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Dr. Patterson travels to San Diego for 2011 ASCRS Symposium

Dr. Patterson with Crystalens spokesperson Florence Henderson

 On March 25^th-29^th, Dr. Patterson attended the ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery) Symposium in San Diego, California.  The ASCRS is an international educational and scientific organization whose 9,000 members are ophthalmologists who specialize in cataract and refractive surgery.  Because of this organization’s educational programs and services, the ASCRS has become the primary source of up to date information about scientific development in the world of cataract and laser surgery.  Dr. Patterson spoke at this event and discussed the “Five Pearls to Improve Standard Cataract Outcome and Workflow”. During the Symposium, Dr. Patterson was able to meet and spend some time with Florence Henderson who is a Crystalens patient and their spokesperson.

The mission of the ASCRS is to make advances in the science of ophthalmic surgery and educate surgeons all around the world. The ASCRS foundation also works and trains doctors in those countries that have a shortage of ophthalmic surgeons.

Eye Centers of Tennessee Now Offering Hearing Screenings

Vision and hearing are your two most important senses.  Together, they create the three dimensional perception of the world around you.  In 2011, ECOTN is teaming up with certified hearing specialist Rick Falconbury to extend our services beyond vision.  With a full time hearing specialist located in our office, we will be able to provide full service hearing care.  These services include complimentary hearing screenings, as well as ordering, fitting and cleaning hearing devices.  Rick has been a nationally certified hearing instrument specialist for almost 20 years.  When asked about his goal here at ECOTN, he stated “Eighty percent of people with significant hearing loss are undiagnosed and untreated.  We want to make sure patients have the opportunity to get tested and treated for any hearing problems they may have by making this service readily available.”   When Dr. Patterson was asked about his goals for the new services, he said, “Eye Centers of Tennessee is dedicated to providing people with a better quality of life, it just makes sense to provide hearing services.”

Hearing loss can change your personality and effects your relationships with others.  Untreated hearing loss is linked to clinical depression, social withdrawal and isolation, and fears about activities and situations that used to seem normal.  Signs of hearing loss include:

• Difficulty hearing conversation in crowded places
• Ringing or other noises in your ear
• Others telling you that you don’t seem to hear them
• Others complaining that you watch the television with the volume to high
• Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
• People seem to be mumbling in everyday conversations
• Difficulty understanding women or young children’s voices
• Trouble knowing where sounds are coming from

If you or anyone you know are having any of these problems please contact us today for a complimentary hearing screening.

Dr. Patterson is Guest Speaker in Moscow

 In late October, Dr. Larry Patterson traveled to Moscow, Russia to serve as a guest speaker for the Russian Society of Ophthalmologists at the " Eleventh Annual Technologies in Cataract and Refractive Surgeries Convention". 

Dr. Patterson spoke about efficency and effectiveness in cataract and refractive surgery, and explained some of the techniques commonly used by American Ophthalmic surgeons.  Dr. Patterson was pleased to be invited to such an event stating, "Most people are unaware of the advances we have made in eye care that began in Russia, such as Radial Keratotomy, so I was honored to go over there and teach them some of our techniques in cataract surgery." 

When asked about his personal experience in Moscow, he said "Despite the tensions between the U.S. and Russia from a political standpoint, people are the same anywhere you go, but I was surprised however, by how many people knew about our own practice here in  Crossville, Tennessee."

Dr. Larry Patterson Named in "Premier Surgeon's" Top 250 Surgeons List

Crosssville Chronicle -  Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Dr. Larry Patterson, medical director and surgeon at Eye Centers of Tennessee, was recently named to Premier Surgeon’s PS250 list.  Premier Surgeon is a trade publication focusing on premium lens implants and lens implant surgery.  Premier Surgeon’s PS250 list recognizes 250 ophthalmic surgeons that are leaders and innovators in the field of premium intraocular lens implants (IOL’s) and refractive surgery. 

In a process similar to traditional cataract surgery, premium IOL lens implant surgery replaces the natural crystalline lens in the eye.  However, unlike traditional surgery implants, these newer lenses allow the patients to see at variable distances improving both distance and near vision without glasses.  These newer implants are often an ideal choice for the active Baby Boomer who is now having difficulty seeing up close (relying on bifocals or reading glasses) and/or is in the beginning stages of developing cataracts.  New research into improvement of lens implant surgery is continuing to make it easier, safer, more comfortable and more precise for the surgeon and patient. 

Only four ophthalmologists in Tennessee were included on the list: one in Memphis, two in Nashville, and Dr. Patterson.

          “Today, people have a longer more active lifestyle and they are concerned with how they will see after cataract surgery,” said Ray Mays, administrator of Eye Centers of Tennessee.

          “Today’s top cataract surgeons have combined the lessons learned from refractive procedures such as LASIK with the newest intraocular lens implant technology and microsurgical advances to provide patients with a life less dependent upon glasses.”