We are very proud of Dr. Thomas Samuelson who was recently named the program chair for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). Dr. Samuelson, who specializes in Glaucoma, Cataract, and Refractive Surgery, has been an integral part of ASCRS for many years. He is honored to be a part of a prestigious ophthalmic society like ASCRS.

“I consider it a tremendous honor to become just the fourth program chair in the history of ASCRS, the premier ophthalmic surgery society in the USA,” Dr. Samuelson said.

ASCRS’s mission is to empower anterior segment surgeons with advanced approaches to education, advocacy, and philanthropy so they can continue to improve their patients’ vision, outcomes, and overall quality of life. Dr. Samuelson held previous roles such as the ASCRS Glaucoma Clinical Committee Chairman and was named ASCRS president in 2018. He was also a member of the ASCRS Governing Board. As the new program chair, his goal is to continue to make strides that will improve surgical options for the benefit of patients.

“I will work closely with my program committee to bring creative, cutting-edge, educational programming to ASCRS members. Ophthalmic surgery is high tech and ever changing. We will continue to connect ASCRS surgeons with our innovative industry partners to advance surgical options for our patients,” Dr. Samuelson said.

In addition to his leadership roles, Dr. Samuelson regularly plays a significant part in educating the ophthalmic community. At the ASCRS meeting in May 2023, Dr. Samuelson co-authored two paper sessions on glaucoma and was a panelist for a main-stage lecture. He also delivered the glaucoma presentation during the inaugural Lindstrom Symposium at the 2021 ASCRS Annual Meeting.

Our physicians at Minnesota Eye Consultants are committed to making a positive impact in the ophthalmic world by networking, educating, researching, participating in innovative technology, and more. Dr. Samuelson is a textbook example of how Minnesota Eye Consultants continues to play a significant role at the national level in both ophthalmology and optometry. 

“Our practice has had two ASCRS Presidents and several of our MDs and ODs have national and international prominence of which we can all be very proud. Minnesota Eye is well known around the globe for excellence in medical and surgical eye care,” Dr. Samuelson said.

The post American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Names Dr. Thomas Samuelson As Program Chair appeared first on Minnesota Eye Consultants.

Fireworks Eye Safety – What You Need to Know

Summer is finally here, and the 4^th of July is just around the corner. You know what that means…fireworks! Watching the sky light up in red, white, and blue will forever be a favorite summer pastime, but July 4^th can be a risky time for eye injuries. According to the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission’s most recent annual fireworks injury report, 15% of fireworks injuries were eye injuries. In the most severe cases, fireworks can rupture the globe of the eye, cause chemical and thermal burns, corneal abrasions, and retinal detachment — all of which can cause permanent eye damage and vision loss.

What you need to know

• Children and young adults are frequent victims. Children age 15 and under accounted for 36% of the total injuries, according to the commission’s report.
• Sparklers can be just as dangerous, as they burn at more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
• When handled correctly, fireworks can be enjoyed by safely by everyone

Fireworks-related eye injuries can combine blunt force trauma, heat burns and chemical exposure. If an eye injury from fireworks occurs, it should be considered a medical emergency.

What to do for a fireworks eye injury:

• Seek medical attention immediately – call 911

• • Do not rub your eyes.
  • Do not rinse your eyes.
  • Do not apply pressure.
  • Do not remove any objects that are stuck in the eye.
  • Do not apply ointments or take any blood-thinning pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen unless directed by a doctor.

If you experience a firework related injury – call 911 or seek medical attention immediately. For an urgent, but not life-threatening eye injury, Minnesota Eye Consultants can help. We are pleased to offer Urgent Clinic services for patients seeking medically necessary emergent eye care. Typical symptoms treated include corneal abrasions, lid lacerations, post-surgical concerns, foreign body injuries, severe eye pain, red/irritated eye – and more. To schedule, simply call us at 952-567-6100 or visit our website and indicate you’d like to be seen in our Urgent Clinic.

Fireworks Safety Tips

• Keep all fireworks out of reach of children (including sparklers)
• Older children and adolescents should only be allowed to use fireworks or sparklers under strict adult supervision
• Do not run or play in fireworks launching area
• Only set off fireworks outdoor in a clear area, away from houses, trees, dry leaves or other flammable materials
• Do not try to relight or handle “dud” fireworks – soak in water and throw away
• Never have any portion of your body directly over a firework while lighting
• Follow all fireworks packaging instructions and warning labels

The post Fireworks Safety appeared first on Minnesota Eye Consultants.

