Eye Surgeon in Kansas City Offering Innovative Vision Correction Procedure

Dr. Daniel Durrie is a laser eye surgeon in Overland park, KS, and founder of Durrie Vision. He is announcing the addition of the LenSx® Laser, which enables him and his team to perform refractive eye surgery with the same technology that revolutionized LASIK.

For more than 20 years, Durrie Vision has been dedicated to the pursuit and development of the latest innovations in laser vision correction and eye care. Dr. Daniel Durrie—who himself has performed more than 40,000 refractive procedures—says this commitment to technology enables him and his team to provide their patients with the safest and most effective procedures available.

To bolster their commitment to ophthalmic technological advancement, Dr. Durrie is announcing the latest addition of the LenSx® Laser to their arsenal of laser eye surgery procedures, making Durrie Vision the only practice in the Midwest, and one of six in the world to offer this innovative technology. Dr. Durrie says he is proud to reveal the addition of the LenSx® Laser because it is changing how traditional lens and cataract surgery is performed, and enables his Durrie Vision team to provide the best care possible.

Dr. Jason Stahl is a refractive surgeon at Durrie Vision specializing in refractive lens procedures. He says the LenSx® uses the same technology that revolutionized the LASIK vision correction procedure, thus increasing the accuracy, safety, and precision of traditional refractive lens surgery. In addition to the improved effectiveness and safety, Dr. Durrie adds that the new technology allows their patients to maintain their active lifestyles without much interruption. “Patients are now requesting lens replacement earlier in life at the first signs of age related lens changes. The average age of our lens replacement patient is 54. This new technology allows our surgeons to provide a safer, more accurate procedure with high quality visual outcomes that meet our patients expectations.”

About Daniel S. Durrie, MD

Dr. Daniel Durrie earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska, where he also completed his ophthalmology residency. He then completed a Corneal Fellowship at the Filkins Eye Institute. Dr. Durrie is a clinical professor and Director of the Refractive Surgery Services at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He also serves as the Director of the Ophthalmic Refractive Surgery Fellowship. Because of his dedication to research, Dr. Durrie has been awarded the Distinguished Lans Lectureship by the International Society of Refractive Surgery, and has received Barraquer Lecturer, which is the highest honor bestowed upon an ophthalmologist by his peers.

Durrie Vision is located at 5520 College Blvd., Ste. 201 in Overland Park, KS 66211, and can be reached at (913) 871-1166, or found online at durrievision.com, facebook.com/durrievision, and laserlenscorrection.com for more specific information on this new technology.

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As the popularity of social networks such as Facebook soars, Dr. Daniel Durrie says social media will play an integral role in enhancing patients’ online experience at his Kansas City laser eye surgery practice this summer. He adds that the online community built around his practice not only allows patients to interact when searching for firsthand information regarding a procedure such as cataract surgery, but also allows them to connect through Durrie Vision with their Kansas City community as they head into Summer 2011 events the practice is sponsoring, such as Kansas City T-Bones baseball, or the Star Spangled Spectacular on the 4th of July.

At Durrie Vision, Dr. Durrie and his team say the patient experience is extremely important and reaches beyond the office into the social media platform. Within this platform, the Durrie Vision staff says they can build relationships with their patients, and allow patients to interact with one another. Dr. Durrie says continuing to foster the growth of their social media community is essential to the staying power of the Kansas City practice. He adds that while 700 billion monthly minutes on Facebook is a tremendous amount of time, when he considers the invaluable and supportive conversation centering on his practice, the overall benefits for vision correction and LASIK eye surgery patients are tough to ignore.

Whether his patients are posing questions concerning a future procedure, or sharing their experience with a procedure they have undergone at Durrie Vision, Dr. Durrie says information exchanged on the social network can lead to better-educated patients and help develop realistic goals and expectations. He adds that as social media popularity continues to expand, he expects the online community centered on Durrie Vision to become increasingly useful to current and potential patients.

About Dr. Durrie

Daniel S. Durrie, MD earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska, where he also completed his ophthalmology residency. He later completed a Corneal Fellowship with the Finkins Eye Institute. Dr. Durrie is director of Refractive Surgery Services at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and is also an acting clinical professor. However, as Dr. Durrie’s true passion is research, Durrie Vision is one of a few practices in the U. S. chosen to conduct FDA trials on certain procedures. He was awarded the Distinguished Lans Lectureship, as well as the Barraquer Lecturer, which is the highest honor awarded to an ophthalmologist by the International Society of Refractive Surgery. Because of his affiliation with research institutes and FDA trials, Dr. Durrie’s patients not only benefit from his knowledge of trial outcomes, but also developing and current trends for future technological advancements.

Durrie Vision is located at 5520 College Blvd. Ste. 201 in Overland Park, KS 66211, and can be reached at (913) 491-9650, or found online at www.durrievision.com or the Durrie Vision Facebook page.

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At the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s annual meeting in Chicago, R. Doyle Stulting, MD, PhD, discussed ongoing clinical studies assessing the potential use of corneal collagen cross-linking for the treatment of patients with keratoconus and corneal ectasia.

The 10-site clinical study is evaluating the results of treatment in 240 patients with keratoconus or corneal ectasia. In the cross-linking treatment, the cornea is saturated with riboflavin (Ricrolin, Sooft Italia; Montegiorgio, Italy) and then exposed to ultraviolet light, which stiffens the cornea, Dr. Stulting said.

