North Dakota Eye Clinic

Bladeless laser cataract surgery is now a reality, and in Grand Forks, North Dakota it is available at North Dakota Eye Clinic. Traditional cataract surgery is considered to be one of the safest and most successful procedures performed in medicine today. Now, a technological breakthrough with bladeless laser cataract surgery is available that has significantly improved the precision of several of the most critical steps in cataract surgery. With laser cataract surgery, the doctors at North Dakota Eye Clinic will customize your procedure to your eye’s unique characteristics, resulting in more predictable outcomes while potentially making cataract surgery even safer. Doctor Mark Sczepanski at the North Dakota Eye Clinic is using a new level for reliability, precision, and safety during surgery. Bladeless Laser Cataract surgery is performed at our state of the art surgery center. In addition to using the femtosecond laser to accomplish many of the surgical steps that were traditionally performed by hand, we use the best and latest innovations in cataract surgery, such as topical anesthesia with drops (eliminating the need for any kind of shot in the eye), sutureless small-incisions through the cornea, and foldable intraocular lenses. The precise, reproducible steps performed by the laser means better lens positioning, less trauma to the eye, and more predictable visual results which are especially important with premium replacement lenses.

Total care- all visits before, during and after surgery are done by Mark Sczepanski, M.D. LASIK eye surgery is the most common laser vision correction worldwide. It has allowed millions of patients freedom or reduced dependence on glasses or contacts. North Dakota Eye Clinic is the first practice in North Dakota to use the WaveLight® EX500 Excimer and LenSx® Femtosecond Laser. Mark Sczepanski, M.D. brings 19 years of experience and state-of-the-art technology to our region. Dr. Sczepanski will evaluate, treat and follow you throughout your process. Although some patients do wish to return to their primary eye doctor (especially if they are from out of town), most patients appreciate the highly skilled and extensively trained Dr. Sczepanski following them throughout. LASIK pricing is very affordable and financing is available with low monthly payments. We proudly use the WaveLight Refractive Suite® which consists of the FS200 Femtosecond Laser and the EX500 Excimer Laser. The combined lasers, connected by a swiveling patient bed and advanced internal data sharing network provide increased speed, precision and patient comfort during laser correction surgery. The WaveLight® EX500 Excimer Laser is faster than any other laser system on the market, and integrates advanced data transferring technology that allows the lasers to communicate patient-specific data to the surgeon in real-time during surgery. This laser treatment is unique to each of your eyes. No two are ever the same. Your treatment is as unique as you are. After administering topical anesthetic drops the eyelids are held open with a speculum, eliminating the possibility of blinking. The FS200 Femtosecond Laser creates a flap about ¼ the thickness of the cornea. The flap is lifted, and the WaveLight® EX500 Excimer Laser eye tracker is activated. This locks on to the pupil and will track movement of the eye during the laser to help ensure a well-centered laser pattern. The flap is repositioned and allowed to stay in place for a few minutes. The speculum is removed and the other eye is done the same way. Both eyes can be treated in just a few minutes. The procedure is painless and done right at the North Dakota Eye Clinic in our laser suite. Call today for your thorough evaluation with Dr. Sczepanski. He will carefully examine your visual system and discuss which procedures, if any are right for you. A full and thorough discussion of all the risks of the procedure will be discussed. You will be given all the information you need to make a decision you are comfortable with.

EVO Visian ICL – Implantable Collamer Lens The EVO Visian ICL is an Implantable Collamer Lens that works with the eye to correct vision. Unlike traditional contact lenses that go on the surface of the eye, the EVO Visian ICL is positioned inside the eye between the iris (the colored part of the eye) and the natural lens where it stays indefinitely. If your vision changes dramatically, however, it can be removed. Mark Sczepanski, M.D. at North Dakota Eye Clinic is a EVO ICL certified Surgeon. Unlike other lenses, the EVO Visian ICL is made from Collamer, a technologically advanced lens material exclusive to STAAR Surgical. Because of the collagen in Collamer, it is biocompatible with the eye (not seen as a foreign object to the body) and provides exceptional quality of vision. The lens rests quietly in position while accurately correcting vision. The EVO Visian ICL is the best choice for a lens that is going to remain inside your eye for a lifetime. Corrects A Wide Range Of Vision Needs If you are between 21 and 45 and nearsighted, you are an excellent candidate for the EVO Visian ICL. It is preferable that you have had no previous ophthalmic surgery or history of ophthalmic diseases such as glaucoma, iritis, or diabetic retinopathy. EVO is an Evolution in Visual Freedom designed to provide premium refractive outcomes while optimizing patient comfort. Made from Collamer®, EVO can treat a wide range of refractive error. Envision a Life Without Hesitation From hitting the gym to hitting the waves, EVO ICL means you’re always ready to live life to the fullest. Unlike some other procedures, EVO ICL lens (EVO) is an additive procedure that doesn't require removing corneal tissue or removing your natural lens.

Retinal disease can be devastating to the eye, and often affects your vision. At the first sign of any visual disturbance, including flashes, floaters, a curtain over your eye, or the sudden or gradual onset of blurred vision, your doctor should be consulted immediately. The retina is the film in the back of the eye that light rays and images are focused on. Tiny photoreceptor cells pick up those images and transmit them to electrical impulses that are sent via the optic nerve to the brain, where visual images are interpreted. The center of the retina is called the macula. This is the most sensitive area of the retina used for reading vision, and straight ahead vision. Retinal and specifically macular diseases can cause clouding and distortion of vision, loss of peripheral vision and eventually blindness. There are many types of retinal disease. Symptoms of retinal disease: Any condition that disturbs the center of the retina, called the macula, will result in the onset of blurred vision. Sometimes subtle vision loss is difficult to detect unless you happen to close the good eye. Waviness when looking at straight lines A curtain coming over your vision, from above, below or either side Flashes of light in your side vision, especially noticeable at night Floaters, cobwebs, or worm like shadows that move as you move your eye, especially noticeable against a solid or white background Causes of retinal disease: Infection: Bacterial, fungal and viral infections Age: Aging processes can affect the macula, the very center and most sensitive part of the retina Heredity: there are conditions such as retinal dystrophies that cause night vision loss, color vision loss, light sensitivity or generalized blur from a young age. These conditions are often progressive. Eye trauma Certain systemic diseases, like diabetes or hypertension Diagnosing retinal disease: Your eye doctor can check for chronic conditions like macular degeneration and diabetic eye changes (retinopathy) by doing a complete eye exam, which includes dilation and examination using special magnifying instruments. Photographs may be taken, a dye test such as fluorescein angiography can be performed to determine leakage of blood vessels. Your doctor may also order an OCT scan of the eye, your doctor can detect signs of elevation, fluid accumulation, scarring or membrane formation. Treatment for retinal disease: There are a variety of treatments for retinal disease, ranging from preventative therapy with vitamins to surgery for retinal detachment that is either done in the office or the hospital to laser treatment for diabetes to seal leaky blood vessels, and injections such as LUCENTIS and Avastin to stop abnormal blood vessels from growing in the retina and doing damage to central vision.

