Procedures & Services

State-of-the-Art Technology, in a State-of-the-Art Facility.

When it comes to your eyes, one size certainly does not fit all. Your eyes are just as unique as your own fingerprints – and the exact correction that you need, will be different from the correction needed by anyone else.

At Total Eye Care PA, we have every resource available to diagnose and treat your eyes, so that you can have your best possible vision correction. We can offer you the exact treatment that you need, not just the treatment that is easiest for us to provide. And, if you’re not a good candidate for a given procedure, we will tell you.

Due to our reputation for success and personalized care, our patients frequently refer their family and friends to us, allowing us to continue to expand our circle of patients and improve their quality of life with superb vision correction results.

We offer the latest vision correction procedures to bring life-changing benefits to our patients. From laser cataract surgery to LASIK, all vision correction surgery will be performed in our state-of-the-art surgery center, which is carefully designed to ensure safe, comfortable and effective eye surgery – and our state-of-the-art equipment ensures that your surgery will be performed with maximum safety and effectiveness. Our equipment includes the most advanced lasers in use for vision correction surgery, including:

The IntraLase FS laser, which creates pulses of laser light to create a corneal flap, which is then lifted so that LASIK correction surgery can proceed. The IntraLase Method ensures blade-free LASIK surgeries, which are more comfortable, more precise, and faster healing.

The Catalys Precision Laser System from OptiMedica – the world’s most sophisticated laser cataract surgery system in the world. Our cataract surgeon uses the Catalys Laser to make cataract removal surgery completely bladeless and all computer- controlled, making the procedure customized for your eye.

Personalized Vision Correction

The doctors at Total Eye Care, PA offer LASIK, PRK, Implantable Contact Lenses, Clear Lens Replacement, Standard Cataract Surgery and Cataract Surgery with a Refractive Laser package.

LASIK is a great option for visually challenged individuals with prescriptions less than -8, with or without astigmatism.

PRK is an option for those who are not candidates for LASIK due to thin corneas. Both farsighted and nearsighted candidates can benefit from PRK and it is an excellent option for a patient seeking vision correction.

Clear Lens Replacement is a popular course of treatment for those ages 40+ who may not realize the long-term benefits of LASIK surgery and for those who may want to correct their vision for both distance and reading.At Total Eye Care PA, we want you to have the clear vision to experience life’s moments naturally, without glasses or contacts. If seeing is believing, then see for yourself by scheduling your Free Consultation today. Thank you for choosing Total Eye Care, PA in Memphis, Tennessee.

Specialized Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States. As many as 3 million Americans have glaucoma, and at least one half do not know it. Although there is no cure yet, loss of vision can be slowed or halted with medical and/or surgical treatment. The best way to protect your sight from glaucoma is to get tested. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are the keys to preserving vision.

Glaucoma can damage your vision and one may not notice any loss of vision until the disease is at an advanced stage. The most common type of glaucoma, primary open- angle glaucoma, has no noticeable signs or symptoms except gradual vision loss. In order to minimize or prevent optic nerve damage and limit glaucoma-related vision loss, it is important to have regular eye examinations. During the examination, a number of tests should be performed including the measurement of the intraocular pressure and the evaluation of the optic disc.

Total Eye Care, PA offers many new treatments are now available for glaucoma. Research to better determine the cause(s) of glaucoma is an important priority of our practice. Each year, our physicians are working to develop new treatments through clinical trials with various pharmaceutical companies throughout the United States.

The first line of therapy for glaucoma is either eye drops used on a daily basis or an in office laser treatment. The laser treatment is painless and only takes a few minutes and is performed in our office. There are no activity restrictions afterward and you can go about your daily business immediately after the procedure.

One of the newest breakthrough devices for the treatment of mild to moderate glaucoma is called the iStent. Dr. John Linn is presently one of the few surgeons in East Tennessee approved to use the iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent device.

The iStent is designed to be inserted into the eye during cataract surgery as a treatment for glaucoma. In a healthy eye, clear fluid flows continuously in and out of the eye through the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal. In open-angle glaucoma, this meshwork becomes blocked or drains too slowly, allowing pressure to build up inside the eye and potentially rising to a level that damages the optic nerve.

Diabetic Eye Care

If you have diabetes, you already know that your body can’t use or store sugar properly. When your blood sugar is elevated, it can damage the blood vessels in your eyes. This damage may lead to a condition called diabetic retinopathy. In fact, the longer someone has diabetes, the more likely they are to have retinopathy (damage to the retina) from the disease.

Generally, diabetics don’t develop diabetic retinopathy until they have had the disease for at least 10 years. As soon as you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you need to have a dilated eye exam at least once a year.

