Cataract Lens Implants in Birmingham

Birmingham Cataract Surgeon & Corneal Specialist Marc Michelson, M.D. comments on choosing a Lens Implant for Cataracts. “The decision on exactly how to correct your vision after Cataract Surgery used to be a decision that was the sole responsibility of your Cataract Surgeon,” said Marc Michelson, M.D. of Alabama Eye & Cataract Center. “As more advanced types of lens implant technology became available and allowed us to offer more complete vision correction after Cataract Surgery, we were able to offer our Cataract patients in Alabama some options for their vision correction,” said Dr. Michelson. Top Cataract Surgeons now take the time to discuss Lens Implant options with patients so together they can choose the most appropriate lens implant for the lifestyle needs of the patient. “After a thorough Cataract evaluation we can we make a firm recommendation for each patient because the choice of Lens Implant really depends on several factors including the patient’s prescription, the overall health of their eyes, whether they have any other health problems such as diabetes and most importantly how they use their eyes throughout their daily routine,” Dr. Michelson further explained.


A type of lens implant called an aspheric lens implant seems to give the sharpest, most crisp vision-but only corrects distance vision and requires you to wear reading glasses or bifocals after cataract surgery. This might be fine for a truck driver who needs cataract surgery, but might not be the best choice for a sales clerk who uses his or her eyes at many distances all day. A type of lens implant called a toric lens implant is often selected for Cataract patients who have correction their eyeglasses. If you have a toric lens implant to correct your vision after Cataract Surgery you will still need to correct you near vision to see up close with reading glasses of some sort. For those patients who do a number of things throughout the day that require seeing far away, at arm’s length-say for the computer and also to see up close, if you are a good candidate we can offer you a multifocal lens implant that corrects near vision and presbyopia and so it will help you see at a range of distances without being totally dependent on eyeglasses. Choosing a Lens Implant is a joint effort between you and your eye surgeon. It is not your decision alone. It’s not like buying a pair of shoes or a car where you can ask your friends for a good “brand” or you can read a brochure or see a TV commercial and then you can choose. It requires the careful evaluation and recommendation of skilled and experienced cataract surgeon to help you make the best choice. If you or someone you know has Cataracts and needs help with Cataract Surgery and Lens Implant information please feel free to call Alabama Eye & Cataract Center at 205-930-0930.

Alabama Eye & Cataract Center is a leading eye care practice in Birmingham staffed by a team of specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.

Protect Eyes for Sports in Birmingham

Birmingham Ophthalmologist Marc Michelson, M.D. noted, “Eye protection should be something we think about as we begin to get outside this time of year for sports activities.” Protecting your eyes playing sports is an important way to help preserve your eye health and vision that sometimes gets overlooked. Tens of thousands of sports and recreation-related eye injuries occur each year.

“The good news is that 90 percent of serious eye injuries are preventable through use of appropriate protective eyewear,” said Dr. Michelson.

The risk of eye injury can vary depending on the activity. Make sure the level of eye protection you or others in your family use is appropriate for the type of activity. Regular eyeglasses do not offer proper eye protection.

Across all age groups, sports-related eye injuries occur most frequently in baseball, basketball and racquet sports. Further, boxing and full-contact martial arts pose an extremely high risk of serious and even blinding eye injuries and there is really no satisfactory eye protection for boxing, although thumbless gloves may reduce the number of boxing eye injuries. When playing baseball, ice hockey and men’s lacrosse, a helmet with a polycarbonate lightweight shatterproof face mask or wire shield should be worn at all times. In general, hockey face masks be approved by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Last protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses should be worn for sports such as basketball, racquet sports, soccer and field hockey. If you need additional information or help regarding how to select the best eyewear to protect you while playing sports please feel free to phone Alabama Eye & Cataract Center at 205-930-0930.

