Dr William Boothe, Director of Boothe Laser Center

Macular degeneration is a condition in which the macula of the eye breaks down, resulting in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field. The function of the macula is to protect the eyes by absorbing excessive ultraviolet rays, thus acting like a natural sun block for the eyes. Today, macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness in North America. The majority of people affected by macular degeneration are 65 or older. The macula of our eyes also contributes to our ability to drive, read, see colors, and recognize human faces. The retinal pigment epithelium is a tissue situated under the retina that may degenerate as we age. This degeneration may result in “wet” macular degeneration or “dry” macular degeneration.

Atrophic or dry macular degeneration is a common type of age-related macular degeneration. About 85-90% of macular degeneration cases consist of dry macular degeneration. When an individual suffers from dry macular degeneration, small yellow-colored deposits, known as drusen, can be seen between the layers of retina. These deposits lead to gradual and progressive reduction of central vision. Most people above the age of 50 have some level of drusen in their eyes. Drusen will not create any problem immediately, but it can be dangerous if the deposits become larger. If your eyes have drusen, then Dr. William Boothe will recommend that you schedule regular eye examinations so he can monitor the progression of your dry macular degeneration.

When dry macular degeneration progresses to a certain extent, it becomes known as “wet” macular degeneration. The abnormal growth of a newly formed blood vessel under the retina is known as wet macular degeneration. Wet macular degeneration is a more serious condition than dry macular degeneration. Fortunately, only 10-15% of macular degeneration patients suffer from wet macular degeneration. The newly formed blood vessels are known as neovascularization. The fragile structure of these abnormal blood vessels makes them break easily, thereby causing bleeding. The bleeding causes the macula to swell and can lead to scarring. Scarring of the macula causes severe and rapid central vision loss, which cannot be corrected through treatment.

LASIK treatment cannot cure macular degeneration, but it can slow down the process so that the condition does not progress in severity to wet macular degeneration. According to Dr. Boothe, LASIK procedure will help you preserve your remaining vision. With the help of LASIK, Dr. Boothe can stop the spread of abnormal blood vessel formation that can lead to wet macular degeneration. In order to be most effective, LASIK procedure should be performed at the early stages of macular degeneration. Dr. William Boothe will use LASIK to destroy newly formed blood vessels to prevent bleeding in the eyes. LASIK treatment can also be used in combination with other therapies, such as vitamin regimens, to improve the condition. Dr. Boothe will ask you to undergo a series of eye examinations so he can understand the extent of eye damage caused by macular degeneration and determine whether LASIK treatment will be effective and safe for you.

Crystalens surgery is a seamless, natural, and relatively hassle-free procedure. This new technology is offered by Dr. Boothe and lets you see the way you saw when you were younger. If you want to see near, far, and all distances in between without the help of eyeglasses and contacts lenses, you should consider the Crystalens procedure.

Crystalens is a cataract procedure that replaces your natural crystalline lens with an artificial one, which functions like your natural lens by using your eye muscles. As a result, you can enjoy nearly the same quality of vision that you had when you were younger. Crystalens is a state-of-the-art artificial lens that has a revolutionary element called “hinges.” This special design allows the lens to focus on anything in your field of vision – whether it is near or far. Before Crystalens, excellent eyesight could not be obtained with lens replacement surgery because the old-style focal lens could not move. Now, the movement of Crystalens within the eye is able to provide you with clearer vision. At Boothe Eye Care & Laser Center, Dr. Boothe takes precise measurements to determine the suitable lens power for you.

Crystalens is a safe medical procedure and is FDA approved for the resolution of cataracts. At Boothe Eye Care Center, the Crystalens procedure is performed in an outpatient setting and typically takes less then fifteen minutes to perform. After your eye is numbed with anesthetic eye drops, the cloudy lens will be removed from your eye and Crystalens will be positioned in place of your natural lens. At the end of the procedure, additional eye drops will be administered to decrease inflammation and prevent infection. The procedure does not typically require stitches, and the healing process is usually quick.

We offer Crystalens to our patients because this procedure has significant advantages, in particular the ability to provide a full range of vision to the patient. Not only can Crystalens focus on objects at varying distances, but it also provides sharper eyesight. Patients typically do not need to continue to wear their eyeglasses or contact lenses after Crystalens implantation. Boothe Eye Care & Laser Center will be glad to answer any questions you have about Crystalens. You can also visit our website to find more information: www.boothelasercenter.com.

Crystalens surgery is a seamless, natural, and relatively hassle-free procedure. This new technology is offered by Dr. Boothe and lets you see the way you saw when you were younger. If you want to see near, far, and all distances in between without the help of eyeglasses and contacts lenses, you should consider the Crystalens procedure.

