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lit*™ »f Mm Living 0«k (•) In i 19 Sat Sit I » i 10M (kwi i Day •( tli# Dtad inri NCOM «M«I ilWuMtH f" MS S« $•> JIV MSI Uin MS VICTORIAN BOUQUET SHEETS BY MARTEX an. • . ' NORTHWEST HERALD Section B Monday, September 16. 1915 Pegt 3 Regional Eye surgery (Continued from page IB) Epstein said he maintains a very high satisfaction rate in the more than 700 operations he has per­ formed. He attributes this to toe fact that he makes sure his patients understand the risks, and just how much improvement they can expect. "What it comes down to is the risk of side effects, versus the results you can expect," he explained. In addition to being unsatisfied with the results, other risks with RK surgery include infection, cata­ racts, perforations in the cornea, or over-correction, to the point of the patient becoming farsighted. Of the approximately 100,000 radial keratotomies that have been donein the United States; no case of an operation resulting in blindness has been reported. Only two cases of infection inside the eye have been reported as a result of RK surgery. Of the cases he has done, Epstein reported a need to re-operate about 15 percent of the time; patients requiring corrective eyeware for night driving in 5 to 7 percent of the cases; and patients requiring correc­ tive eyeware all day in about 3 percent of the cases. Some of the same risks are involved in myopic keratomileusis. But since it is a more involved opera­ tion, there are added risks of corneal failure, retinal detachment and glaucoma. With either surgery, any possible side effects can be corrected, for the most part, by additional operations or corrective eyeware. While radial keratotomy was the subject of contro­ versy in the past, Epstein feels most ophthalmologists "in the know" now support the procedure, and feel it is safe and effective. "There are still some questions and it is a hot topic, but I don't feel doctors are against it. The demand for courses (teaching RK surgery) is huge. Doctors wouldn't be taking the courses if they weren't plan­ ning to do the operations. The University of Illinois is now doing the surgery and teaching it to a small number of its students. They wouldn't teach it if they didn't feel it was appropriate for public use." Epstein estimates that about 8 percent of all eye surgeons are doing the surgery in some way, or preparing to do so, and more doctors are getting involved all the time. Epstein originally became .interested in the RK procedure when he was working to develop a similar procedure. He heard about the operation being done in Russia, and traveled there in I960 with a group of ophthalmologists from the U.S. to observe it. "We were the first to study under Fyodorov," Epstein explained. "I got to do my first operations on Russian patients." The myopic keratomileusis procedure was devel­ oped 25 years ago at the Barraquer Institute of America in Bogota, Colombia. Since its introduction, it has been performed only about 15,000 times world­ wide, and about 1,000 timgs in the U.S. Epstein feels the reason the operation has not been performed more is simply that most people don't know about it MKM has not had the publicity that RK surgery has. The only place the procedure was taught, according to Epstein, was at the Barraquer Institute. Doctors had to travel to South America to watch and learn the procedure. There are now reportedly a handful of eye surgeons in the U.S. who are performing the opera­ tion, and they are starting to teach others. "I'm the only doctor in the State of Illinois doing this operation," Epstein claims. "The only (Me in the midwest for that matter. To perform MKM surgery requires $100,000 in equipment, a lot of training, and you have to be continually practicing it to really do it well; I would say MKM surgery would only be done by a surgeon who has already done a lot of radial keratotomies." The local doctor says the number of surgeries performed is increasing as more nearsighted people become aware of them; and as more doctors are being trained in the procedures. He feels a lot of refinements and improvements have been made in the procedures with their increased use, and he expects even more to come. Epstein, who also has a degree in electrical engi­ neering, is involved in the development of two new products, which may contribute to the success of the surgeries. He is currently working with other engi­ neers to develop a new knife, which has a guide to let the surgeon know precisely how deep he is cutting into the cornea. He is also involved in developing a laser that could replace the knife alltogether, but he feels such a workable laser is still several years away. While there are other types of corrective eye surger­ ies in use today, RK and MKM are the most common. Epstein will be discussing all types of corrective eye surgeries during his seminar at NIMC, including surgery for farsightedness, and severe forms, of astigmatism. The