Corneal disease can range from the simple to the complex. In the event that you have a complex problem requiring advanced medical or surgical care, the doctors of North Dakota Eye Clinic are ready to assist you. The cornea is the clear front window of the eye. It transmits light to the interior of the eye allowing us to see clearly. Corneal diseases can cause clouding and distortion of vision, and eventually blindness. There are many types of corneal disease. Infections related to contact lenses, abrasions from trauma, and inflammation are common. Other conditions include keratoconus, Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy, and pterygia among many others. Symptoms of corneal disease: Infections or inflammation along with corneal abrasions will often cause a feeling that something is in the eye, with sensitivity to light and a foreign body sensation. Corneal ulcers and infiltrates can be caused by bacteria in and around the eye, or by the herpes virus that lives in most of us and can travel to the nerve endings of the eye and become an active infection of the cornea. Contact lenses, even when fit properly, can cause a shortage of oxygen to the cornea, essential for proper functioning and clarity of this delicate structure. If your contact lens hygiene is less than optimal, or you don’t replace lenses as frequently as necessary, the cornea will eventually “protest” and cause symptoms such as redness, irritation, and blurring of vision. Dry Eye syndrome is common and can cause significant damage to the cornea. Some people don’t produce enough tears, and others have eyes that don’t close fully to protect the cornea and keep it moist at night. Others have chronic lid infections, a common condition known as blepharitis, that causes an unstable tear film and can aggravate dry eye along with causing inflammation of the corneal surface. With keratoconus, as the cornea protrudes or steepens, vision becomes increasingly blurred and contact lens wear, which is often an early treatment for the disease, becomes difficult. The contact lens may not stay on the eye due to the irregular shape of the cornea. A person with Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy or bullous keratopathy may first notice glare with lights at night or in bright sunlight. As these conditions progress, vision may be foggy or blurry in the morning and clear up as the day progresses. As the diseases further progress, vision will stay blurrier later into the day and eventually may not clear at all. Occasionally people develop a fleshy growth on the white part of the eye that then extends onto the cornea, leading to redness, blurred vision, and an undesirable cosmetic appearance. This growth is called a Pterygium and can be removed surgically. Causes of corneal disease: Infection: Bacterial, fungal and viral infections are common causes of corneal damage. The cause of keratoconus in most patients is unknown. Age: Aging processes can affect the clarity and health of the cornea Cataract and intraocular lens implant surgery: Bullous keratopathy occurs in a very small percentage of patients following these procedures. Heredity Contact lenses Eye trauma Certain systemic diseases Diagnosing corneal disease: Your North Dakota Eye Clinic eye doctor can check for corneal disease and trauma by examining your eyes with magnifying instruments. Using a slit lamp and advanced diagnostic technology such as corneal topography, your doctor can detect signs of corneal infection, inflammation, scarring, and other problems associated with the front structure of the eye. A special dye may be used to determine the extent of the damage. Treatment for corneal disease: As with any serious eye infection, corneal disease should be treated immediately. There are antibiotics and steroids that can be used topically, and occasionally by mouth, to treat the myriad of conditions that can affect the cornea. It is important NOT to use a friend’s eye drops or Visine like drops without consulting your North Dakota Eye Clinic specialist. A corneal transplant is sometimes necessary to restore vision when the cornea becomes clouded, but newer advances like Endothelial Keratoplasty or DSAEK may also be employed in certain cases to help restore vision.

Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment and control of glaucoma and the prevention of blindness. A complete eye exam including eye pressure evaluation and optic nerve evaluation is essential. (please see what to expect from complete eye exam section). The best way to prevent vision loss from glaucoma is by having regular eye exams with one of our doctors. The North Dakota Eye Clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments that are used to diagnose, follow and treat glaucoma. This includes visual field testing, optic nerve analysis (OCT) and photos, corneal thickness (pachymetry), and gonioscopy. Special treatment options include eye drops, SLT or ALT laser, laser iridotomy, trabeculectomy, and more. Most glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma. The disease is a result of pressure inside the eye that is too high for the optic nerve to tolerate. This results in damage to the nerve which then causes a loss of side or peripheral vision. Unfortunately, there is no pain or other symptoms until after vision loss has occurred. It is a leading cause of blindness, but if caught early it can be controlled. If you are over 40, you should have an eye exam by a doctor every year. If you are African-American, or you have a family member with glaucoma, you are at a higher risk for developing glaucoma. You should have your eyes examined and eye pressure checked every year. Narrow-angle glaucoma is much less common and is very different from open-angle glaucoma in that eye pressure usually goes up very fast. There is usually severe pain in the eye or brow ache over the eye, along with redness, swelling, halos around lights and blurred vision. If not treated promptly, this glaucoma produces blindness in the affected eye in a short period of time.