The rewarding Ophthalmic Technician career path at Minnesota Eye offers advancement opportunities, on-the-job training, free courses for Continuing Education credits, and a healthy work-life balance. Did we mention there’s a $500 sign-on bonus, just for being hired?!

So why join the team at Minnesota Eye Consultants? We’re glad you asked.

• As a sub-specialty ophthalmic practice, we have a variety of specialized equipment at our fingertips, giving team members the opportunity to further advance their technical skills and knowledge in the eye care field. Covering all service lines, from Glaucoma to Cataract to Dry Eye and beyond, we understand the value of having this equipment readily available to our patients.
• Our surgeons are world-renowned and receive referrals from practices all over the US. We are delighted to see patients across the spectrum – from general eye care needs to complex diagnoses. Imagine learning from the best of the best!
• Did you know…our practice not only trains team members but other doctors across the country? We value patient care above all else and are happy to share our best practices with other healthcare providers.
• We promote and encourage growth at Minnesota Eye. Team members can work to advance from COA to COT, COMT and even OSA and will be supported on this journey.
• We appreciate and value a healthy work-home balance, offering regular business hours as part of this position.
  Join our team of dedicated experts, focused on delivering the highest quality medical care to patients day-in and day-out. We look forward to welcoming you to the team!

To learn more or to apply please click here.

The post Career Spotlight – Ophthalmic Technicians appeared first on Minnesota Eye Consultants.

“We are thankful to offer our patients an alternative option for their eyecare during this uncertain time,” said Dr. Jill Melicher. “Our ophthalmologists are excited to offer the community access to care via interactive consultations done via smartphone or tablet. Our team is following best-practices to ensure patient privacy and security. We performed our first virtual visits on March 23, 2020, and they were a success.”

When should I visit the office in person?
Our virtual services aren’t right for everyone. We recommend you schedule an urgent clinic visit if you have:
R – Red Eyes
S –  Sensitivity
V – Vision Loss
P –  Pain

When can I use virtual services?
If you aren’t experiencing any issues stated above, you may be a candidate for evaluation using our virtual services. Our virtual visits include nearly all types of non-urgent eye care needs  – including medical management of certain eye conditions.  We will work with you to identify appropriate next steps of care.

Technology
During the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is allowing virtual health visits through everyday technologies. Our scheduling team will work with our patients to confirm if individual patient chat technology is approved and compatible with MEC’s technology.

CMS is not allowing any public live-streaming, this includes the following applications.
• Facebook Live
• Twitch
• TikTok

Tips for online safety
Your safety is our highest priority, both in terms of health and your online security. Please be advised that when using any third-party application you may potentially introduce privacy risks and should use encryption and privacy modes when using such applications.

Schedule your teleophthalmology appointment today!
Schedule today by calling us at (952) 888-5800 or by requesting an appointment in the MEC Patient Portal.

The post Now offering virtual visits for non-urgent appointments appeared first on Minnesota Eye Consultants.

We are honored to have a new provider joining Minnesota Eye Consultants!

Originally from Madison, WI, Dr. Stewart completed her fellowship with the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for oculoplastic surgery at the Mayo Clinic/the University of Minnesota. Working primarily out of Minneapolis and Woodbury, Dr. Stewart will also provide an array of facial rejuvenation services, including cosmetic eyelid surgery, small incision endoscopic forehead lifts as well as fillers and botulinum toxin injections for wrinkle reduction more convenient.

To learn more about Dr. Stewart, please visit her bio page.

The post Welcome to Dr. Stewart appeared first on Minnesota Eye Consultants.

On February 15, 2019, Minnesota Eye Consultants (“MEC”) learned that portions of medical records for approximately 4,556 individuals were not securely destroyed. The patient information at issue may include patient names, dates of birth, addresses and phone numbers, insurance IDs and/or social security numbers, health history and physical exams, medications, diagnoses, and treatment plans.

Minnesota Eye Consultants takes our role in safeguarding patient information very seriously, and we are troubled that this event occurred. Since the time of discovery, we have been working diligently to rectify the situation and ensure that it never happens again.