Contact Lenses & Swimming in Birmingham

Patient wearing contact lenses in Birmingham should be aware that contact lenses really should not be worn for swimming, taking showers, in bath tubs or in hot tubs as this poses safety risks to patients. “We commonly hear patient questions about wanting to wear their contacts while in a pool or hot tub or even while in the shower. This is not a good idea and can significantly increase the safety risks of contact lens wear”, said Corneal Specialist Marc Michelson, M.D. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that contact lenses not be exposed to any form of water. Although rare, a sight-threatening eye complication, Acanthamoeba Keratitis, is caused by an organism present in all forms of impure water (i.e., swimming pools, tap water, saunas, wells, and showers). Acanthamoeba, and certain forms of bacteria present in water, can become attached to the contact lenses, possibly resulting in an infection. It would be preferable to insert your contact lenses after showering. If lenses are being worn while showering, it is recommended to keep your eyes firmly closed. If you accidentally wear your contact lenses while in the bathtub or hot tub, care should be taken to avoid water being splashed into the eyes. If your eyes are exposed to water, instill a lubricating drop to help loosen the lens on the eye, remove the lens with clean, dry hands, then clean and disinfect it the lens, or discard it. Never sleep in a lens that has been exposed to water without first cleaning and disinfecting it. If lenses were removed prior to getting in a hot tub, they must be properly cleaned and disinfected before being re-inserted.

“Contact Lenses are really quite safe to wear if your follow proper care guidelines and instructions. However, if water restrictions such as swimming, bath tubs and showering are part of your daily routine, you do need to keep your lenses out. Many more patients-even very successful contact lens wearers-finds this to be a hassle and are now interested in discussing LASIK as an option,” said Dr. Michelson. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about LASIK or scheduling a Free LASIK Consultation please call Michelson Laser Vision at 877-871-3937.

Birmingham Corneal Specialists & Infections

“As Birmingham Corneal Specialists we get to see a lot of patients referred by other eye doctors for all types of corneal infections and Keratitis,” remarked Marc Michelson, M.D., Medical Director of Alabama Eye & Cataract Center. “We take any corneal infection as a serious matter,” said Dr. Michelson. “What patients need to know is that under normal healthy circumstances the cornea is pretty resistant to infection. However, if the outermost layer-called the corneal epithelium is damaged, it opens a path to penetration by bacteria, viruses and fungi. Even a simple poke in the eye from a branch or a finger, a tiny piece of metal or even from a dirty or damaged contact lens can allow a corneal infection to occur,” said Dr. Michelson.

The typical signs and symptoms of s corneal infection or Keratitis may include redness, pain, sensitivity to light, eye watering and possibly the appearance of a white spot might be visible where the infection is originating from. If not diagnosed and treated quickly corneal infections can cause erosion, corneal ulceration, scarring that can impair vision and even necessitate a corneal transplant. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these signs or symptoms-especially if they have had any trauma to their eyes-please call Alabama Eye & Cataract Center at 205-930-0930 and request an immediate appointment with Corneal Specialists Marc Michelson, M.D. or Tyler Hall, M.D.

Computer Use & Eyestrain in Birmingham

“Excessive computer use can impact your eyes more than you think and even cause considerable eyestrain,” commented Birmingham Ophthalmologist Marc Michelson, M.D., Medical Director of Alabama Eye & Cataract Center. There are some important things to know about computer and video display terminal use, your eyes and eyestrain. Staring at your computer screen, smartphone, video game or other digital devices for long periods won’t cause permanent eye damage, but your eyes may feel dry and tired. Although there are no long-term studies at this time, we do not believe there is any reason to be concerned that 3-D movies, TV or video games will damage the eyes or visual system. Normally, you blink about 18 times a minute, but only blink half that often while using computers and other digital screen devices, whether for work or play. Reading, writing or other intensive “near work” can also cause eyestrain of a similar nature.

