For 20 years, Jones Eye Clinic in Sioux City has provided excellence in patient-centered care at its surgery center and has evolved to meet patients' increasing needs for specialized eye care and advanced surgical techniques.
Dr. Charles Jones began practicing in Sioux City in 1971 as a general ophthalmologist. He designed and built the current building in 1987 for the purpose of providing efficient and quality eye care. Since then, doctors at the clinic have performed cataract surgery on thousands of patients throughout the region.
Staff members who have worked at Jones Eye Clinic for a long time remember how cataract surgery was performed in the 1970s and how it strongly contrasts with the way it is done today.
Judy Bottger, C.R.N.A., an anesthetist, recalls that cataract surgery (the removal of a person's natural lens that has grown cloudy and replacement with a new intraocular lens) used to require hospitalization for a week to a week and a half.
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"Patients had sandbags on each side for immobilization," Bottger said. "There was a greater risk of blindness back then from cataract surgery. Doctors used large incisions and had to suture. There was also a risk with general anesthesia because patients weren't conscious and they had to be monitored more closely."
After cataract surgery, patients usually had to wear "coke bottle" glasses with thick lenses because intraocular lens technology was in its infancy and not used routinely.
Bottger said her late grandmother, age 90 back then, was a cataract patient of Dr. Charles Jones in the mid-'70s.
"When Charles came to town, she said, 'Let's give him a year to see how he does.' By 1975 she finally had to get her cataracts done because she couldn't see well anymore and she loved to read." She had successful surgery and was pleased with her choice.
During her years in health care, Bottger has seen cataract surgery drastically change since her grandmother's operation.
"Now patients are sedated but still conscious," she said. That's because the doctors at Jones Eye Clinic use a topical analgesic on the eye. Risks are down, and comfort is high. The needle stick near the eye (to apply the analgesic) has been eliminated and the recovery time is much sooner. Patients have an ability to see better much faster. Many patients find it easier than going to the dentist."
Jones Eye Clinic specializes in patient-centered care
From the time patients step in the door to the time they leave, they are given the type of service that is expected from a Center of Excellence, said Jill Lingren, the ambulatory service coordinator at Jones Eye Clinic.
Lingren said the staff at Jones Eye Clinic is very focused on what they do, and they are very caring and precise. As the ambulatory service coordinator, her job is to make sure that the doctors' day runs smoothly so that patients get optimum results.
"I set staff assignments and order supplies. Our team makes sure the lens power is correct for each surgery, and that consent forms are filled out and everything is documented, including any allergies patients may have.
"Over the years, I have assisted in thousands of cases and had the opportunity to be in surgery with both Dr. Charles and Jason Jones," Lingren said of her 17 years at the Jones Eye Clinic.
Lately, she has noticed that patients are not as apprehensive about eye surgery as they used to be.
"There's much less discomfort. They know that they're not going to get a needle near their eye," she said.
In addition, the time it takes to perform cataract surgery has been reduced drastically. Patients are able to have surgery and return home within hours.
Bottger said the reason for the briefer operations is that the whole surgical process has been developed for the patient's comfort.
"It's very palatable. We have streamlined steps and with proper preparation the surgery is usually short," she said. "Patients have a faster recovery and the procedure is safer because we don't use sutures now and the infection rate is extremely low.
Improvements continue to be made in the cataract surgery field. Currently, the incision for removing the cataract and putting in a new intraocular lens is only 2.5 mm (one-tenth of an inch), but it will soon get smaller.
Lingren said patients who come to Jones Eye Clinic can feel good about their upcoming cataract surgery because the doctors and staff take time to explain the procedure and they hear experiences from other patients who have had it done. She noted that the staff calls patients by name, counsels them, and answers any questions they may have.
"Patients are usually relaxed when they're here. The doctor has a good reputation and the latest technology at his disposal," she said. "And the comments that we get back from patients reveal that the staff is good at talking them through the procedure and letting them know what is going to happen."
