Services Overview

At Kennedy Eyecare you will find a caring team of professionals dedicated to providing high quality personalized eye care for the whole family. Preventative and routine eye exams are important to maintaining good eye health. Often, eye and vision problems do not have obvious symptoms or signs, but are easily diagnosed by a licensed optometrist. By diagnosing eye and vision conditions early on, our optometrists are able to provide treatment options and in many cases, restore vision or prevent vision loss. The American Optometric Association recommends an eye health and vision exam every 6-12 months, depending on whether you are at-risk or not.

Eye Exam and Consultation

During an eye exam, your doctor will ask you questions about any symptoms or issues you are experiencing, medications you are currently taking, any blurry vision, your work environment and your overall health. Family history and previous eye or vision conditions will also be discussed during this part of the examination. The doctors will consider this information when determining any treatments or recommendations.

Vision Testing

Regular vision testing and evaluations ensure that you always have the clearest vision possible. Our optometrists provides regular vision acuity tests as part of a comprehensive eye exam.  Our doctors measure how each eye is seeing by using a wall eye chart and a reading eye chart. The results of these tests are portrayed as a fraction, with 20/20 being the standard for normal distance and reading vision. Depending on the results of your vision test, our doctors may prescribe corrective glasses, contacts, or eye exercises.

Eye Function Testing

In addition to vision testing, an eye exam includes testing eye functionality. Our optometrist performs several tests to evaluate depth perception, color vision, eye muscle capabilities, peripheral vision, and responsiveness to light. Several other simple tests are completed to determine whether the eyes are focusing, moving, and working together properly. The test results enable our doctors to diagnose any underlying conditions that may be impairing the eyes ability to focus or work together.

Eye Health

As part of a comprehensive eye exam, our doctors examine the overall health of the eye through a visual examination, tonometry, and the latest high tech equipment available anywhere. Our doctors evaluate eye health by visually inspecting the eye and eyelids using magnifying microscope. To examine the internal structures of the eye, we may dilate the pupils. Increased eye pressure may be an indicator of glaucoma, so we utilize tonometry to measure eye pressure. After completing these short tests, our doctors will review the results and discuss any necessary treatment options with you. Contact your preferred Kennedy Eyecare location today to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.

LASIK, a form of refractive surgery, is an popular option for vision correction, often eliminating the need to wear glasses or contact lenses. Simply put, LASIK reshapes the cornea with a laser.

Other surgical alternatives have become available. Among these is a technique called phakic IOL implantation which involves implanting a lens behind the cornea, but in front of the iris. With this new option, many of those who were too highly nearsighted for LASIK are now candidates for refractive surgery.

If you are interested in refractive surgery, please let us know. Refractive surgery is not to be taken lightly. Detailed testing is necessary to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for the surgery.  If testing shows you to be a good candidate, we can help you choose the refractive surgeon who is most appropriate for your case. In addition, we provide post-operative care for refractive surgery. 

At Kennedy Eyecare, we strive to meet all of your eye and vision care needs. After a comprehensive eye and vision evaluation, we will discuss the variety of contact lens options with you to select the type that best fits your vision and lifestyle needs. If you suffer from dry eye, allergies, or recurring eye infections, speak with our staff to determine whether contact lenses are right for you.

Evaluation

Prior to prescribing contact lenses, our doctors will determine what level of vision correction you require. Refractive error (commonly known as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism depending on the error) is evaluated by measuring how the eyes focus when a series of different lenses are placed in front of them. An optometrist may use either a phoropter or an automated instrument to take these measurements. To schedule an appointment for a vision evaluation with our optometrist, call us today.

Corrective Lenses

After determining the level of refractive error, our doctors will work with you to determine whether contact lenses or glasses are best for your lifestyle. If you suffer from certain conditions, such as dry eye or allergies, glasses may be the most comfortable corrective solution. Contact lenses are available in either soft or rigid gas permeable form. Contact lenses need to be changed daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on what type of lens you select. Specialized contact lenses, such as bifocal contact lenses, are also available for patients with special eye conditions. Call us if you are interested in learning if contact lenses are a good fit for you.

Cosmetic Lenses

Advances in contact lens technology have created great options for cosmetic and prosthetic lenses. Custom contact lenses can be created to camouflage any color variation or irregularity and produce a natural eye color. Cosmetic lenses are also available to transform your eye color. Call us to speak to our knowledgeable staff if you are interested in modifying or changing your eye color with contact lenses.

In our continued efforts to bring the most advanced technology available to our patients, Craig Kennedy, O.D. are proud to announce the inclusion of the Optomap Retinal Exam as an integral part of your eye exam.

Many eye problems can develop without warning and progress with no symptoms. Early on, you might not notice any change in your vision. However, diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal tears or detachments, as well as other health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can often be detected with a thorough exam of the retina. The retina is the part of your eye that catches the image of what you are looking at, similar to the film in a camera.

An Optomap Retinal Exam provides:

• A scan to confirm a healthy eye or detect the presence of disease.
• An overview or map of the retina, giving your eye doctor a more detailed view than he can achieve by other means.
• The opportunity for you to view and discuss the Optomap images of your eye with your doctor at the time of your exam.
• A permanent record for your medical file, enabling your optometrist to make important comparisons if potential problems show themselves at a future examination.

Glaucoma is an irreversible eye disease which causes damage to the optic nerve, normally due to high pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight” because it is painless and can cause damage to the eye without causing noticeable visual symptoms. The disease happens gradually and affects the peripheral vision first, but can lead to total blindness if not detected and treated early. The Cirrus HD-OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) used in our office is the top of the line instrument used to detect and monitor glaucoma. This instrument tracks changes that occur to the optic nerve and the retinal nerve fiber layer, and allows our doctors to detect glaucoma so early that we can often start treatment before vision loss occurs. This new technology allows us to tailor a specific treatment plan for each patient.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a problem with the central part of the retina known as the macula. The macula controls our ability to see fine detail and allows us to preform activities such as reading, recognizing faces, and even drive a vehicle. AMD causes deterioration of the macular area and causes blurred central vision and can progress to the point where the central vision is completely lost. The Cirrus HD-OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) used in our office can take high definition cross sectional scans of the macular area. The OCT has become a fundamental tool in the early diagnosis and management of macular degeneration as well as other retinal conditions.

IPL Aesthetic Treatments

In addition to lasting & effective dry eye treatments, our IPL technology offers several aesthetic treatments:

Photofacial

Laser Hair Removal

Acne Treatments

Reducing Vein Appearance

Reducing Hyperpigmentation 

Reducing Scar Appearance

Reducing Redness (Rosacea)

OptiLight by Lumenis

Dry eye disease is becoming increasingly common, affecting millions of people worldwide. This chronic condition can significantly impact your life, sometimes making even the smallest of tasks seem difficult. 

If you have eye pain, blurry vision, and dry or watery eyes, it could be a sign that you have dry eye disease. But don't worry! With an in-depth eye exam, our team can assess your vision and eye health to get you the treatment you need. 

With treatments like OptiLight by Lumenis, we can help manage your dry eye symptoms and get you back to seeing clearly and comfortably. Keep reading to learn more about OptiLight by Lumenis and how it can improve your life.

What is Dry Eye Disease? 

Dry eye disease is a common eye condition that occurs when there is an issue with any one of the three components of your tears. 

Your tears are made up of 3 distinct layers, all of which work together to keep your eyes health:

• The oily layer prevents your tears from evaporating too quickly
• The watery later delivers nutrients to your eyes
• The mucus layer keeps your tear film stuck to the surface of your eyes

What are the 2 Types of Dry Eye Disease?

Evaporative Dry Eye (EDE)

EDE is the most common type of dry eye disease. This type of dry eye occurs wen you lack the proper amount of oil in your tears. When this happens, your tears can evaporate too quickly, drying out your eyes. 

In some cases, EDE can be caused by meibomian gland dysfunction, a disorder where the meibomian glands in your eyes become blocked, limiting the amount of oil being produced for your tears.

Aqueous Tear Deficiency (ATD)

If you suffer from ATD, your eyes lack the aqueous layer in your tears. This means that your eyes aren't producing enough tears to keep the eye moist, which can lead to irritating and uncomfortable symptoms. 

What are the Symptoms of Dry Eye Disease?

If you are suffering from dry eye disease, you may notice any of the following symptoms:

• A burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
• Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
• Irritated or overly-watery eyes
• Sensitivity to light or photophobia
• Eye redness, blurred vision, or eye fatigue
• A sensation of having something in your eyes
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, book an appointment with your eye doctor to receive a dry eye disease diagnosis and get the treatment you need.

What is OptiLight by Lumenis?

OptiLight by Lumenis is a safe, gentle, and effective treatment done to manage dry eye disease. This non-invasive prodedure is the first and only FDA-approved intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment for dry eye management.

OptiLight uses pulses of light precisely administered in the area below the eyes to reduce dry eye symptoms. This 10-15 minute procedure can relieve dry eye symptoms by:

• Increasing tear break-up time
• Reducing the amount of demodex mites and bacteria around your eyes
• Decreasing inflammation
• Improving meibomian gland functionality

What to Expect

If your eye doctor has recommended the OptiLight treatment, they will go over everything you can expect before, during, and after your appointment.

Preparing for Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment you should avoid:

• Using skin brightening agents or serums for the week before your appointment
• Using tanning beds 1 month prior to your appointment
•  Getting botox for at least 3 months before your appointment
• Taking oral isotretinoin, tetracycline, or doxycycline in the 3 months prior to your appointment

The OptiLight Treatment

This treatment is fast and simple, taking only 10-15 minutes. During your treatment your doctor will apply a cool gel on the treatment area and cover your eyes with shields to protect them.

As light is applied to the skin, you may experience a warm or a tapping sensation, but you shouldn't feel any pain.

Post-Procedure Care

While side effects are uncommon, your eyes may feel slightly more dry or gritty for the day following your procedure. If you do experience dry eyes, you can use preservative-free artificial tears. 

Following your treatment, your skin will be sensitive, so we recommend avoiding sun exposure and wearing sunscreen.

Am I a Good Candidate for OptiLight by Lumenis?

How do you know if OptiLight is the right treatment for you? During an eye exam, your doctor can determine whether or not it is the right option for you.

In general, OptiLight isn't recommended for patients who:

• Are taking certain medications, like Accutane
• Have active acne
• Suffer from certain skin disorders
• Are susceptible to keloid scarring
• Have severe scarring
• Have severely sunburned recently

Find Relief Today

You don't have to live with the uncomfortable symptoms of dry eye disease. With OptiLight by Lumenis, your symptoms can be managed effectiely and efficiently, restoring your quality of life.

Our team is always here to help you find relief from dry eyes. Book an appointment today to see how OptiLight by Lumenis can help you!