It is helpful in avoiding computer related eyestrain if you first position yourself about 24” from the screen you are viewing and with your eye gaze is slightly downward. It also helps to reduce glare from the screen by lighting the area properly and if possible use a screen filter if needed. It may seem silly but post a note that says “Blink!” on the computer as a reminder. Then, use the “20-20-20” rule. Every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds. It is also helpful to use artificial tears to refresh your eyes when they feel dry. Make sure that you take regular breaks from computer work, and be sure to get enough sleep at night. Now, if you wear contacts for the computer screen it’s important that you use and care for them properly in order to avoid eye irritation, swelling, infection and vision problems. Also, give your eyes a break and wear your glasses instead of your contacts sometime. Consider a special prescription and lens coating for computer use to help manage eyestrain and fatigue. If you wish to learn more about computers, vision, eyestrain and your eyes please feel free to call Alabama Eye & Cataract Center at 205-930-0930.

About Bulging Eyes in Birmingham

Birmingham Ophthalmologist Marc Michelson, M.D. commented on bulging eye problems. 


“Bulging eyes is the familiar description of the eye conditions known as exophthalmos or proptosis. Besides possibly being a bit odd looking, bulging eye conditions can also cause a number of problems, such as not being able to completely close your eyes during sleep or even during normal blinking, which can lead to dry eye symptoms, discomfort and ultimately damage the eye’s surface, resulting in scarring. Sometimes eye bulging can restrict or interfere with normal eye movements. We need to be able to properly diagnose the difference between eyes that are simply “prominent” as compared to eyes that actually “bulging.” In instances of true bulging eyes, we need to carefully determine the cause so that we can offer an appropriate treatment as necessary,” stressed Dr. Michelson.

Causes of bulging eyes can include:

• Graves Disease, that results in hyperthyroidism and too much thyroid hormone;
• Inflammation of the tissue around the eye and inside the bony orbit of the eye called Cellulitis;
• Certain tumors behind, inside or around the eye;
• Hemorrhages behind the eye and injury to the eye.

If you or someone you know suffers from bulging eyes please feel free to schedule an examination at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center at 205-930-0930.

Birmingham LASIK is Affordable

Believe it or not, LASIK in Birmigham is affordable for just about anyone at Michelson Laser Vision! That’s because we work to find ways to work with you to help you achieve your personal vision correction goals at Michelson Laser Vision. Here are a few ways lots of our patients choose when they have LASIK at Michelson Laser Vision in Birmingham.

Easy Payment Plans
Many of our patients use our easy payment monthly payment plans. We can arrange the amount you pay each month to fit your budget-AND you do not even have to put any money down! You can have your LASIK procedure today WITH NO MONEY DOWN-and with 0% interest if you would like!

Flex Plans-Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Many employers offer Flex Plans-Flexible Spending Accounts or FSA’s. These plans allow you to have money taken out of your paycheck over time to pay for LASIK. What is even more appealing about Flex Plans is that money is withheld in Pre-Tax dollars allowing you to get extra tax savings. It is best to come in for a free consultation to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK-and then we can tell you exactly how much to have taken out of your paycheck!

Health Spending Accounts (HSA)
Health Spending Accounts are another way our patients can use Pre-Tax dollars to pay for LASIK and elective Lens Implants. If you have an HSA, it is best to come in for a free consultation to find out if you are a candidate for LASIK so we can tell you how much to allocate.

Insurance & Discount Fee for Service Plans
More and more health insurance or vision insurance plans are offering partial coverage or a discount for LASIK to their participants. We will be happy to review your plan. Even if we are not a direct provider on your plan, if you have coverage, we will make every attempt to honor your benefit allowance when you come to Michelson Laser Vision.

Tax Refunds
Tax refunds often provide a nice source of unexpected cash that you can invest in yourself! If you know that you are going to be getting a tax refund, come in for a free consultation and find out if you are a candidate for LASIK. We can even use a very short term payment plan to help you get treated today and pay with your tax refund tomorrow.