Dermatochalasis, or excess eyelid is not only a cosmetic problem for some patients, but a functional problem as well. A patient may notice a loss of upper and or side vision when excess upper eyelid skin is present. Quite simply, the excess skin drapes over the eye and can interfere with your visual field. Fortunately the ophthalmologists at the North Dakota Eye Clinic are experienced and skillful surgeons, and have helped many patients by performing an upper eyelid blepharoplasty with or without ptosis repair. The procedure is performed at the state-of-the-art North Dakota Surgery Center, conveniently located in the same building as the eye clinic. Most insurance companies, including Medicare will cover eyelid surgery when it is for a functional (not necessarily cosmetic) problem. This means if the excess skin or drooping interferes with a significant portion of your vision, you have lost a portion of your “functional” vision. We will help guide you through the insurance process. A blepharoplasty (see figure 1) is a relatively quick procedure and typically painless. Prior to the procedure a marker and measuring tools are used to plan the amount of tissue to be removed. The predetermined amount of excess eyelid skin and muscle (and sometimes eyelid fat) is excised and the incision is carefully closed. The incision is “hidden” in the natural eyelid crease, so visible scars are unusual. The surgery not only removes excess tissue, but also may improve lid crease cosmesis and treat drooping eyelashes Some patients also have excess drooping of the eyelid height (ptosis) with or without excess eyelid skin. Our surgeons can skillfully elevate the eyelid height through the same incision as used for the blepharoplasty (see figure 2). Blepharoplasty and ptosis repairs are often done at the same time. There are many procedures used to repair ptosis and the ophthalmologist can help decide which is best for you. There is generally little discomfort after eyelid surgery. Most patients will be swollen and black-and-blue for a few days to weeks after the surgery. It may take several weeks to notice the full effect. Some patients may have sutures removed around one week after the surgery, although many will have dissolvable sutures thus negating the need for removal. A thorough consultation with Dr. Sczepanski will discuss which option is best for you. He will spend time discussing the risks of the procedure(s), helping you decide. A preoperative visual field, documenting the loss of vision from the excess skin and/or drooping lid and external photos will be performed, as required by many insurance companies.

The Optical Shop hours and phone number: Monday, Wednesday & Friday (Friday: 7:30am - 3:00pm) 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday & Thursday 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Phone: 701-746-7958 We offer quality lenses and frames, including name brand frames and sunglasses such as Oakley, Under Armour, Maui Jim, DKNY, Ray Ban and many others. Click here for a full list of designer frames we carry. We’ll help you find exactly the fit, fashion and functions you need. We’re also always here for repairs and adjustments. Learn the unique and intelligent properties of the most revolutionary lens on the market today. Drivewear ® lenses, activated by Transitions™, are capable of sensing and reacting to varying light conditions both inside and outside the car. Drivewear® lenses always provide a wearer the right visual solution. Click to learn more.

A comprehensive eye exam will evaluate not only how well you see, but also identify potential eye diseases. Some eye diseases, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, can result in serious vision loss if not detected and treated early. Often patients with these diseases don’t experience any visual symptoms before vision loss occurs. If you are over 35, you should have a comprehensive eye exam every two years. Patients over 65 or with a family history of glaucoma, diabetes or diabetic retinopathy should have a yearly eye exam. What to expect at your eye exam: Your eye doctor will most likely dilate the pupils of your eyes, in order to better see the retina at the back of your eye. You may want to consider making transportation arrangements, as your vision may be blurry for a few hours after dilating. Your exam may include a: visual acuity or refraction test to determine the degree to which you may be nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism. muscle function test to check the movement of your eyes in each direction and at specified angles. This test will identify any muscle weakness or involuntary eye movement. binocular vision skills assessment to ensure that your eyes work together properly as a team. This is important for proper depth perception, eye muscle coordination and the ability to change focus from near to far objects. visual field test to measure your peripheral vision, the width of the area you can see when you’re looking straight ahead. This test may also detect diseases of the eyes or neurological disorders. eye pressure test. Your doctor may administer one or more tests to evaluate your intra-ocular pressure. High intra-ocular pressure may be a sign of glaucoma. color vision screening to see if you perceive colors properly. eye health assessment using an ophthalmoscope. This tool allows the doctor to evaluate your pupil responses, optic nerve, retina, cornea and lens. Treatment options, if necessary will be presented at the conclusion of your examination. To schedule a comprehensive eye exam, you can call our office at 800-333-7344.