SERVICES

With the opening of our new center in March, 2002, Vantage Eye Center is now the Central Coast's most comprehensive eye care facility. Because of our world-class doctors, staff, and equipment, we are able to provide expert eye care in all areas, including LASIK, cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye care, pediatric eye care, oculoplastic surgery, corneal transplantation, and optical services. Vantage Eye Center's association with the Stanford University School of Medicine gives our patients onsite access to many new procedures and research projects in various areas of study, including macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. According to Tony Pruthi, MD, "The opening of our new center fulfills our mission to provide our patients with comprehensive, university-level eye care with the very latest in medical, laser and surgical technology without having to travel to the Bay Area".

LASIK

Vantage Eye Center provides the very best in laser vision correction services under the leadership of Matthew Jones, MD. As the only fellowship-trained corneal specialist in Monterey County, Dr. Jones is able to provide expertise in a wide array of vision correction techniques, including the LASIK procedure. Vantage Eye Center has an on-site VISX S4 laser, the most widely used laser for laser vision correction procedures. Dr. Jones meets with every patient before their procedure and personally performs all critical measurements used to program the laser for the procedure to insure accurate and consistent results. During the procedure, the patient's family can choose to relax in a comfortable LASIK waiting area, or can observe Dr. Jones perform the procedure live through the specially designed viewing window or on closed circuit television. Patients are able to return to their home after the procedure, which typically takes just a few minutes. Most patients are able to drive a car and return to work the following day. For more information about our LASIK program click here.

Cataract

Cataracts form when the natural lens in the eye becomes cloudy, usually as a result of the normal aging process. When cataracts progress to the point that they significantly impair vision, cataract extraction is necessary to restore vision. An artificial lens implant is placed in the eye during the procedure to focus vision and minimize the need for thick glasses.

A critical component of the evaluation for cataract surgery is the determination of the strength of the lens implant. Vantage Eye Center has recently acquired the very latest in technology to maximize the accuracy of this determination, the IOL Master. The IOL Master performs an individual analysis of the patient's eye, performing dozens of measurements in a matter of seconds. These measurements are then used to determine the appropriate strength of the lens implant for that particular eye. Though other, less modern techniques can be used to make this calculation, no other technology matches the precision of this instrument, which is accurate to the hundredth of a millimeter.

Dr. Paul, Dr. Pruthi, Dr. Jones and Dr. Kim perform small incision, no-stitch, no-needle cataract surgery at Vantage Surgery Center. At our state-of-the art center, patients enjoy the convenience of outpatient surgery and a rapid recovery. Modern equipment and the expertise of our surgeons provide the safety and quality of a university hospital without the inconvenience or cost. In the hands of Vantage's highly trained surgeons, modern cataract surgery is comfortable, quick (it typically takes less than 10 minutes), and highly successful.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a common eye disease in which high eye pressure leads to damage of the optic nerve. If untreated or improperly treated, glaucoma can lead to severe loss of vision or blindness. The diagnosis is made through a combination of the doctor's examination, measurement of the pressure in the eye, and testing of the side vision through a test called the a visual field test.

Vantage Eye Center is unique in its ability to offer complete glaucoma care in one location. In addition to a basic eye exam to screen for glaucoma, the following services are available:

Visual field testing

Vantage Eye Center utilizes the Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer, the most widely used visual field tester in the industry. This test can detect early deficits in the side vision from glaucoma, and is used to follow patients with known glaucoma.

Optical Coherence Tomography

The Optical Coherence Tomographer is the latest high-tech addition to Vantage Eye Center's array of tests and services. Using a property called "birefringence", this instrument rapidly and comfortably analyzes the shape and contour of the optic nerve and the retinal nerve fiber layer, two areas of the eye that are damaged if glaucoma is present. In addition, the tomographer can compare examinations over time and detect early changes from glaucoma that otherwise may be impossible to detect. This instrument gives our doctors a highly sensitive method of diagnosing and monitoring glaucoma.

Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty

If glaucoma cannot be controlled by eyedrops alone, a laser procedure called Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty can be effective. This painless procedure takes about five minutes and is performed onsite with the latest argon laser available, the Lumenis Novus Verdi. After the procedure, the patient may return home and resume normal activities immediately.

Advanced Glaucoma Surgery

Occasionally, glaucoma cannot be controlled by eyedrops or laser treatment. In these instances, an operation may be required to lower the eye pressure. Tony Pruthi, MD and Stuart Paul, MD perform an advanced version of this delicate procedure using a medicine called 5-fluorouracil. These advanced techniques increase the chance of success, even in more advanced and complicated forms of glaucoma. Richard Kim, MD, the only glaucoma fellowship trained ophthalmologist in Monterey County, has performed hundreds of both the trabeculectomy and tube shunt surgeries for patients with advanced glaugoma. Furthermore, if a cataract is present, the cataract can be removed at the same time, thus avoiding a second surgery for these patients.

Macular Degeneration/Diabetic Eye Care

The retina is a part of the eye that can be affected by a variety of diseases including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal detachment. At Vantage Eye Center, we are able to offer care for disorders of the retina that is unparalleled on the central coast. Retinal care at Vantage Eye Center is provided by Harvard trained Ming Lu, MD, PhD as well as by Mark Blumenkranz, MD, Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Stanford University, and Steven Sanislo, MD, Stanford University professor. All of Vantage's Retinal specialists, through our affiliation with Stanford University, are able to offer newer and when appropriate, investigational treatments to optimize their patient's care.

A particular area of expertise shared by Vantage's retinal specialists is that of macular degeneration care. Macular degeneration is a disease affecting the elderly, and is a leading cause of severe vision loss in that group. However, through early detection and treatment, vision can often be stabilized and preserved. We offer several technologies and services for detecting and treating macular degeneration including fluorescein angiography, argon laser photocoagulation, and Avastin and Lucentis therapies. Avastin or Lucentis therapy, also known as anti-VEGF therapy, is the most modern treatment for the "wet", or most severe type of macular degeneration.

Pediatrics

Dr. Pruthi heads Vantage Eye Center's pediatric ophthalmology program. Examinations specifically geared towards infants and children allow for a comfortable experience for the child and the parents as well. This is important to accurately diagnose and treat pediatric eye conditions such as strabismus (crossing of the eyes) and amblyopia ("lazy eye") at an early age to prevent permanent visual deficits. A wide selection of children's eyeglass frames are available in our optical shop for those children who need glasses. In 1994 Dr. Puthi became the first doctor in Monterey County to use Botox for the treatment of strabismus. Dr. Pruthi also specializes in strabismus surgery to straighten crossed eyes. This outpatient procedure takes about an hour to perform, and is available at Vantage's on-site surgery center.

Plastic Surgery

Dr. DeBacker performs state-of-the-art oculoplastics procedures called blepharoplasty and ptosis repair. These procedures are used to correct sagging or drooping eyelids. In addition, moles, cysts, styes, and skin tags on and around the eyelids can usually be removed as a simple outpatient procedure. Dr. DeBacker also specializes in Botox injections for a variety of eye conditions including twitching of the eyelids (blepharospasm) and crossed eyes (strabismus).

Corneal Transplantation

The cornea is a clear layer of tissue on the front surface of the eye, like a watch crystal on a watch. Various diseases of the eye can cause a clouding or a change in the shape of the cornea, either of which can cause severe vision loss. In these instances, a corneal transplant may be necessary to restore vision. This delicate, highly specialized operation is performed only by corneal specialists, surgeons who have completed a fellowship in corneal transplantation. In the past, patients in Monterey County had to travel to Stanford or UC San Francisco to have this procedure because no corneal specialist practiced locally. However, in 1998, shortly after his arrival in Salinas, Dr. Jones performed the first corneal transplant in the history of Monterey County.

Upon joining Vantage Eye Center in 2007, Dr. Page then became the second corneal surgeon in Monterey County to perform corneal transplants.  Additionally, Dr. Page became the first local ophthalmologist to perform a novel and less invasive form of corneal transplantation called Endothelial Keratoplasty.  Working together, Drs. Jones and Page are able to create detailed and individualized treatment plans for each patient as well as provide the most skilled surgical and post-operative care available.

Optical Services

When you walk through our doors, take a stroll through the beautifully designed Optical Shop adjacent to the waiting room. A large selection of eyeglass frames are displayed in this spacious area, which allows one to browse comfortably and compare many different frames in a short period of time. A wide selection of designer styles are available, as well as more conventional frame designs. An entire section is devoted to sunglasses, which includes selections from Maui Jim, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Christian Dior, Nike, and Ralph Lauren. Several fitting stations are spread throughout the area, which are not only used to fit glasses, but also are available for contact lens training for first-time wearers.