Two years have passed since the start of Moran Eye Associates in Fountain Hill! We are so happy to have welcomed Dr. Moran’s former patients and many new patients too!
Although our practice is young, we’ve all been together for a long time. Here is a look at Moran Eye Associates by the numbers.
Dr. Moran has been practicing in the Lehigh Valley since 1990. He started Moran Eye Associates in April of 2017, where he continues to provide quality, compassionate medical and surgical care for his patients.
(again!) Dr. Moran’s first employee was Beth Handwerk, who was a member of the team at Trachtenberg-Moran. After almost 30 years, Beth & Dr. Moran are still working together. Beth is the office manager here at Moran Eye Associates.
Mandy Bolton & Cindy Male both started working with Dr. Moran at the turn of the century! They have been part of Dr. Moran’s team for 19 years.
Bobbi has worked with Dr. Moran’s surgical patients since 2011. Starting first as his LASIK coordinator, she now works with cataract patients too.
Dr. Tang joined our growing practice one year ago. She quickly became an essential part of our team. Dr. Tang has expertise in all aspects of medical eye care, contact lenses and low vision devices.
The numbers add up to an experienced team of eye care professionals that continue to work together to give our patients quality eye care. You can benefit from our commitment to our patients by making an appointment for yourself and your family!
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.
SURGICAL: Dr. Moran does surgery at the Surgery Center of Allentown, Sightpath LASIK Center in Bethlehem, as well as some procedures in our Delaware Avenue office.
Cataracts
LASIK
PRK
Laser Floater Removal
Glaucoma Eye Surgery
Foreign Body Removal
Eye Lid Surgery
Please contact our office if you need an appointment for your eye care. Call or text us at 610-628-2022, or send us an email by filling out the form on the right!
The iStent Inject: This procedure may eliminate the need for daily glaucoma drops!
Size of the iStent Inject
Dr. Mark Moran is now offering Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) with the iStent Inject. This option is currently available for glaucoma patients who are having cataract surgery.
Clinical studies have shown a significant decrease in eye pressure in mild-to-moderate glaucoma with this implant. It is interesting to note that the iStent Inject is the smallest medical device known to be implanted in the human body. The picture to the right shows the actual iStent as a tiny speck on the face of a penny!
An Alternative to Glaucoma Drop Therapy
If using drops to control your glaucoma poses problems for you, this procedure may be a great alternative. Ask yourself if you have these issues with your glaucoma medication:
Do you have problems putting drops in your eyes?
Do you forget to use your drops as prescribed?
Do you have financial concerns with the cost of prescription drops?
iStent Inject in place
How the iStent works: During cataract surgery, Dr. Moran inserts these tiny stents to create two openings between the front part of the eye and the eye’s natural drainage pathway. This improved flow decreases the pressure in the eye.
Insertion of this FDA approved device is painless. You won’t be able to see or feel these microscopic devices. They are so small that you won’t have to worry about going through an airport metal detector or having an MRI.
This combined cataract/stent procedure does not significantly increase the amount of time that you will spend in the operating room. The recovery time from this procedure is the same as with cataract surgery alone.
Dr. Moran explains the results: “I’ve seen a decrease in pressure in the patients who have had the stents inserted. Many have stopped using their drops altogether. We remind patients that this stent procedure is a treatment, NOT a cure for glaucoma. You still need to follow up with regular appointments to monitor your glaucoma, and maintain the health of your eyes.”
If you have questions about glaucoma, cataracts, or any other vision concern, call to make an appointment at 610-628-2022. Dr. Moran and Dr. Tang would be happy to review your history and discuss if this procedure is right for you.
If you know Dr. Moran, you know that he is an expert at making analogies to better explain vision and visual issues to our patients. One of our favorite examples is how he explains what happens during cataract surgery.
Yes, that’s where the Peanut M&M comes in!
Dr. Moran explains that a mature cataract is like a peanut M&M. It has 3 major parts: capsule, cortex and nucleus.
The capsule = candy coating.
The cortex = chocolate.
The nucleus = the peanut inside!
During cataract surgery, Dr. Moran will remove the nucleus and cortex (peanut & chocolate), while leaving the capsule (the candy shell) in place. After the cortex and the cataract are removed, he will insert a new lens in its place. This new intraocular lens (IOL) has a prescription in it, just like the lenses in your eyeglasses have a prescription in them.
After Cataract Surgery you may not need glasses!
Many patients tell us that they have the best vision of their lives following cataract surgery! They see more clearly and colors seem more vibrant. Depending on the type of lens implant that they choose, they may not need to wear glasses at all!
If you, or someone you know, has noticed a change in their vision, come in for a cataract evaluation with Dr. Moran. He will dilate your eyes to see if cataracts are developing, and he will let you know if you are ready to have your cataracts removed.
Dr. Moran, Bobbi, and Cindy attended the ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons) Conference in our nation’s capital, Washington, DC. The conference ran over a “long” April weekend and presented a great opportunity to learn more about the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts and glaucoma, as well as vision correction procedures like LASIK.
Bobbi & Cindy at the Surgery Conference
“Ongoing education is a priority not only for physicians. It is important for every member of our team to be up-to-date on innovations and technology now available to offer the best eye care. While at this conference, we were able to learn from industry experts on ways to more effectively care for our patients. It was also a chance to share what we do at Moran Eye Associates,” Dr. Moran explains.
Information sessions at the conference included new treatment techniques to manage dry eye, cataract surgery case studies, and advances in pre-surgical measurements. There was much to learn in classes and from networking and exchanging ideas with other professionals there. They were able to talk about how our new in-office procedures for floaters and dry eye are helping our patients see more clearly.
The Virtual Eye allows Cindy to be “inside the eye” for an incredible view.
New Ways to Learn
In addition to the formal educational sessions, there were also many opportunities for hands-on learning.
Using Virtual Reality, Bobbi & Cindy were able to have a 360-degree view inside the eye. They were able to witness how the eye is affected by glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts. They agreed it was a little disorienting to be “floating” around inside an eye, but it was a memorable experience to see detailed images of changes to retina, vitreous and lens.
We look forward to using the knowledge gained to improve the care of our patients. After a busy and productive few days away, it is back to the office!
Dr. Moran has been practicing in the Lehigh Valley since 1990. He started Moran Eye Associates in April of 2017, where he continues to provide quality, compassionate medical and surgical care for his patients.
(again!) Dr. Moran’s first employee was Beth Handwerk, who was a member of the team at Trachtenberg-Moran. After almost 30 years, Beth & Dr. Moran are still working together. Beth is the office manager here at Moran Eye Associates.
Mandy Bolton & Cindy Male both started working with Dr. Moran at the turn of the century! They have been part of Dr. Moran’s team for 19 years.
Bobbi has worked with Dr. Moran’s surgical patients since 2011. Starting first as his LASIK coordinator, she now works with cataract patients too.
Dr. Tang joined our growing practice one year ago. She quickly became an essential part of our team. Dr. Tang has expertise in all aspects of medical eye care, contact lenses and low vision devices.