Crystalens is a cataract procedure that replaces your natural crystalline lens with an artificial one, which functions like your natural lens by using your eye muscles. As a result, you can enjoy nearly the same quality of vision that you had when you were younger. Crystalens is a state-of-the-art artificial lens that has a revolutionary element called “hinges.” This special design allows the lens to focus on anything in your field of vision – whether it is near or far. Before Crystalens, excellent eyesight could not be obtained with lens replacement surgery because the old-style focal lens could not move. Now, the movement of Crystalens within the eye is able to provide you with clearer vision. At Boothe Eye Care & Laser Center, Dr. Boothe takes precise measurements to determine the suitable lens power for you.

Crystalens is a safe medical procedure and is FDA approved for the resolution of cataracts. At Boothe Eye Care Center, the Crystalens procedure is performed in an outpatient setting and typically takes less then fifteen minutes to perform. After your eye is numbed with anesthetic eye drops, the cloudy lens will be removed from your eye and Crystalens will be positioned in place of your natural lens. At the end of the procedure, additional eye drops will be administered to decrease inflammation and prevent infection. The procedure does not typically require stitches, and the healing process is usually quick.

We offer Crystalens to our patients because this procedure has significant advantages, in particular the ability to provide a full range of vision to the patient. Not only can Crystalens focus on objects at varying distances, but it also provides sharper eyesight. Patients typically do not need to continue to wear their eyeglasses or contact lenses after Crystalens implantation. Boothe Eye Care & Laser Center will be glad to answer any questions you have about Crystalens. You can also visit our website to find more information: www.boothelasercenter.com.

I’ll always be grateful to Dr. Boothe.

Dr. William Boothe helped me to restore my eye sight and now I can see better than in many years. I felt warmth and great deal of personalized care by all members of his staff. I was very satisfied to see how Dr. Boothe, after my laser eye surgery was over and I was in the recovery room, personally came to check on me and ask how I feel. I could easily notice that Dr. Boothe has a lot of patients but in spite of that he personally visited me after surgery. He also said that he is the only doctor that operates the LASIK machines in his center, unlike some of his competitors that allow less experienced surgeons to do the surgery. When I felt some discomfort after the procedure, Dr. William Boothe very carefully examined my eyes and give me special drops to take away the itchiness.

I like the result of my laser eye surgery and the service level of the staff. Seven months already passed from the day of my laser eye surgery and my vision is very clear. Followups were quick and so far it seems that everything worked out well. My last followup was a few weeks ago and the doctor said that my new eyesight should remain stable for many years to come!

My husband and my friends had always encouraged me to improve my vision by laser eye surgery. It was a good idea and I was not against it. But I am a very busy person. I work from 8 am till 6 pm and in the evening I have a lot of work to do at home. I try to spend as much time as I can with my daughter and my parents. I had time for everyone but did not have time for myself. I was 14 years old when I wore my first glasses and my vision slowly got worse.

Last summer I met a former classmate by chance. It was very nice because during school years we always shared a desk. We went to a cafe and recalled the school years. She had poor vision like me but when I met her, she was without the glasses. I asked her how she got rid of her glasses. She told me about Dr. William Boothe and about the successful treatment at his center. She said that she was almost blind before but due to Lasik surgery she improved her eyesight and now sees perfectly without glasses. It was interesting to hear about it and I trusted her because she was a true example in front of my own eyes. She gave me the phone number of the center and suggested to call for a free consultation with Dr. William Boothe.

I called to Boothe Eye Care & Laser Center and a very pleasant girl offered me a few days and times when Dr. Boothe could have a consult with me. I was surprised when I found out that Dr. Boothe sees patients on the weekend it was a good fit for my schedule.

In the early morning, on Saturday, I arrived at Boothe Eyecare. I spoke with the receptionist and the assistant took me to do a few exams. Later I waited a short time (during this time I read some articles in ophthalmology magazines). Dr. Boothe seems to be a very calm, respectful and hard-working person. His assistant and other members of staff had very good manners. They were polite and made everything pretty easy. The center was clean and tidy. I never saw much of a crowd at the center, but I always went there .

Dr. William Boothe talked in details about the IntraLastik laser procedure and I agreed to have an appointment the next Saturday for my surgery. Before my operation I was a little scared. At the surgery I did not feel the pain I was afraid of, just high pressure on the eyes.

The next day I stayed at home. I could not believe that I see the little print with the names of spices without glasses. It was a wonderful day. On Monday I went to center to check my eyes after surgery. Dr. Boothe said that I had more than 20/20 vision. He wrote some prescriptions and explained how I have to take care of my eyes. When I came to work my colleague asked me whether I forgot my eyeglasses. “Yes, I did,” I answered, “I forgot about my glasses forever!”