WHAT'S NEW AT THE KOETTING ASSOCIATES?
Diabetes and Your Eyes: The number of people being diagnosed with diabetes is on the rise and for those individuals it is extremely important to have regular eye exams. Diabetes may affect the eyes in a number of ways. Sometimes, prior to a person being officially diagnosed, there may be severe changes in vision as the blood sugar rises. Once diagnosed and treatment begins, these changes generally go back to baseline. The next concern with diabetes and the eyes may be seen as time goes on. As diabetes is a disesase that may affect the fine blood vessels in the body, the vessels in the back of the eye may bleed or leak causing very serious vision damage. A thorough eye exam for a patient with diabetes should include a dilated retinal exam. If you are being treated for diabetes or are experiencing unexplained swings in vision, please call for an appointment.
What's New at The Koetting Associates?
Breakthrough Technology in a Daily Disposable Contact Lens: We are excited to announce the arrival of a new generation of soft contact lenses. Dailies Total 1 is a daily disposable lens that features “water gradient” technology. The center of the lens is made of a highly oxygen permeable material to promote excellent corneal physiology. The center then is encapsulated in a much higher water content material (80% water) that blends to a lubricating gel on the lens surface, mimicking the natural tear of the eye. The initial comfort of the lens is amazing and the lubricious surface allows it to be worn for long hours with minimal drying. The Koetting Associates is one of only a few practices in our area to offer this design at this time. Not all prescriptions are yet available, but if you think this technology sounds good to you, please call us at 314-863-0000 for more details.
What's New at The Koetting Associates?
Genetic Markers for Macular Degeneration: Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual loss in the elderly in the United States. Several genetic variants, as well as modifiable factors such as smoking, lower intake of dietary antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids, as well as higher body mass index (BMI) are known to be associated with higher rates of progression from the early to the advanced stages of AMD. At The Koetting Associates, we now have the ability to offer a simple in-office genetic test to determine a patient's chances of developing serious vision loss as a result of macular degeneration. This simple cheek swab is particularly helpful to patients who show very early signs of the disease. If you have concerns about macular degeneration or have a strong family history of the disease, ask one of our doctors about this exciting new development at your next visit to our office.
What's New at The Koetting Associates?
Flexible Spending Accounts: This is a great time of year to consider pre-tax dollars saved in your flexible spending account. For 2011 you only have until December 31 to utilize the funds you have set aside or risk losing them. What better way to make good use of these funds than to take care of your eyes? Examinations, contact lenses, eyeglasses and even LASIK surgery all qualify under thses plans. And, if you have used all of your 2011 funds, this is a great time to make plans for 2012. Funds you set aside for 2012 may be used anytine after January 1st. If you have any questions, or would like to be seen in our office prior to the end of the year, please call us at 314-863-0000.
What's New at The Koetting Associates?
Patient Forms: In an effort to improve efficiency and expedite your future visits to our office, we have added Patient Demographic and Health History forms to our website. When you make your next appointment our Patient Services Assistant may request that you print these forms and fill them out prior to your visit. These forms are accessible by logging onto our website's home page, pointing your cursor at "Appointments" in the top tool bar and clicking on "Patient Forms". We hope you will find this helpful and we appreciate your cooperation.
Summer Newsletter 1: What's New at The Koetting Associates?
Our Doctors In The News: Dr. Joe Castellano was recently elected as Seargent at Arms of the St. Louis Optometric Society. This one year appointment will allow Dr. Castellano to begin moving up the chairs so in a few years he will be in line to take the presidency of our local Society. Finally, Dr. Carmen Castellano was recently appointed to the Industry Relations Committee of the American Optometric Association. As one of his first assignments, Dr. Castellano will be attending the AOA's national meeting in Chicago in late June.
What's New at The Koetting Associates?
Coming Soon: "Visioffice": The Koetting Associates is excitedly awaiting the arrival of "Visioffice", a revolutionary new computerized piece of equipment which will allow us to offer the most precise and individualized visual correction ever when it comes to no-line (progressive) bifocals. "Visioffice" is the first and only universal measuring system designed to obtain every possible parameter needed for today's individualized lenses. This unique measuring system will allow us to provide our patients the most precise vision possible, no matter where they look through the lens--instantly and effortlessly. We hope to be able to offer this breakthrough technology by sometime this summer.
What's New at The Koetting Associates?
Happy Holidays! We at The Koetting Associates wish all of you a very happy and healthy holiday season. As a reminder, as the year end approaches you may want to consider using any unused flexible spending account funds on eye wear or eye care. Rather than risk losing your balance you may prefer to treat yourself to a new pair of eye glasses or purchase your next supply of contact lenses ahead of time. Also, remember that gift cards are available that may be used on any services or products in our office, including non-prescription sun glasses.
What's New at The Koetting Associates?
An Icon Remembered: As many of you know by now our founder, Dr. Robert A. Koetting, passed away this past August. Dr. Koetting was truly a pioneer in the field of contact lenses, limiting his practice to the relatively new correction device back in 1961. To show what a forward thinker he was, at that time only about 1% of the population was wearing contact lenses and very few doctors were fitting them. Dr. Koetting was an extremely active member of the optometric profession as he served in many organizations, lectured world-wide and was a noted author. He continued to do many of these things long after he retired from active practice in 1986. Dr. Koetting is the only person to have simultaneously chaired the Cornea and Contact Lens Section of the American Academy of Optometry and the Contact Lens Section of the American Optometric Association. In 1995 he received the Chancellor's Medallion from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Four years later Dr. Koetting received the American Optometric Association's highest recognition, the Distinguished Service Award and in 2000, he was honored with the Emminent Service Award fron the American Academy of Optometry. He has scholarships established in his name at the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry as well as St. Louis University.
What's New at The Koetting Associates?
Contact Lens Update: Some years ago our slogan was "when people in St. Louis think of contact lenses they think of The Koetting Associates". Well, that has never really changed. Our practice continues to be at the cutting edge of new contact lens and lens care technology, participating in a number of clinical studies for these new products. If you have tried contact lenses in the past without success there very likely may be an option for you now. Contact lens materials have been greatly improved allowing now for the ability to wear lenses for up to thirty days at a time in many cases. If you are over the age of 40 and require reading glasses or bifocals you may also be an excellent candidate for contact lens wear. In additon. we even have lenses that may be worn to bed at night (Corneal Refractive Therapy), gently reshaping the cornea so that the lenses do not need to be worn during the day. This is especially beneficial for individuals with active lifestyes or who work in dusty environments. Whatever your age or your needs, there is very likely a contact lens solution for you!
Brentwood:
2511 South Brentwood Blvd.
St. Louis, Missouri 63144
(314) 863-0000
Ellisville:
113 Old State Road Suite 101
Ellisville, Missouri 63021
(636) 256-7800