Affected patients will be notified by mail. However, there is a portion of patients for which no current contact information is available. If you were a patient of Minnesota Eye Consultants between 2004 and 2007, but have not been seen since that time, please call 1 (877) 253-3678 (Monday-Friday, 8am to 8pm CST) to determine if your information may have been affected.

The post Recent HIPAA Breach at Minnesota Eye Consultants appeared first on Minnesota Eye Consultants.

The post Welcome to Our New Physician Assistant appeared first on Minnesota Eye Consultants.

Over the years, Dr. Lindstrom has graciously enhanced the lives of thousands of patients by helping them reach and exceed their visual goals. He’s mentored 100+ fellow physicians and elevated ophthalmology as a whole with his numerous patented innovations and surgical techniques.

Dr. Lindstrom has been at the forefront of ophthalmology’s evolutionary changes throughout his career, as a recognized researcher, teacher, inventor, writer, lecturer and highly acclaimed physician and surgeon. Dr. Lindstrom has been awarded over 40 patents in ophthalmology and has developed a number of corneal preservation solutions, intraocular lenses and instruments that are used in clinical practices globally. Dr. Lindstrom has presented over 40 named lectures and keynote speeches before professional societies in the US and abroad. He has co-edited seven books, published over 350 peer reviewed journal articles and 60 book chapters. His professional affiliations are extensive.

Dr. Lindstrom’s impact on medicine these past 50 years has been unfathomable and to say we’re grateful to have his kindness, knowledge and expertise at MN Eye is the understatement of the year.

Congratulations on all of your accomplishments these past five decades, Dr. Lindstrom!

The post 50 Years in Medicine appeared first on Minnesota Eye Consultants.

Over the next few weeks and months, you’ll begin to see the new logo anywhere we’re out in public, like in advertising and our website, Facebook, and Twitter. You’ll begin to see it in all of our signage, as well.

The design objective behind our new logo was to create an obvious eye image, which more accurately illustrates our service offerings. By using the purple color, we are not only tying back to our previous logo color scheme, but also representing the calm stability of blue combined with the energy of red.

Our mission, vision and values all remain the same – we are here to provide the highest quality medical and surgical care to our patients. We hope you are just as excited as we are for this fresh new logo!

The post ANNOUNCEMENT: New Year, New Logo! appeared first on Minnesota Eye Consultants.

Without further ado, here are 3 LASIK myths that we hear often that simply aren’t true.

• “The laser can burn your eyes.”

While we understand why one might think this, it actually isn’t true. The laser used during LASIK (the excimer laser) emits a “cool” beam of concentrated light. This concentrated beam of light does not burn or cut the eye, at least not technically. The laser actually breaks apart molecules of collagen, which makes up most of your eye. The collagen molecules, when split, release carbon into the air. This carbon can smell like burning flesh, which is why people often think that their eyes are being burned. While you may notice the smell during treatment, rest assured that there is no heat involved!

• “LASIK recovery is lengthy.”

It’s actually incredibly short! LASIK surgery is one of the simplest surgeries to recover from. You will use a few eye drop prescriptions during the first week or so to ensure healing goes smoothly. You will have to avoid certain activities for a bit, such as swimming and vigorous exercise. However, you are free to go about your daily activities as soon as the next day after surgery! That’s right, many people are able to go back to work the very next day. If you were picturing yourself bedridden for days on end, think again!

• “You can get rid of your glasses and contact lenses after LASIK.”

On the other side of the coin, it is not hard for people to have unrealistic expectations. While the majority of patients are able to live their lives without glasses and contact lenses after LASIK, some simply aren’t. This has a lot to do with how bad your eyes are before surgery. Your vision will be improved after LASIK surgery, but you may still need glasses or contacts for certain activities like driving. The goal of LASIK surgery is to decrease dependence on glasses and contact lenses. Be sure to ask your LASIK surgeon what you should be expecting from your post-LASIK vision!

Are there some LASIK myths you’ve heard that are keeping you from booking your consultation? If you want to know what you can expect before, during, and after your LASIK surgery, contact Minnesota Eye today! Our LASIK experts are here to walk you through every step of the way and help you achieve your vision goals. To schedule your LASIK consultation, call Minnesota Eye Consultants in Minneapolis or schedule your appointment online!

The post “The Laser Will Burn My Eyes” and Other LASIK Myths appeared first on Minnesota Eye Consultants.