Health insurance can be very confusing. We talk to patients about it everyday, so we thought it would be helpful to outline the basics.
We can’t stress enough that every plan is different. While you may be covered for a service, you may have a co-pay or deductible that must be paid. If you aren’t sure, please check with your human resources department or insurance company.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: Exams that qualify for Medical Insurance include care and treatment of eye disease and injury. Among the conditions covered are Glaucoma, Cataracts, Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degneration, Injury to the Eye, and Infection.
Most medical insurances do NOT cover the cost of checking to see if you need new glasses. This part of the exam is called Refraction (Better 1 or 2?), and is NOT part of medical eye care. Refraction is a separate charge.
VISION INSURANCE: Some benefit plans include vision insurance. Each plan’s coverage is unique, so you need to check specifics with your insurance plan. Items that MAY be covered under vision insurance at a reduced cost or co-pay include your routine eye exam, contact lens fitting, glasses and contact lenses.
Again, we recommend checking with your insurance company to verify your coverage, co-pay and deductible.
We are here to help if you need any treatment information or diagnosis codes so that you can discuss specifics with your insurance provider.
Ultimately, your insurance company considers you responsible to investigate your coverage and will often only provide that information to you, not to your doctor.
When you see the trees and flowers start to bloom, do you think “YAY, Spring!” or “OH, NO, Allergies!”?
Do your eyes feel itchy and irritated with seasonal allergies? Don’t suffer, come in for relief from the symptoms of allergy eyes. Dr. Moran and Dr. Tang can evaluate the best treatment for your allergy eyes that will help you enjoy the beauty of Spring.
SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS: Itching, redness, tearing and eyelid swelling. This condition is often accompanied by other signs of allergies, like a stuffy, itchy and runny nose. It’s not contagious since it is caused by dust or allergens. Artificial tears, antihistamine eye drops, and medication can help relieve the symptoms.
If you use an over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicine like to treat a runny or congested nose, while this medicine dries out our sinuses, it causes dryness in your mouth and eyes too! Use lubricating eye drops (artificial tears) when you take allergy medicines, and you give your eyes the moisture that they need to feel better and see clearly.
There are also specific OTC allergy eye drops that are can be used to treat irritated allergy eyes, but these drops aren’t suitable for long-term use. We don’t recommend drops that “get the red out”. These drops may offer a quick fix for red eyes, but they don’t give you any long-term benefits. In fact, you may become dependent on them, since they don’t solve your dry eye issues.
Our doctors can diagnose if there are other underlying causes for the eye irritation…it might not be just allergies. If you have a crusty, yellowish discharge you may have an infection that needs to be treated with antibiotics.
We are here to help you maintain good eye health and excellent vision no matter the season. Call us, text us, or fill out the form on this page to make an appointment with Dr. Moran or Dr. Tang.
Dr. Moran was recently published in Lehigh County Health & Medicine magazine. The article “Floaters in My Eyes” discusses the occurrence of floaters and treatment options now availablesisipisi.ccsisipisisisipisi.ccsisipisi.cc.
Dr. Moran has been successfully treating floaters with an in-office laser procedure, called Vitreolysis. This treatment option targets floaters with laser energy. The laser pulses change the collagen of the floater into a gas, removing it from the patient’s vision.
To read more of the articles in this publication, click here.
The team at Last Chance Ranch is works to save Holly’s sight.
When Mark and Paulette Moran heard about a horse that needed eye surgery to save her sight, they knew it was time to come to the rescue. After sharing the news with the staff, Moran Eye Associates donated $1,000 to Last Chance Ranch to cover the cost of Holly’s surgery.
We quickly replied to their Facebook fundraiser for Holly: “Our office, Moran Eye Associates would like to donate the full amount of $1,000 for Holly’s surgery and care. Dr. Mark Moran and staff are happy to support your organization. We know how important sight is to all of us, and to the animals in our lives. In fact, Dr. Moran would have been happy to assist in surgery, if he wasn’t taking care of our human patients that day!”
Jackie Burke, who is the Equine Health Manager of Last Chance Ranch started a fundraiser for Holly via their Facebook page. Here is Holly’s story…
Holly is a sweet Haflinger mare who was saved from a kill pen by Last Chance Ranch. Our vet discovered an inflamed area of her eye. After consulting with New Bolton Center’s Ophthalmologist, it was determined that Holly had Squamous Cell Carcinoma in her left eye, and beginning in her right eye.
The vet is hopeful and believes that Holly has an extremely good prognosis and will probably not lose any vision! Holly is a young horse, only in her teens with a lot of life left.