“Cross-linking halts the progression of ectatic diseases, including keratoconus and ectasia, by inducing bonds between collagen molecules as a result of hyperactive hydrogen species,” Dr. Stulting said during the breakfast symposium sponsored by Topcon Medical Systems Inc. (Oakland, NJ). “The hyperactive hydrogen species are liberated from riboflavin by exposure to ultraviolet light. The treatment decreases corneal curvature and thickness slightly, and probably lasts for a lifetime, increasing corneal rigidity with an acceptable safety profile.”

With a planned follow-up of 6 months for all patients, the results of the study should be ready by the third quarter of 2011, Dr. Stulting said.

Later in the symposium, Erin Stahl, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, spoke about the natural history of keratoconus in children and the potential of corneal cross-linking as a treatment.

In addition to the larger Topcon-sponsored study that Dr. Stulting referenced, Dr. Stahl discussed a compassionate-use study taking place at the University of Kansas School of Medicine for children aged 6 to 18 years. Sedation and anesthesia may be used, and children with developmental disabilities and Down syndrome will be included.

“Our goal is to provide treatment for these children within the United States, especially for those children with conditions that preclude them for being part of the larger study—whether that’s because they need sedation, or because they can’t sit still for the testing that’s requited for the adult study,” Dr. Stahl said.

“We know that pediatric keratoconus is a challenging disease with more rapid clinical progression as compared to adults,” Dr. Stahl said. “The treatment options at this time are often problematic and life-long for the patient. Corneal collagen cross-linking appears to be an important tool for stabilizing this condition.”

R. Doyle Stulting is a consultant to and medical monitor for Topcon

Based in Washington DC this research organization provides consumers with information guides for professional services throughout America. The council’s purpose is to help educate and assist consumers in obtaining the finest professional services. Their unbiased selection of top physicians is based on criteria such as experience, training, and professional associations.

Dr. Jason Stahl specializes in lens implant surgery and refractive surgery to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. Dr. Stahl is a board certified ophthalmologist and member of the American Board of Ophthalmology. He earned his medical doctorate, graduating with honors, and completed his internship at the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. He continued his training with a three-year ophthalmology residency at Scott & White Hospital at Texas A&M University, where he was named chief resident. Following completion of his residency, Dr. Stahl completed a fellowship in refractive surgery with Daniel S. Durrie, MD then joined Durrie Vision in 2003.

Dr. Stahl heads up the refractive lens department, providing care and improved vision with refractive lens exchange surgery for patients with early cataracts, cataract surgery for patients with cataracts and phakic intraocular lens surgery for nearsighted (myopic) patients who are not candidates for LASIK or other refractive procedures.
Dr. Stahl is active in ophthalmic research and has played significant investigator roles during numerous FDA clinical trials. Dr. Stahl lectures at international meetings on cataract and refractive surgery and his work has been published in professional medical journals. In addition, Dr. Stahl has been a patient himself, having undergone laser vision correction surgery in 2001.
Dr. Stahl is active in a number of professional organizations including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the International Society of Refractive Surgery and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

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Durrie Vision staff and their families will be cheering on the Chiefs against the Philadelphia Eagles in support of the event as well!

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration study has “brought to light the alarming rate of emergency room visits linked to contact lens injuries such as infections and abrasions,” the American Academy of Ophthalmology stated. The study (which is published in Pediatrics) reviewed medical records from ER departments at 100 hospitals between 2004 and 2005 and estimated that nearly 34,000 (or 23%) cases a year were due to contact lens injury in children and teens. The majority of these contact lens injuries occurred among teenagers between the ages of 16 and 21 years, followed by children between the ages of 11 and 15 years, AAO said. The findings support AAO’s long-standing position that contact lenses are medical devices that require a prescription, proper fitting by an eye care professional, and a commitment to proper care by the consumer. The Pediatrics study does not document whether the contact lens injuries were acquired through lenses obtained by a prescription from an eye care professional or illegally through over-the-counter or internet sales (as many decorative lenses are).

Cosmetic or plano lenses have been illegal in the United States since 2005 when federal law classified all contact lenses as medical devices and restricted their distribution to licensed eye care professionals. The American Academy of Ophthalmology would like to alert consumers to the hazards of buying any decorative lenses, including circle lenses. In a press release from the Academy, they caution that inflammation and pain can occur from improperly fitted over-the-counter lenses and lead to more serious problems including corneal abrasions and blinding infections.

To protect your eyes, all contact lenses must be fitted by an eye care professional.

A Refractive Surgery Fellowship is an additional year of training after ophthalmology residency. The fellowship includes all aspects of refractive surgery such as laser eye surgery.

Durrie Vision is pleased to welcome Dr. Erin Durrie Stahl into her second year of fellowship at Durrie Vision. She is also completing a fellowship at Children’s Mercy Hosptial in pediatric ophthalmology.

Does this replace your trip to the eye doctor? No, because your doctor is looking not only at what your prescription is for clear vision, but your eye health, medical history and any sign of eye disease such as cataract or macular degeneration. And the app can’t do that. But it may have a significant impact worldwide for people that don’t have access to high quality ophthalmic care, but do have access to cell phones. According to the internet article by Discovery News, MIT is working with various NGOs in different countries to help distribute the both the app and the screen, which will be known as PerfectSight.

Dr. Durrie’s lecture was titled “Corneal Refractive Surgery: The Future is Bright,” highlighting the history of refractive surgery as well as what is currently in the development stage. Dr. Jason Stahl’s lecture was titled, “Refractive Lens Surgery: Lights, Camera, Action,” a peek into the evolution of lens replacement surgery. Dr. Erin Durrie Stahl spoke about pediatric ophthalmology with “Pediatric Cataract, Corneal and Refractive Surgery,” an area of great interest. Dr. Erin Stahl just finished her pediatric ophthalmology fellowship at Children’s Mercy hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.