PROFILES IN PRACTICE SUCCESS
Growth in Vision Correction
Dr. Soloway credits his commitment to results via new techniques and equipment.

THE PRACTICE: Barrie D. Soloway, M.D., is director of the Vision Correction Center at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.

PRACTICE SUMMARY: Dr. Soloway's staff includes four ophthalmologists, three optometrists, four laser/surgical technicians, one practice manager, one business manager, two office managers, three ophthalmic technicians, five vision coordinators, four receptionists and three part-time secretaries.

SURGICAL FOCUS: Dr. Soloway categorizes his caseload as 75% refractive surgery, 15% cataract surgery and 10% cornea.

Last year, Dr. Soloway performed surgery on half of the 4,100 eyes treated at the Vision Correction Center.

PREFERRED INSTRUMENTS: Dr. Solo-way uses Moria's LSK One microkeratome and Automated Lamellar Therapeutic Keratoplasty (ALTK) system, Addition Technology's Intacs, Alcon's SA60AT intraocular lens and Marco Technologies' Epic 2100 system.

"I also use LADARVision from Alcon Summit Autonomous," says Dr. Soloway. "With LADARVision, I can treat large optical zone (OZ) sizes in patients with large scotopic pupils, and have a level of sparing close to the minimum level predicted by the Munnerlyn formula.

"The large OZ study I performed with LADARVision in 1999 let patients with pupil sizes up to 8 mm see great at night, and I earned the nickname 'the Wizard of OZ' from Alcon Summit Autonomous."

PREFERRED MEDICATIONS: Dr. Solo-way prescribes Flarex to control inflammation; Patanol for allergic conditions; and Ciloxan for broad coverage after both LASIK procedures and cataract surgery.

GROWTH AREAS: Despite negative press about LASIK, vision correction continues to grow at Dr. Soloway's practice. He doesn't advertise, but instead relies on word-of-mouth referrals.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Dr. Soloway is an FDA investigator and international surgeon for Presby Corp's Presby Drive and scleral expansion bands (SEBs).

"The Presby Drive is an instrument that creates the tunnels needed to place the SEBs," says Dr. Soloway. "It does so with little inflammation, leading to a more rapid recovery.

"The SEBs have completed Phase I of the FDA trial. Overall, patients are satisfied with the results; they're reading well."

MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY: "I model my practice on the advice given to me during residency: 'Take care of the patient and everything else will take care of itself.'

"In addition, I believe that attaining excellent results requires a commitment of time and money on the surgeon's part to learn new techniques and purchase new equipment. Ultimately, excellent results drive practice success."

Barrie D. Soloway, M.D., is vice chairman of the Quality Standards Advisory Committee with the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance.