Contact Us
Southwest Michigan Eye Center
3600 Capital Avenue S.W., Suite 203
Battle Creek, Michigan 49015
Ph / 800-274-6699
Fx / 269-979-6381
What's New
Bike donations sought for Zimba, Zambia
Please consider donating a bike to enhance the community of Zimba, Zambia. Bikes can be brought to the Southwest Michigan Eye Center office at 3600 Capital Ave. SW in Battle Creek by February 17. A container shipment, sponsored by Tom Garber, will be going to Zambia including a generator, electrical conduit, ophthalmic lane equipment, children’s clothes, and now bicycles and bicycle parts. Bike donations can be tax deductible through IVV (International Vision Volunteers).
Dr. P. Jeffrey Colquhoun was introduced to Zambia in 2004 by non-profit “Friends of Zambia” and has made a commitment to eye care at the Zimba Eye Clinic ever since. Several Southwest Michigan Eye Center employees, including William Waterbury, OD, have accompanied Dr. Colquhoun in recent years. In a typical week at the Zimba Clinic about 200 surgeries are performed, 1,000 patients are screened for eye problems, hundreds of medications are prescribed, and several hundred pairs of glasses are dispensed.
Zambia is a country about the size of Texas situated in south central Africa with a population of 12 million. The country is challenged by poverty and disease, with an HIV/AIDS rate of 17%. The average life expectancy in Zambia is 38 years of age. There are only about a dozen ophthalmologists in the country, with few performing surgery. Cataracts, glaucoma, trachoma and injuries account for treatable blindness in many Zambians.
Help the community of Zimba with your bike donation today, as a bicycle for a family in Zambia is like having a car.
Dry Eye- A leading complaint this time of year!
According to many reports, dry eye symptoms of burning, stinging, tearing of the eyes and blurred vision is the most common complaint in the eye physician’s office. Although less than 5% under age 30 will have dry eyes, the incidence rises with age. Approximately 20% those over age 60 and 50% over age 80 suffer from these complaints. During the winter and spring months, the humidity is lower, and dry heat in our homes and automobiles, accentuate the problem of dry eye. A careful examination for associated causes is important. Blepharitis is a common contributing factor requiring a focus on lid hygiene, and possibly antibiotic ointments or oral tetracycline. Certain autoimmune conditions such as acne rosacea, Sjogrens, or rheumatoid arthritis, will promote dry eyes as well. Communication with a patient’s primary care physician or rheumatologist is important.
Treatment of dry eye primarily includes topical teardrops such as Genteal, Refresh or Systane. Preservative free drops are preferred if more than 4X/ day. Longer acting drops such as Soothe and Optive contain a suspension for duration of effect. If a patient is using more than 4 drops/day and symptomatic, they may be candidates for Restasis™ (cyclosporin A) bid. This is the only drop proven to increase tear production. Nearly 80% patients on Restasis™ have a moderate or marked improvement in dry eye symptoms. Patients do particularly well if started first on a steroid drop such as Lotemax or Alrex 4X/day for two weeks before starting on Restasis™ as the inflammatory conjunctivitis is treated, making the Restasis™ better tolerated. Answer these Restasis Actionnaire questions to see if you have Chronic Dry Eye and present them to your Ophthalmologist to review during your appointment.
View the Tearing Video on the importance of tearing for good vision.
See Now- Pay Later!
It's easy to get the vision care you want and need with CareCredit's convenient monthly payment plans.
When to have your vision procedure should be the question, not how to pay for it. We'd like to make that decision even easier for our patients. That's why we're pleased to offer the CareCredit® card, North America's leading patient payment program. CareCredit lets you begin your procedure immediately — then pay for it over time with low monthly payments that fit easily into your monthly budget. Now you don't have to save up for years to finally get the vision you've always wanted. We'll help you see clearer, sooner.
Your healthcare credit card
CareCredit is the credit card exclusively for health-care services. CareCredit offers low monthly payment plans for health-care procedures not commonly covered by insurance, including LASIK. Don't put off improving your vision. Get your procedure now.
For vision procedures, CareCredit offers:
- Low minimum monthly payments
- No up-front costs or pre-payment penalties
Learn more by visiting CareCredit.com or contacting our office. Ready to apply? 