Shannon Medical Center | Health Beat | Summer 2020

2 HEALTH BEAT T he struggle of using contacts, eyeglasses or both is something over 75% of American adults deal with. Keeping up with and paying for each, along with their supplies, can become a financial stressor. Also, trying to wear them can become a hassle during certain activities, like swimming, playing sports or enjoying the outdoors. However, there is an alternative available right here in San Angelo for those who would like to eliminate the need for eyeglasses and contacts. The iLASIK procedure is a bladeless, all- laser vision correction procedure that uses proprietary technology to measure the unique characteristics of your eye and provide a com- pletely customized correction for exceptional visual clarity.This procedure, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is used to correct mild to severe nearsighted- ness (inability to clearly see objects farther away) and farsightedness (inability to clearly see objects close to you), with or without astigmatism, as well as mixed astigmatism (a common vision condition that causes blurred vision due to an irregularly shaped eye). “iLASIK is the No. 1 procedure we recom- mend for vision correction,” says Daniel Lui, MD, ophthalmologist at the Shannon Laser Eye Center. “Over 15 million LASIK surger- ies have been completed worldwide, which have helped more than 94% of patients see 20/20 or better and 100% of patients drive without the need for glasses or contacts.” WILLIAM BARRETT BOWLIN, MD, ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY Dr. Bowlin returns to the area as a graduate from Angelo State University. He earned his medical degree from Texas Tech Univer- sity Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. He then completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. To further his orthopedic training, Dr. Bowlin completed a sports medicine fellowship at the Lake Tahoe Orthopedic Institute. Dr. Bowlin is now accepting new patients at his office, located at Shannon Clinic Jackson, 2237 S. Jackson. For more information or to sched- ule an appointment, please call 325-481-2292 . News See clearly without the hassle of glasses or contacts “By choosing iLASIK, you are making a long-term investment both for your eye and financial health,” says Matthew Goldman, MD, ophthalmologist at Shannon Laser Eye Center. “The average 25-year-old will spend roughly $30,000 on contact lenses, examinations and sup- plies by the age of 50. Comparatively, the iLASIK procedure fee ranges from $4,200 to $5,000, meaning $2,100 to $2,500 per eye.” iLASIK’S 3-STEP PROCESS Step 1: A 3-D map of the eye is cre- ated using wavefront eye-mapping technology. It carefully maps every feature of the eye and is 25 times more precise than the typical measure- ments used to write a standard eyeglass or contact lens prescription. Step 2: An ultra-fast laser creates a thin flap to prepare the cornea for vision correction. Step 3: The precision laser gently reshapes the cornea to the desired curvature based on the digi- tal information from the customized eye map.The reshaping corrects the vision imperfections. This procedure is performed in the laser room at the Shannon Laser Eye Center. “Anesthetic drops will be administered in the eye to numb it,” Dr. Lui says. “Patients will be seated in a reclining chair, where we will position their head under the laser and place a retainer be- tween each eyelid to gently hold them open during the treatment.The laser will treat the eye for less than one minute. All steps, from beginning to end, will be completed in approximately 15 minutes.” “While the actual procedure is painless, patients may experience some irritation dur- ing the immediate postoperative period,” Dr. Goldman says. “It is recommended for individuals to plan a procedure when they can afford to take a couple of days off to relax and let their eyes heal, as they may be light-sensitive for a while. A postoperative visit is required the day immediately after the procedure.” Individuals must be 18 years of age or older for the iLASIK procedure. Interested patients can take advantage of a free consul- tation at Shannon Laser Eye Center inside Shannon Clinic Southwest, 4450 Sunset Drive. Qualifying candidates can use a 10% discount off their iLASIK procedure during July and August. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 325-481-2020 . Shannon Clinic welcomes new providers SARAH BURKES, MD, FAMILY PRACTICE Dr. Burkes received her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M Univer- sity in College Station and earned her medical degree from Texas A&M University Health Science Center. She completed her family medicine preceptorship at Scott & White Hospital in Temple and her family and community medicine residency at Texas Tech Health Science Center in Lubbock. She is certified by the American Board of Family Practice. Dr. Burkes is accepting new patients at her office, located on the third floor of Shannon Clinic Harris, 220 E. Harris. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 325-481-2000 . MICHAEL McENRUE, RN, FNP, UROLOGY Michael received his bach- elor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Angelo State University. He is board-certified by the American Association of Nurse Prac- titioners as a Family Nurse Practitioner. He has previously provided care in the urgent care setting for the past three years. Michael joins the Shannon Clinic Urology Department. His office is located at Shannon Clinic Beauregard, 120 E. Beauregard. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 325-481-2231 .