New Technology

At Clarkson Eyecare we care about your eye health, which is why we strive to provide you with the most up-to-date technology in the eye care field.

Pachymetry
Pachymetry gives the doctor the ability to catch and begin treatment for problems such as glaucoma and ocular hypertension before they cause permanent damage. It is useful in monitoring the progression of certain disorders that cause the cornea to become thickened (or filled with water), resulting in a loss of vision.

A pachymeter is a device that uses ultrasound to determine the thickness of the cornea. A pachymetry reading for a normal eye is 550 microns. When this number is significantly above or below the norm, it indicates that a patient's corneal thickness is abnormal.

Pachymetry is also an essential measurement prior to the refractive surgical procedure, LASIK. During LASIK, the surgeon must remove tissue from the cornea and, therefore, pachymetry is important to be certain that the cornea will retain enough central tissue thickness to prevent ectasia, an abnormal "bowing" of thin corneas.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the U.S with over 67 million people worldwide affected. Yet, approximately 2 million Americans are unaware they have the disease and still others will be diagnosed only when it is too late to save their vision.

Glaucoma, often called the "silent thief of sight," has no noticeable symptoms and no cure.

GDx
Clarkson Eyecare has now introduced new technology for the detection of Glaucoma before it even starts. The GDx® Nerve Fiber Analyzer provides the earliest possible detection of glaucoma.

There is hope. If detected early, glaucoma can be controlled and vision can be preserved. GDx provides a fast, comfortable and non-intrusive way to catch and track glaucoma in its early stages. Currently, GDx is the only glaucoma exam that evaluates the site of damage before you experience any vision loss.

GDx features exclusive polarimetry technology that measures the retinal nerve fiber layer of the eye ­ the tissue recognized in the American Academy of Ophthalmology's definition of glaucoma. "This is a significant breakthrough compared to existing tests. The standard pressure check is ineffective for detecting glaucoma in half of the patients diagnosed with the disease," says Dr. Wachter of Clarkson Eyecare.

The GDx exam is a short and painless procedure that requires no eye dilation because the eye is never actually touched. A safe, invisible laser scans the back of your eye and acquires an image in less than one second.

The result of the GDx exam is a color-coded "thickness map" of the nerve fiber layer at the back of your eye. This provides our experts with vital insight that otherwise could not have been detected.

"With this technology we have the opportunity to save sight that would have been lost without early detection. Anyone with any of the following risk factors should make an appointment at Clarkson Eyecare to have the GDx exam. It could be the difference between a life with sight or a life in the dark," says Dr. Wachter.

Those at greatest risk include:
• People over the age of 40
• African-Americans (particularly those over 35 years old)
• Anyone with elevated intraocular pressure
• People with a family history of glaucoma, including family members of known glaucoma patients
• Diabetics
• Long-term steroid users
• People who are very near-sighted

Clarkson Eyecare was founded in 1979 by Lawrence J. Jehling, O.D. and Lynette S. Lui, O.D. as the Jehling-Lui Eye Associates on Clarkson Road in Ellisville, Missouri. In 1983, Dr. Jehling moved the practice one block north to its current location and renamed the practice Clarkson Eyecare.

In 1985 Dr. Jehling opened a second office in Pacific, Missouri called Pacific Eyecare. A full-service lens-grinding laboratory was added to the Pacific location in 1987.

Four associated doctors - along with Dr. Jehling and his brother, Gerald Jehling - merged the Ellisville and Pacific offices with Osage Eyecare in House Springs, Missouri and The Eye Institute of St. Louis in Clayton, Missouri in 1995. All four offices took the name Clarkson Eyecare. The merger ignited the rapid growth of the company.

Today, Clarkson Eyecare has offices in Ellisville, Pacific, House Springs, Fenton, Harvester, 141 & Olive, Arnold, O'Fallon South, O'Fallon North, Chesterfield, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, South County, Town & Country, Mid Rivers, Brentwood, Ballwin, Shiloh, Eureka, High Ridge, Union, Florissant, 79 Crossing-St. Peters, Maplewood, Columbia, Festus, Wentzville, Wildwood, Edwardsville, Troy, and Warrenton.

> How often should I see the eye doctor?
> What is a cataract?
> Why does my eye twitch?
> Are LASIK and/or PRK FDA approved procedures?

Q: How often should I see the eye doctor?
A: An annual eye examination is recommended to check the overall health of your eyes and to give you a current prescription so you have the clearest possible vision.

Q: What is a cataract?
A: A cataract is NOT a film nor a growth on the top of the eye. A cataract, in simplest terms, is a clouding of the clear lens INSIDE the eye. When that lens becomes cloudy or opaque, sharp vision is no longer possible. Cataracts are not contagious. They can not spread beyond the lens nor harm the eye or any other parts of the body. Cataracts cannot be prevented nor can their progress be stopped or reversed. Cataracts usually develop with age. They are caused by a decrease in normal protein structures within the eye as you age, and there is no known way to prevent this from happening.

Q: Why does my eye twitch?
A: Mild twitching of the eyelid is a common phenomenon. Although these involuntary contractions of muscles are annoying, they are almost always temporary and completely harmless. The medical name for this kind of twitching is ocular myokymia. It is quite common and most often associated with fatigue. When your eye is twitching, it is not visible to anyone else. Lack of sleep, too much caffeine or increased stress seem to be root causes. Often, gently massaging your eye will relieve the symptoms. Usually, the twitch will disappear after catching up on your sleep.

Q: Are LASIK and/or PRK FDA approved procedures?
A: Yes! In 1995, the FDA approved the use of the excimer laser. LASIK’s popularity has grown and is now the procedure of choice worldwide.

Dr. James J. Wachter, O.D.
Clarkson Eye Care
194 Clarkson Rd.
Ellisville, MO 63011
Office: 314-555-1212
jjwachter@clarksoneyecare.com

Clarkson Eyecare Website

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