through the cracks.”

His assistant faxed the letter to several agencies including a state assemblyman and a state senator. Dr. Modi said to me, “He would get personally involved if need be” However due to Dr. Modi’s intervention the agencies responded almost immediately and I received benefits that I had been fighting for over a year. Dr. Modi has returned my eyesight to the point that I now can drive a car and my health has gradually improved. Without Dr. Modi’s caring and the support of his staff I would not be here to celebrate another Thanksgiving!

Thank you, Dr. Modi and staff.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about cataract surgery please feel free to call Seeta Eye Centers and schedule an eye examination by calling 845-454-1025, visiting Seeta Eye Centers or facebook.com/seetaeyecenters. 

Seeta Eye Centers is conveniently located for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County including Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Middletown, Kingston, New Paltz, Newburgh, Beacon, Bedford, Catskill, Cornwall, Eastchester, Ellenville, Florida, Goshen, Harriman, Harrison, Highland, Highland Falls, Kerhonkson, Mahopac, Monroe, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New City, Scarsdale, Saugerties, Spring Valley, Tarrytown, West Point, White Plains, Woodstock, Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, NY.