The surgery was successfully completed on February 26th. Holly is now recovering at New Bolton Center, and will be back at Last Chance Ranch soon. The best news is that Holly has a prospective adopter, as long as everything goes well with her recovery!
We will keep you updated on Holly’s progress! For more information about the good work of this local rescue, visit their website http://www.lastchanceranch.org
Last Chance Ranch Animal Rescue, Inc. (LCR) is a public volunteer, non-profit (501c3) organization rescuing and rehabilitating horses and domestic companion animals. Last Chance Ranch Animal Rescue is dedicated to promoting and educating the public to humane and responsible treatment of horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules (equines) and other domestic companion animals. Last Chance Ranch, Inc (LCR) provides a safe and secure refuge for abused, unwanted or neglected animals. LCR rehabilitates physical and psychological issues and places them into new homes where they receive the treatment and care they deserve.
A stye is a painful swollen spot in the upper or lower eyelid, near the lash line. The stye develops due to an infection in the eyelash follicles or oil glands at the lid margin.
The inflamed area may be tender to the touch. It appears as a red bump, possibly with a yellowish spot where pus has collected, like a pimple. It can occur on both the upper and lower eyelid, and is common in both children and adults. Styes develop gradually and sometimes go away on their own.
Home Care: What should I do if I feel a stye developing?
Apply warm moist compresses 10 minutes 4 times a day.
Keep your eyelids clean. Use warm water and baby shampoo on a cotton ball.
STOP wearing eye makeup. Covering up a stye may slow your healing.
Don’t wear contacts. Wear your glasses until the stye is gone.
Wash your hands! Keep your hands clean and don’t share washcloths or towels with others.
Do NOT Squeeze! Styes should not be squeezed or punctured at home.
When should I see the doctor?
If the stye is painful, causes vision problems, or does not improve after a few days, call for an appointment. You may need medication to treat the infection. When in doubt, pick up the phone and give us a call. We are always willing to discuss your symptoms and bring you in to the office if needed.
After your eye is healed, it is important to replace all of your eye makeup that has come in contact with your infected eye. That includes eyeliner, mascara, concealer and eye pencils.
Is there any way to prevent a stye?
A stye develops due to a blocked pore, so it makes sense that keeping your eyelids clean is the best way to prevent styes. Don’t sleep in your makeup! Take the time to remove ALL makeup before you go to bed each night. Replace your eye makeup every six months, and don’t share it with others.
Cleanse your eyelids in the morning as well to keep the lid margins clear. The crusty discharge that accumulates overnight in the corners and on the lashes should be cleared away with the warm water and baby shampoo method.
To read more about keeping your eyes healthy…scroll through the Moran Eye Associates blog. You’ll find helpful information on eye care from our doctors and staff.
When it is time for cataract surgery, you have choices to make that will determine your future vision.
During cataract surgery, Dr. Moran will remove the cloudy lens of your eye and replace it with a clear Intraocular Lens (IOL). Patients have the option to choose from different types of IOLs for their surgery.
Intraocular lens implant
While all the IOLs offer improved vision, there are some lens choices that offer additional features, such as astigmatism correction, and vision at fixed points of focus – near, intermediate and far vision. Dr. Moran will discuss these lens choices with you. He will explain which option(s) are right for you, taking into consideration the health of your eye and your visual needs after surgery.
The chart below compares the features of the IOLs.
The Basic lens offers 1 area of correction, and may be covered by your insurance. This lens offers clearer vision at one point of focus either distance or near. For patients who don’t mind wearing glasses, this lens is a good option.
The Toric and ReSTOR lenses do more, so there is additional cost for these lenses. Insurance does not cover the cost of these lenses, since they are considered advanced technology lenses. These lenses are special order for you, so payment for these lenses is due one week prior to the surgery date.
The Toric lens corrects one point of focus, either distance or near, and corrects for astigmatism, which is an irregular shape of the cornea. Patients with a corneal astigmatism greater than 1.25 diopters are good candidates for this lens.
The ReSTOR lens offers multiple points of focus. This lens is designed with concentric circles, each with a specific prescription power. Your eye will be able to focus using the right power ring in the lens. ReSTOR lenses are recommended for patients who have healthy eyes, and who are having surgery on both eyes done within a few weeks of each other.
More information about cataract surgery and your IOL choices will be discussed at your cataract evaluation appointment with Dr. Moran, and again with our surgery coordinator at your scheduling/measurement appointment. We encourage all patients to check with their insurance company before their cataract surgery to find out specifics about what is covered under their plan. Some plans have co-pays and deductibles that may affect the amount that the patient will have to pay.