It is important to know that you can’t diagnose diabetic retinopathy by looking in the mirror since your eye will usually look and feel normal – and vision is also often normal despite the presence of potentially blinding eye conditions. Only a complete retinal examination through a dilated pupil or through our Optos screening camera can we detect these problems. With early detection, a properly timed laser treatment can effectively stabilize vision although it is less likely to improve it. The key to maintaining good eyesight, therefore, is early diagnosis and treatment before symptoms occur.

Anyone who has diabetes is at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, but not all diabetics will be affected. In the early stages of diabetes, you may not notice any change in your vision. But by the time you notice vision changes from diabetes, your eyes may already be irreparably damaged by the disease.

That’s why routine eye exams are so important. Your eye doctor can detect signs of diabetes in your eyes even before you notice any visual symptoms, and early detection and treatment can prevent vision loss.

Our doctors recommend that diabetic patients receive dilated eye examinations at least once a year throughout their lifetime. Further testing, including photography and fluorescein angiography, may be done to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of any changes thought to cause visual loss.

If diabetic retinopathy is left untreated, this may lead to new blood vessel growth over the retina. The new blood vessels can break and cause scar tissue to develop, which can pull the retina away from the back of the eye. This is known as retinal detachment, and it can lead to blindness if untreated. In addition, abnormal blood vessels can grow on the iris, which can lead to glaucoma. People with diabetes are 25 times more likely to lose vision than those who are not diabetic.

Dry Eye Treatment

The most direct ways to treat Dry Eyes is to use artificial tears. These come in two varieties, those with preservatives and those without. The artificial tears without preservatives are sometimes better tolerated but come in single dose vials.

If artificial tears fail then you may benefit from Punctal Plugging. Punctal Plugging involves placing tiny occluders into the tear drainage ducts of the eyelids. This is a simple, painless, and quick procedure that can be performed right here in our office.

Other conditions that exacerbate Dry Eye can also be treated. Allergies can be treated with a number of very effective drops. Blepharitis can be treated by topical or oral medications.

Order Contact Lenses Online

Welcome to the Total Eye Care, PA contact lens reorder page. If you have a current prescription and would like to order contact lenses, please complete the information below. At your preference, your contact lenses will be mailed to your home or office or can be picked up at our East Memphis office.

When submitting an order with this form, your name, contact information, and credit card information are transmitted and stored in an encrypted format for your protection. Following submission of the information below, we will contact you with any questions. If you would like to pick up your contacts at our office, we will contact you when they arrive and are available for pick-up.

If selecting the ship to home option, your contact lenses should arrive within one week. If they do not arrive within this time frame, please contact our office at (901) 761-4620. There is an $8 shipping charge, however, this fee is waived for one year supply orders.

If you have any questions or experience any problems completing this form, contact the contact lens department at 901.761.4620.

Specialty Contact Lens Fitting

The Contact Lens Service at Total Eye Care, PA personally fits patients with lenses designed for comfort, convenience and cosmetic needs. Specialty lenses are custom made for patients with corneal disorders. Very often, this allows our doctors to successfully fit patients who have had previous difficulty wearing contact lenses. Our doctors are current with the latest state-of-the-art lens modalities available today.

A contact lens is a medical device. Because the lens makes contact with the eye, a precise fit is necessary. A thorough evaluation and fitting is needed to insure a healthy contact lens fit. When fitting specialty contact lenses, several visits may be needed to “fine-tune” the fit for a satisfactory result and optimal vision.

Contact lenses may also be recommended by our physicians as medically necessary in special instances when contact lenses achieve the best visual potential that eyeglasses cannot deliver. This may be due to an irregular corneal surface, such as in keratoconus, corneal trauma, and post-surgical irregularity.

Regarding Health Insurance:

Most health insurance carriers do not cover the cost of contact lens services or lenses unless they are needed to evaluate or treat medical conditions and symptoms that cannot be treated with eyeglasses.

If you would like to learn more about the Contact Lens Service at Total Eye Care, PA please call and ask to speak with one of our contact lens consultants today at 901.761.4620.

Corneal Refractive Therapy

Now you can be free of daytime contact lenses or glasses and enjoy great vision during your daily activities without undergoing surgery! Recent clinical research combined with the latest corneal surface mapping technology, computerized manufacturing and space age oxygen-breathing materials have brought new science to corneal reshaping.

Corneal Refractive Therapy is a non-surgical process clinically developed to reshape the cornea while you sleep. The result is the temporary correction of myopia with or without moderate astigmatism.

Similar in appearance to standard contact lenses, Paragon CRT therapeutic lenses gently reshape the corneal surface during sleep to provide clear, natural vision when the lenses are removed upon waking.

Because Paragon CRT offers freedom from glasses and the hassle of wearing contact lenses during the day, this leading-edge technology can enhance the lifestyle of those requiring vision correction. Active individuals can freely participate in sports without the interference of glasses or bothersome contacts. Eye irritation and dryness, sometimes associated with contact lens wear due to outside dust and pollutants, are also eliminated.