She said patients are also excited about their intraocular lens options these days, making them more likely to get their cataracts removed.
"Lenses have really changed. There are many (intraocular) lens options available now. Some of our patients have been nearsighted their whole life. When we take out their natural lens and replace it with a new lens, they are like a kid in a candy store. Before they couldn't see well and now they can. That's huge."
Technology evolution, experience improve surgical outcomes
Ophthalmic procedures and examinations at Jones Eye Clinic are performed by highly trained practitioners including cataract specialists Dr. Charles Jones and Dr. Jason Jones, clinic director optometrist Wing Hsieh, O.D., and optometrist Andrea McCann, O.D.
Dr. Jason Jones and his father have made it a point to embrace new generations of technology as it has become available to make cataract surgery better for every patient.
Late last year, Jones Eye Clinic invested in new equipment, the INFINITI Vision Systems for cataract removal and the Zeiss Lumera Surgical Microscopes.
The INFINITI Vision System, a phacoemulsifier, uses ultrasonic energy to safely break up and remove the cataract through a micro-incision. The new system was installed in December 2007.
"Across the board, this phacoemulsifier is easier to use and allows me to get the job done more efficiently and faster. Getting it done better adds to the whole experience of quicker recuperation of vision," said Dr. Jason Jones, who joined Jones Eye Clinic in 2003. "As a result of this equipment, I have confidence with patients who have more difficult cataracts or unusual circumstances. That means safer, more predictable procedures and better outcomes."
The Zeiss Lumera microscopes, installed in late October 2007, give surgeons at Jones Eye Clinic the ability to see ocular structures in greater detail. The microscopes use a new form of illumination to dramatically improve red reflex and depth perception during cataract surgery.
"Performing eye surgery is entirely visual for the surgeon. We need to be able to see where we do the work of removing cataracts. This microscope gives an unparalleled, excellent view. It improves lighting and contrast of tissues. We're able to achieve a better view into the eye at a lower level of illumination. As a result, I am confident that I perform at the best possible level for patients, and with less light, the surgery is more comfortable and vision recovers faster."
Jones said Jones Eye Clinic at 4405 Hamilton Blvd. in Sioux City was the first location in the United States to install the German-made microscopes.
"We've been able to bring almost revolutionary technology into the clinic and surgery center," Jones said. "Adding these technologies was a significant step to keep us on the cutting edge. Patients aren't usually aware of the technology, but it has allowed us to make incisions smaller and not make sutures. There are no injections or anesthesia around the eye, making for extremely quick recuperations. Patients' eyes are more functional starting right away. Those changes (the smaller incisions and no sutures) remove concerns, and the fears that some patients had about going through eye surgery are in the past."
In addition to advanced technology, the experience of Jones Eye Clinic's doctors has enabled them to provide the best possible vision outcomes for patients.
The doctors at Jones Eye Clinic have a history of performing several surgeries a day. By performing more surgeries, they continually improve their technique and have lower rates of complications post-operatively.
A study published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology demonstrates a relationship between higher surgical volume and lower complication rates for cataract surgery. The authors conclude that complication rates for surgeons performing more than 1,000 cataract surgeries per year are the lowest and continue to decrease as surgery volume increases.
"No one likes the idea of complications occurring, which is possible during any procedure. Performing numerous surgeries allows us to have a low complication rate. We have a history of performance with surgical outcomes better than rates published for these types of surgeries," Jones said. "Because we do eye surgeries and that's all we do, we're extremely good at it."
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, cataract surgery is one of the safest, most beneficial, most cost-effective medical interventions in modern medicine. When you consider that and Jones Eye Clinic's modern technology, a surgical staff that is focused on performing successful eye surgeries, experienced, board-certified surgeons, and a comfortable, state-of-the-art facility with convenient access, now is as good a time as ever to achieve your goal of better vision, Jones said.
For more information about Jones Eye Clinic, call (712) 239-3937 or (800) 334-2015, or visit them online at http://www.joneseye.com.
