On July 15th, 2016 Abbot Medical Optics announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Tecnis Symfony® Intraocular Lenses for the treatment of cataracts. The first in a new category of intraocular lenses (IOLs), the Tecnis Symfony lenses are the only lenses in the United States that provide a full range of continuous high-quality vision following cataract surgery, while also mitigating the effects of presbyopia by helping people focus on near objects. The FDA approval includes a version of the lens for people with astigmatism, the Tecnis Symfony Toric IOL.

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By now, you’ve likely heard us talking about the Annual Strides 4 Sight fundraising 5K. With the race just about a month away, we wanted to remind everyone how meaningful and FUN this event is! It takes place at arguably the best time of year in Minnesota – the fall, and around one of Minnesotan’s favorite things – a lake. Join us on October 8th at Como Lake in St. Paul as we unite to raise funds to help our community members in need.

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The summer is always bittersweet for us here at Minnesota Eye Consultants. We say farewell to the fellow physicians we’ve gotten to know and grown to adore over the past year, and we welcome two new fellows to the practice. We will dearly miss Dr. Ryan T. Barrett and Dr. Kasie J. Mix and wish them nothing but the best as they move on to the next chapter in their careers. With their departure, please help us welcome Kevin R. Tozer, MD and Alicia M. Alvarado, OD to Minnesota Eye Consultants as our 2016-2017 fellow physicians! We are very excited to have them here and look forward to getting to know Dr. Tozer and Dr. Alvarado throughout the next year.

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We are very excited to announce that we will be consolidating/relocating our Maplewood and Falcon Heights locations to one, single facility in Woodbury in the fall of 2017. Click below to read more about this new location!

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There are plenty of great suggestions for helping to preserve vision as we get older. You’ve probably heard the common ones, such as don’t smoke, eat a healthy balanced diet and be sure to wear sunglasses when outdoors. This is an excellent list, but I would venture to state that the single, most beneficial thing you can do to help preserve your vision is to get regular eye exams. It seems so simple, yet it’s advantages are countless. Read on for a visual breakdown of what's included during an eye exam.

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We are pleased to share that we now offer Urgent Clinic services on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in our Bloomington location. This is a set apart clinic schedule, specifically designed to accommodate any same day/next day urgent patient needs. Cared for by members of our Optometric Service Team, as well as our MD fellow, appointments can be scheduled as late as 5pm.

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Kay, our 2016 My LASIK Valentine winner, underwent her free iLASIK procedure with Dr. Ryan T. Barrett this past spring. She's doing great and enjoying the many things in life that are now so much easier thanks to being glasses and contacts-free. Click below to watch the video of her entire experience at Minnesota Eye Consultants!

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It’s been over a year now that we’ve been offering the revolutionary KAMRA corneal inlay procedure for patients struggling with reading glasses. Presbyopia, or the loss of the flexibility in the natural lens to see both near and far objects, tends to rear its ugly head around age 40. Although a quick fix, reading glasses aren’t ideal for everyone and the KAMRA corneal inlay procedure may be an option for those patients.

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Vision is a function of the brain. Because of this, newborns are not born with perfect vision, but instead need to learn how to interpret the visual information being served to them. This process takes time, and it’s important for parents to monitor their child’s eyesight developments to ensure their visual abilities continue to grow.

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Vision is a function of the brain. Because of this, newborns are not born with perfect vision, but instead need to learn how to interpret the visual information being served to them. This process takes time, and it’s important for parents to monitor their child’s eyesight developments to ensure their visual abilities continue to grow.

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Congratulations to Drs. Thomas W. Samuelson, David R. Hardten, Elizabeth A. Davis and Omar E. Awad on being named Top Doctors in the July 2016 Mpls St. Paul Magazine!

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The 3rd annual Strides 4 Sight 5k Walk/Run and Kids Fun Run is just a few months away, and we’re already looking forward to another successful event! We have a new website dedicated solely to Strides 4 Sight, and there are already some fun new changes in place for this year’s race.

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July is Senior Independence Month and a great time to touch on some ideas and tips to help the senior generation continue to keep their freedom.

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Happy Father’s Day to all the incredible Dads out there! We are grateful for all the guidance, love and support you’ve given us throughout the years.

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Cataract Surgery offers patients a unique opportunity to choose a new visual goal following their procedure. Since the Cataract and natural lens will need to be removed during Cataract Surgery, a plastic Intraocular Lens will be inserted in its place. There are an abundance of lens options available to patients, and making the right choice can be quite confusing. Read on for more information about the options available.

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End Stage Macular Degeneration can be frustrating and debilitating for patients living with the disease. Unfortunately, there are no treatment options to reverse this condition, but there may be an opportunity to help improve the vision that’s remaining. Read on to learn more about the CentraSight Implantable Miniature Telescope and how it may help to bring your “straight ahead” vision back into focus.

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June is Cataract Awareness Month. Finding out you or a loved one has Cataracts can be quite alarming. You may receive an overwhelming amount of information from your physician, friends and the Internet, but here are the top 3 things we wanted to share with you about Cataracts and Cataract Surgery.

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Help us celebrate Mother's Day by sharing on Facebook why your mom is so wonderful! Read on to see what Dr. Kate Montealegre said about her mom.

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Congratulations to Drs. Jill S. Melicher, Christine L. Larsen and Mark S. Hansen for being listed as ‘Rising Stars in Ophthalmology’ in the April issue of the Mpls. St. Paul Magazine! They certainly deserve this recognition and we are honored to have such skilled professionals as part of our patient care team at Minnesota Eye Consultants.

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Numerous Alphaeon skincare products are now available on our Online Store! These exclusive products target specific aesthetic goals such as improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, dull and dry skin, and thinning eyelashes. Each product within the unique Teoxane skincare system is designed to replenish aged skin with formulations that include RHA and select antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

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On March 23rd, we had the pleasure of meeting our 2016 My LASIK Valentine winner, Kay and her husband, Jackie! She underwent her Refractive Evaluation with Dr. Ryan Barrett at our Minneapolis location, and discovered she’s an excellent candidate for LASIK. Her procedure is scheduled for this month and we look forward to hearing not only how LASIK will change her vision, but also her way of life. Read on to watch Kay's evaluation and to hear her touching story!

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May is Healthy Vision Month, reminding us there are plenty of things we can do on a daily basis to protect and maintain healthy vision. Check out our Infographic for tips on how to keep those peepers healthy!

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A few Minnesota Eye Consultants team members recently visited Haiti to provide eye care services to those less fortunate. Dr. Patrick J. Riedel, Julie Andersen (Surgical Technician) and Cynthia Riedel (Ophthalmic Technician) spent a week performing Cataract and Glaucoma procedures on patients in the community who so desperately needed vision care services. In 5 days, an astonishing 173 surgeries were performed by the volunteer medical team. Read on to see photos from their trip!

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By now, you’ve likely heard us rave about the new groundbreaking KAMRA Corneal Inlay procedure, so we thought we’d let you hear about the technology, directly from patients who are benefiting from it! To watch testimonials from two of our recent KAMRA Corneal Inlay patients, read on!

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Another successful year of Operation Eyesight has come and gone! 14 years ago, Operation Eyesight was created as a way for the Minnesota Eye Foundation and the surgeons and staff of Minnesota Eye Consultants to give back to the community they so dearly adore. The equipment, medications and surgical supplies are all donated, and the staff, anesthesiologists and physicians volunteer their time and expertise to help preserve, restore and enhance the vision of our community members in need. To hear more about this year’s Operation Eyesight and to see photos from the procedure dates, read on!

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It is with great pleasure to announce that as of April 1st, Dr. Omar E. Awad (Awad Eye Care) has joined Minnesota Eye Consultants as a partner and attending surgeon. We are privileged to have such a talented and kind-hearted physician joining our team and we’re confident his authenticity and extraordinary principles for patient care will be a great addition to Minnesota Eye Consultants. Read on for more information on Dr. Awad joining Minnesota Eye Consultants!

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With April being National Minority Health Month, it’s a great time to touch on the role ethnicity can play in developing eye health issues. Knowing the increased risks that are associated with your ethnic population can help to raise awareness and keep you an educated advocate of your own vision health. Read on for more information about National Minority Health Month.

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We are thrilled to announce the date for our 2016 Strides 4 Sight fundraising event! Please mark your calendars for Saturday, October 8th at Como Lake in St. Paul. Read on for more information about the Strides 4 Sight 5K Walk/Run & Kids Fun Run!

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On February 10th, we closed each of our MEC locations for an All-Staff Continuing Education meeting. On top of having excellent informative and motivational speakers and team building experiences, it was a nice opportunity to mingle with fellow co-workers. It’s not often we have all 270 employees in the same spot at the same time!

To view some fun photos from the event, click below!

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There’s no question about it - we have the best patients around. We’re beyond lucky (and grateful!) to receive generous Thank You notes from our patients on a regular basis, expressing their appreciation for their experience at Minnesota Eye Consultants. Watch as a few of our patients describe their experience at our office and how their procedures have positively impacted their lives.

For those contemplating LASIK or PRK, or if you’re battling with Dry Eye, you’ll want to check out these short videos!

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Congratulations to our 2016 My LASIK Valentine contest winner, Kay V.!

We received an incredible essay from her spouse, Jackie, nominating Kay for the competition. After a long and very close battle, she prevailed with 1,057 votes – an amazing accomplishment. For more information on the 2016 My LASIK Valentine contest and to read the winning essay, click below.

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There are an astonishing number of eye injuries occurring everyday in the workplace, resulting in approximately 300,000 Emergency Room visits per year across the nation (according to the CDC). The best thing you can do to protect your vision is to assess the possible dangers at your workplace, and use quality eyewear and protection whenever possible. To see what the most dangerous occupations are and for tips on what to do if you or someone you’re with experience a serious eye injury, read on.

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We are pleased to announce that we have two new, and very talented, Doctors of Optometry at Minnesota Eye Consultants. Please join us in welcoming both Dr. Hobbs and Dr. Doeden to our MEC Family!

Dr. Johnna D. Hobbs started with Minnesota Eye Consultants in December, and currently practices out of our Minnetonka, Minneapolis, Bloomington and Maplewood locations.

Dr. Gina M. Doeden joined Minnesota Eye Consultants in February, and currently practices out of our Minnetonka, Minneapolis and Blaine locations.

Click below to read more about Dr. Hobbs and Dr. Doeden, including their educational backgrounds and optometric specialties.

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The KAMRA Corneal Inlay is an exciting new technology that we at Minnesota Eye Consultants are thrilled to offer. This procedure benefits patients struggling to see up close as the result of Presbyopia (where your natural lens stiffens with age).

We recently joined Dr. Elizabeth Davis during her Wet Lab with Acufocus and Abbott Medical Optics. Since then, Dr. Davis has performed several successful KAMRA Corneal Inlay procedures and we look forward to offering this life-changing technology to many more patients in the future.

Read on for more information on the KAMRA Corneal Inlay and to see more photos from Dr. Davis’s Wet Lab.

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This year’s contest is sure to be a close one, as we’ve received some truly incredible, heartfelt nominations this year. Now that we’ve reached the deadline for accepting essays, it’s time to VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! Read on to see how you can participate in this year's contest!

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We are honored to have had our name appear in a few News Publications in the recent months. Click below to see some of the newspapers, magazines and publications where you can spot our physicians!

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If you search the web for “Age Related Macular Degeneration”, you’ll find an abundance of information about this common eye condition. While the search results can be very helpful, they can also be incredibly overwhelming. Read on for the top three things you need to know about Macular Degeneration.

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Participating in the My LASIK Valentine contest is easy, while the reward for the winner is life changing. We couldn’t think of a better present to give (or receive!) on Valentine's Day than the gift of vision. Read on for the details of this year’s contest!

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Check out the December 2015 issue of the Minnesota Health Care News publication! You’ll spot a very informative article on the KAMRA Corneal Inlay procedure, co-written by our very own Dr. Richard L. Lindstrom and Dr. David R. Hardten. Click the Read More link below to access the full article on this new, life-changing technology.

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Minnesota Eye Consultants has implemented a Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) to help better manage the flow of patients in and out of our exam and OR rooms, and identify staff on the floor of our facilities. As part of this effort, we will be asking you to wear a badge during your visits, helping us to follow the progress of your appointments.

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Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can be very devastating to some, possibly resulting in vision loss and even blindness. Early detection is key, and with the many treatment options available for the various stages of glaucoma, there’s hope in protecting your vision from irreversible damage and vision loss. Check out our infographic on the basics of Glaucoma.

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Even though the Thanksgiving Holiday has come and gone, we wanted to share with you a brief video compilation highlighting a few things the employees of Minnesota Eye Consultants are grateful for.

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Valentine’s Day is not just for love-struck couples, but it’s a great time to show all the loved ones in your life how important and meaningful they are to you. Whether it be your family member, partner, friend or neighbor, now’s the time to share with us why you feel your loved one deserves to win FREE LASIK. We are gearing up to kick off our 2016 My LASIK Valentine Contest and plan to start taking nominations beginning in January.

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Three words that describe our online store: Simple. Fast. Convenient.

We are thrilled to offer the convenient online shopping experience so many of our patients have been asking for. The Minnesota Eye Consultants Online Store offers the opportunity to order an array of eye care products (and custom MN Eye apparel!) from the comfort of your living room couch. With this new store, we hope to improve your access to several of the eye care products recommended to you by your MN Eye physician.

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With the frenzied shopping season underway, now is a great time to talk Safe Toys. This holiday season, we hope your celebrations are full of love and happiness, not panicked, last minute trips to the ER with the little ones.

Before we jump into the important tips for this year’s shopping extravaganza, let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the popular children’s toys that were quickly ripped off the shelves in the name of eye safety.

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Six months after winning the 2015 My LASIK Valentine competition, we checked in with Ruthie to see if she was enjoying her new vision following refractive surgery. If you recall, Ruthie underwent PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) surgery back in April with Dr. Mark S. Hansen. Both PRK and LASIK are refractive procedures performed with the same laser, however Dr. Hansen felt PRK was a better option for Ruthie.

Click the link below to watch as we follow along at her last appointment in August!

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Before you know it, we’ll be watching the legendary ball drop in Time Square as we ring in the New Year with friends, family and loved ones. With this new beginning comes the end of 2015, and a cut off date for the opportunity to use your remaining FLEX spending money.

Read on to find out how you can avoid loosing this valuable FLEX money!

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We were thrilled, but certainly not surprised, to spot Drs. Sherman W. Reeves and Jill S. Melicher in the October 2015 issue of Mpls. St. Paul magazine, recognized as “Medical Stars on the Rise”. We couldn’t be more proud of their dedication to providing optimal and innovative care to each and every patient they come in contact with. Congratulations, Dr. Reeves and Dr. Melicher!

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Individuals with Diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) are unfortunately more susceptible to a group of eye conditions called Diabetic Eye Diseases. Although the most commonly recognized condition is Diabetic Retinopathy, there are a few others that you should be aware of, that are included in this group as well. Read on to learn more about Diabetic Eye Diseases.

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The first Ocular Surface Disease Patient Education Webinar will be taking place on Tuesday, October 13th from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. These unique webinars offer an abundance of information on Dry Eye/Ocular Surface Disease, and allow you to join in remotely from whatever location is convenient for you.

Read on for more information on these Webinars and to Register!

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