Low Vision Examinations

What is Low vision?

A patient is considered to have low vision when ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses cannot provide sharp vision. Low vision can occur secondary to numerous medical conditions, degenerative changes, congenital or genetic defects, and traumatic eye injuries. With the proper low vision aid or low vision glasses, these individuals may continue to use their remaining vision to perform their daily activities.

What is a Low Vision Examination?

Dr. Don Gayso will ask for a complete personal and family general health and eye health history. In addition, the Dr. Gayso will discuss the functional problems with the patient, including such things as reading, functioning in the kitchen, glare problems, travel vision, the workplace, television viewing, school requirements, and hobbies and interests.

Preliminary tests may include assessment of ocular functions such as color vision and contrast sensitivity. Measurements will be taken of the person’s visual acuity using special low vision test charts, which include a larger range of letters or numbers to more accurately determine a starting point for determining the level of impairment. Visual fields may also be evaluated. A specialized refraction must be performed and each eye will be thoroughly examined.

Dr. Gayso may prescribe various treatment options, including low vision devices, as well as assist the person with identifying other resources for vision and lifestyle rehabilitation.

A wide variety of rehabilitation options are available to help people with low vision live and/or work more effectively, efficiently, and safely. Most people can be helped with one or more low vision treatment options. Unfortunately, only about 20-25 percent of those who could benefit from these treatment options have been seen by a low vision optometrist. The more commonly prescribed devices are:

Spectacle-mounted magnifiers :

A magnifying lens is mounted in spectacles (this type of system is called a microscope) or on a special headband. This allows use of both hands to complete the close-up task, such as reading.

Hand held or spectacle-mounted telescopes :

These miniature telescopes are useful for seeing longer distances, such as across the room to watch television, and can also be modified for near (reading) tasks.

Hand-held and stand magnifiers :

These can serve as supplements to other specialized systems. They are convenient for short term reading such things as price tags, labels, and instrument dials. Both types can be equipped with lights.

Video magnification :

Table-top (closed-circuit television) or head-mounted systems enlarge reading material on a video display. Some systems can be used for distance views tasks. These are portable systems, and those that can be used with a computer or monitor. Image brightness, image size, contrast, and foreground/background color and illumination can be customized.

Systems of Sight :

Patented low vision aid specifically designed for patients with macular degeneration that allows a patient to better utilize their peripheral vision by using prisms ground into high powered bifocal glasses. To learn more about Systems of Sight, visit their website.

In addition, there are numerous other products to assist those with a vision impairment, such as large- type books, magazines, and newspapers, books-on-tape, talking wristwatches, self-threading needles, and more.

BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a simple, nonsurgical, physician-administered treatment that can temporarily smooth moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people from 18 to 65 years of age. It is the only treatment of its type approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

One 10-minute treatment—a few tiny injections—and within days there’s a noticeable improvement in moderate to severe frown lines between the brows, which can last up to 4 months. Results may vary.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium, which reduces the activity of the muscles that cause those frown lines between the brows to form over time.

Blepharoplasty

Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can correct drooping upper lids, puffy bags above and below your eyes, redundant upper eyelid skin, and hanging lower lid skin, all features that can give you the appearance of being older and more tired than you feel, and may even interfere with your vision.

By removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids, blepharoplasty can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes. It is typically a cosmetic procedure but can also improve vision by lifting droopy eyelids out of the patient’s field of vision. Blepharoplasty cannot be used to raise the eyebrows or reduce the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet or dark circles under the eyes, but the procedure can be combined with others such as a facelift and BOTOX® treatments to achieve these results.

The procedure is usually performed in our out-patient surgery center with local anesthesia and lasts 45 minutes to a few hours depending on how much work is done. Incisions are made along the eyelids in inconspicuous places (in the creases of the upper lids, and just below the lashes on the lower lids). Stitches are removed after three or four days and most people return to work in just a few days.

No Stitch–No Shot Cataract Surgery

Once cataracts develop to the point that they are causing difficulty with driving, reading, watching TV, sewing or doing anything else it is a good time to consider cataract extraction surgery. This is a quick painless procedure that takes on average 7 minutes to complete. Usually general anesthesia and injections are not needed and the procedure is made painless by using numbing eye drops. No stitches are needed for almost all of our cases. You can go home that very day. By the next day most of our patients are able to drive themselves and carry on their normal activities.

The AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL (intraocular lens) gives cataract sufferers a clinically proven way to eliminate their glasses and get back the vision they once experienced. This implanted lens is designed to improve image quality for increased range and a high level of visual freedom in all lighting conditions – near or far.

In studies performed of patients having bilateral implantation using ReSTOR®, 95% were no longer using glasses for near, intermediate or distance vision at one year following surgery. Many of these patients, on average, had obtained vision quality of 20/25 or better!