seminar will include a short talk, followed by a question and answer session. The doctor also plans to have some of Ms former patients present, to give first­ hand accounts of the. operations. Interested persons unable to attend the seminar, may obtain more infor­ mation on corrective eye surgery by calling 1-800- NEAREYE. New law gives mortgage holders tax knowledge SPRINGFIELD - Sen. Jack Schaffer's bill to give taxpayers with mortgages a better opportunity to check their tax bills and property assessment changes has been signed into law by Governor James Thompson. Schaffer (R-McHenry County) said the measure is designed to as­ sure that borrowers receive prompt notice of tax bills and assessment changes. It requires all mortgage bankers, Including firms which hold mortgages they did not originate, to send notice to borrowers within 15 days. - "This closes a gap in the Revenue Act so that property owners who pay property taxes through financial in­ stitutions as part of their mortgage payments will be kept informed about their tax bills," Schaffer said. "Taxpayers deserve to know the status of their mortgages and any changes that could affect them. The new law will give them the opportu­ nity to study their tax bills and as­ sessment changes and perhaps enter protests when appropriate," he added. Boys grades one to five invited to join Cub Scouts Boys in first grade who are at least seven years old -- and up through fifth grade - are being in: vited to Join Cub Scout hr special "School Nights" in their neighbor­ hood schopls. The Blackhawk Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, has announced the boys will receive personal invita­ tions through their local schools, which invite boys to become Cub Scouts and attend special programs with their parents. The council, which serves a 12- county area from McHenry County, including Rockford Area and South­ western Wisconsin, has been select­ ed by the council to conduct a pilot program which will be implemented nationally by fall of 1986. Features of the realignment of membership requirements will be that grade rather than age will be the criteria for a boy joining or moving from one program to anoth­ er. previously a boy had to be in second grade before becoming Tiger Cubs. Under guidelines, first graders join Tiger Cubs; second graders join Cub Scout - Wolf; third graders join Cub Scout - Bear; fourth graders join Webelo, and fifth graders join Webelos • advanced. There will be no change in Boy Scout membership requirements. A new expanded program will be de­ veloped for fifth grade Webelos Scouts who will remain in the pro­ gram for two years. Further details will be available at local school programs or by call­ ing 815/397-0210. - H e Creature in • fit »?0 I IS 10 10 Sit Sv« ? IS < 10 WO I IS 1010 M lkmi UO I IS PeeWee'»Bi| Adventure (Mi fn S 10 8 9 4b Sun ? 30 4 ?0 b 10 8 9 4S M lkuu i 10 I Amadaua hi S.I Sil Sm Ml N Ikttit 7 30 |H| American Ninja <01 fn S 40.1 40.9 40 Sit Sun J. 3 SO S 40 / 40 9 40 M Ihvrs i 20 I ?0 7.99 TWIN Arthritis Self-Help Course offered What do a housewife, banker, ra- IMio announcer, physician, engineer, £ secretary and graphic artist have in t -common? They all have some form of arthri- and have all benefitted from the Itis Self-Help Course, a unique ram-sponsoredbythe Arthrit mndation and designed to with arthritis cope more ef­ fectively with their disease. i Beginning in October, the founda- fc tion's Illinois Chapter will offer its % fall series of self-help classes | throughout the Chicago are, includ- f ing a program at the Northern Illi- | nois Medical Center in McHenry. | This six-week course will meet ev- F* ery Thursday from 7-9:15 p.m. start­ ing Oct. 10. "The purpose of the arthritis self- help course is to provide class mem­ bers with the knowledge and skills they need to take a more active role in the management of their arthri­ tis," said Crystal Lake's Carol Krue- ger, instructor of the course. Among the topics addressed dur­ ing the series will be: pain manage­ ment, developing an appropriate ex- ercise program, arthritis medication, coping with stress, working with your physician, and related issues. "In addition to the practical knowledge offered, the arthritis self- help course provides class members with a supportive setting in which to address various arthritis-related problems," Krueger said. "Just knowing that you are not alone in your situation and that others are facing similar problems can be of tremendous help when dealing with a Chronic disease like arthritis." The fee is $15 and includes a text and all materials. The registration deadline is Monday, Sept. 30. Physi­ cian consent is required for enroll­ ment. A consent form is included in the registration packet. For more information, call the Ar­ thritis Foundation at (312) 782-1367, or toll-free at 1-800-572-2397. gold fashion jewelry from it1 We welcome your Sp»ess Charge Visa. 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