Dr. Thomas Tooma, California LASIK

Dr. Thomas Tooma currently limits his practice to refractive surgery. He has performed over 60,000 surgical procedures. As a principal investigator in excimer laser technology, he has taught hundreds of eye doctors refractive surgical procedures and has certified many ophthalmic surgeons in excimer laser surgery. He has been a participant and an invited speaker and surgeon at many national and international meetings.

TLC Laser Eye Centers 3501 Jamboree Road, Suite 1100 Newport Beach, CA 92660 1-888-CALL-TLC

Dear TLC and Dr. Thomas Tooma,

Choosing LASIK was a tough decision for me, mostly because I didn't think I was a good candidate.

I have always had unusual vision. One eye had a slight astigmatism and was a little farsighted while the other was extremely nearsighted. I had been able to get by with just one contact lens, which left me with reasonably good vision, but poor depth perception. It also often left me with one red, watery eye.

Once I made the decision to get LASIK and met with your staff, I felt completely comfortable. They explained everything clearly, set my expectations on the sort of correction that would be possible and scheduled me for Custom LASIK with IntraLase. The procedure was simple, the recovery immediate and within one week my vision in both eyes was better than 20/20. I’m thrilled. I'm telling everyone about my procedure and how easy it all was.

Thank you! Leesa Eichberger

VISIONARY

A Message from Thomas S. Tooma, M.D.

Fourteen years ago I remember taking a half a day off from my busy practice to go watch one of the first excimer laser procedures performed in the United States. At the time, I was performing radial keratotomy along with cataract surgery and corneal transplants. The procedure I observed took no more than five minutes. I was absolutely amazed with the technology. It literally took me seconds to digest what I had seen and the potential impact excimer laser technology would have on vision correction in the world.

I decided right there and then that I would limit my practice to laser vision correction. My practice at that time was very exciting, however, the precision of the technology and the impact that it would have on the safety of refractive surgery was absolutely amazing. Within a few months I became a principal investigator in excimer laser technology, and the rest is history. Over 75,000 LASIK procedures later, I am still so excited about coming in the day after surgery and seeing my patient’s big smiles and getting their hugs because they are so excited about their independence from corrective lenses.

Whenever I go out to the movies or go out to dinner with my family and friends, I almost always run into my patients who had refractive surgery who tell me that having laser vision correction was the best thing they have ever done and the best investment they have ever made. I thank God for the gift of sight and being blessed with the ability to make such an impact on my patients’ lives.

IntraLase® Femtosecond Laser: The Crucial Element in Achieving Visual Freedom from Glasses and Contact Lenses with Dan B.Tran,M.D.

Laser-in-situ-keratomileusis (LASIK) has become the most commonly performed refractive surgery procedure today. The field of refractive surgery - to reduce your dependency on glasses or contact lenses - has benefited from several advancements in the past five years. The availability of different intraocular lenses (IOL’s) such as multifocal IOL’s (ReStor,® ReZoomTM), accommodative IOL’s (CrystaLens®) have taken cataract surgery to the next level in allowing visual freedom from both distance and reading glasses following surgery. The combination of highly precise LASIK procedures and intraocular lens procedures allow surgeons to fine-tune the final refractive outcomes for patients; hence, increase the likelihood for patients to see clearly without any visual aids.

The IntraLase Method™ is a 100% blade-free technique used to perform the critical first step in the LASIK procedure creating the corneal flap. The creation of the corneal flap prepares the eye for the second step of the LASIK procedure, where an excimer laser is used on the inner cornea to correct vision. The degree of accuracy achieved by the IntraLase laser is unprecedented in flap creation technology. Peer-reviewed studies and nearly 1,000,000 clinical cases demonstrate the significant reduction of the surgical complications and prove that the IntraLase Method leads to faster, more precise, safer, and better LASIK outcomes. In patients requiring intraocular lens, a flap can also be created before the lens procedure to allow secondary LASIK surgery to refine the vision.

In the LASIK procedures, a corneal flap is created first. Using the IntraLase Method a series of rapid pulses of laser light are precisely placed in the cornea under the control of the computer. Each pulse of light is passed through the transparent top corneal layer and placed at a predetermined depth set by the surgeon, controlled by the computer guidance system. Thousands of laser pulses form microscopic bubbles that expanded to create the corneal flap. The process usually takes less than 30 seconds with minimal discomfort. Patients usually report feeling only a slight pressure during the procedure. In conventional LASIK procedures, a handheld device called a microkeratome with metal blade is used during the first step of LASIK. Data has shown that LASIK with IntraLase had faster visual recovery, better visual outcomes with fewer surgical related complications than conventional LASIK with a microkeratome. I have performed LASIK with IntraLase since its inception about six years ago. Being one of the first five surgeons in the world to use this technology, I have a high level of confidence in the superior clinical outcomes that the technology provides. LASIK is one of the several applications of this femtosecond laser. Other applications include the creation of corneal channels for the placement of the IntacsTM in patients suffering from a corneal medical condition called keratoconus. This technique was first performed in the United States by myself with several clinical successes in restoring vision to keratoconus patients. We are now working on the use of this laser for different forms of corneal transplants. We are proud to be able to offer the best available technology provided by our highly trained and experienced surgeons.

ReStor and ReZoom with Dr. Pirnazar.

Until recently, life without reading glasses or bifocals was not an option for most cataract and far-sighted patients. You now have an option. There are three intraocular lenses, CrystaLens, ReStor and ReZoom — which are unique technological innovations that< can provide you with quality vision throughout the< entire visual spectrum – up close and far away and everything in between – with the best chance to be independent from glasses.

Patients no longer have to settle for traditional monofocal lenses that only provide good distance vision with limited ability to see objects that are near without glasses. These new lens implants are designed to provide you with a full range of vision either after cataract surgery treatment or if you have a refractive error, such as farsightedness. Having been one of the first in Orange County to implant all three lenses, I have had the opportunity to see which lenses are best for each individual patient. I am then able to customize the treatment for you specifically. In my experience, after bilateral implantation, 90% of my patients are free from glasses after surgery.

Eye on Cosmetics……

LASIK and Cosmetics? Strange bedfellows? Not according to the demands of the patient and the strikingly similar patient demographic. More and more patients are asking for assistance with improving their appearance once they remove their glasses. TLC Cosmetic is here to address that request by offering state of the art procedures by board certified dermatologists.

Cosmetic procedures have become more popular over the years growing from approximately $100 million in sales in 2004 to projected sales of over $700 million by 2009. The most popular procedures are Botox® and Fillers followed by Hair Removal, Intense Pulsed Light and Skin Tightening. Over one million patients have had Botox procedures with 38% of that number also using some type of filler to plump up facial lines and wrinkles.

Why the interest? On average Americans are living longer and have become more knowledgeable about their own well-being. Cosmetic procedures now are mainstream thinking when considering living a well balanced, healthy lifestyle. Good nutrition and exercise keep the body running while minimally invasive cosmetic procedures keep the outside looking as good as we feel on the inside.

TLC Cosmetic offers Botox,Fillers, Intense Pulsed Light, Skin Tightening and Laser Hair Removal procedures performed by a board certified dermatologist, Microdermabrasion performed by a medical aesthetician and Blepharoplasty surgery performed by a board certified oculoplastic physician. Call us today to schedule a consult and let us help you Reveal Your Beauty……the TLC way. Call (877) 775-SKIN. www.tlccosmetic.com

The Eye Center of Orange County welcomes a new surgeon and enhanced services

The Eye Center of Orange County located in Laguna Hills, has recently recruited a new world class surgeon through the TLC Eye Institute network. The Eye Center of Orange County offers state of the art surgical procedures such as refractive cataract surgery for patients with presbyopia and laser vision correction procedures.

Jonathan R. Pirnazar, M.D. is the Medical Director at the Eye Center of Orange County.

Dr. Pirnazar has performed thousands of refractive and cataract procedures and has been published in several respected journals including the American Journal of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmology Times. Dr Pirnazar is one of the first surgeons in Orange County to implant all three presbyopic Intraocular Lens (IOL) such as the ReZoom, ReStor, and Crystalens.

The Eye Center of Orange County will continue to provide a multitude of specialty eye care services including: glaucoma diagnosis and treatment, cornealsurgery, including corneal transplantations, cataract surgery using multifocal Intraocular lenses, plastic eye surgery, as well as complete testing capabilities. If you would like to learn more about The Eye Center of Orange County, or would like to make an appointment with Dr. Pirnazar, please call (949) 951-1457.

Thomas S. Tooma is the most experienced LASIK surgeon in the Western United States

Giving people improved sight has always been my vision.

An amazing thing happens when I perform state-of-the-art LASIK surgery to improve
eyesight—I also dramatically improve smiles and give people a whole new outlook on
life. And after 80,000 procedures, it never ceases to amaze me.

— Thomas S. Tooma,M.D.
Medical Director,
TLC California

At TLC,we stand behind your vision results for life. Call and ask us about the nationwide
TLC Lifetime Commitment.®

1-888-CALL-TLC

TLC Newport Beach
3501 Jamboree Rd. Ste. 1100
Newport Beach, CA 92660
www.tlcvision.com