Archived Articles July to December 2003 ATake Two Aspirin and Visit My Website in the Morning December 1, 2003 . Advanced Technology May Sound Death Knell for LASIK Discounters September 24, 2003 . WaveScan For CustomVue... IntraLASIK®... VISX® Star S4 Laser... Michigan's Leading LASIK Technology Trio September, 2003 . NewsLink™ menu   Take Two Aspirin and Visit My Website in the Morning Detroit Eye Surgeon's Web Use Enhances Marketing and Patient Education Efforts Contact: Barbara Fornasiero (248) 651-7536 or (586) 817-8414 eafocus@bignet.net West Bloomfield, Mich., December 1, 2003 -- The Beitman Laser Eye Institute in West Bloomfield, the state's leading single practice provider of LASIK, continues to meet with marketing and patient education success thanks to the assistance of its award-winning, long-running website, www.beitman.com. Launched in 1999, the website won an Addy Gold award (the advertising industry's version of the Oscar) for its West Coast-based design firm in 2000. In 2002 the website received the "Left Click" award from VISX, a leading manufacturer of medical lasers, for the industry's best LASIK information website. Robert D. Beitman, M.D., F.A.C.S., founder and Medical Director of the Beitman Laser Eye Institute, finds that directing patients to his website results in a better-educated, better prepared surgical candidate. "Patients ask critical, informed questions when they have a solid understanding of LASIK prior to their office visit. Our website doesn't have many bells and whistles but it's easily downloadable and filled with critical content for those considering LASIK," notes Dr. Beitman. "LASIK is a wonderful, safe procedure but it is still elective surgery," observes Dr. Beitman. "We want our patients to be extremely comfortable with their LASIK decision and we help ensure that comfort level with education through our website as well as in-office instruction, videos and handouts." Dr. Beitman adds that a recently installed webpage monitoring system counts hundreds of weekly visitors to his site. An estimated 50% of patients have independently visited the website before they even schedule an office visit. Patients who have not visited the website are strongly encouraged to do so by the Institute's surgical counselors. The website also plays a prominent role in Dr. Beitman's print, radio, and television advertising and public relations efforts. "It is not uncommon for patients to tell me they selected the Beitman Laser Eye Institute because we had the best website," confirms Dr. Beitman. Dr. Beitman was the first Michigan surgeon to use all-laser IntraLASIK for safer, more precise corneal flaps without a blade. In June 2003 he became the first surgeon in Michigan using IntraLASIK in tandem with the new VISX WaveScan for CustomVue, the most advanced method for performing "custom cornea" LASIK. All surgical technology used at the Beitman Laser Eye Institute is powered by the industry leading VISX Star S4 laser, which is considered the gold standard among laser systems and is approved by the FDA for the widest range of corrections. Dr. Beitman was named to LaserVision Centers, Inc. Top 5 Surgeons list for 2002, a list of the nation's leading LASIK surgeons based on volume. He participated in the FDA trials for the initial approval of LASIK in 1995 and was the first surgeon to perform LASIK in Michigan. Dr. Beitman holds a medical degree from Wayne State University and received his ophthalmology residency training at Detroit's Sinai Hospital, which pioneered the use of lasers in ophthalmology. Dr. Beitman is a member of the International Society of Refractive Surgery and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and is the founder and past president of the Michigan Keratorefractive Society. For additional information on CustomVue, IntraLASIK and laser vision correction, please visit www.beitman.com, www.VISX.com, and www.intralase.com. Advanced Technology May Sound Death Knell for LASIK Discounters Superior Vision Correction Tools Too Pricey For Cost Cutters Contact: Barbara Fornasiero (248) 651-7536 or (586) 817-8414 eafocus@bignet.net West Bloomfield, Mich., September 24, 2003 -- The availability of long-awaited LASIK technology combined with better-educated medical consumers may prove to be the final undoing for the few remaining LASIK discounters in Michigan and elsewhere. Robert D. Beitman, M.D., F.A.C.S., founder and medical director of the Beitman Laser Eye Institute in West Bloomfield and a sought after advisor on national LASIK industry trends, notes that price is quickly becoming a secondary issue as LASIK patients investigate newer, superior technology options. "With the newly available wavefront-guided custom cornea procedures and all-laser technology for corneal flap creation, patients today are increasingly putting price at the bottom of their list of considerations," notes Dr. Beitman. "That reality will continue to erode the faulty business model of discount LASIK providers offering obsolete technology." New LASIK options: • VISX® CustomVue, also referred to as custom cornea, uses wavefront guided technology to produce superior LASIK outcomes with corrected vision potentially exceeding 20/20 and night vision that may surpass best previously attainable night vision with glasses or contacts. The FDA approved CustomVue and related wavefront technologies in May 2003. The VISX WaveScan System for CustomVue captures a "fingerprint" of the eye 25 times more precise than what was previously measurable by standard methods. WaveScan moves beyond evaluation of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism to capture other more specific imperfections in an individual's vision. This data is then used to generate a unique, individualized treatment for the CustomVue procedure. . • IntraLASE all-laser technology for safer, more precise corneal flaps without a blade . • Variable spot scanning software to correct farsightedness .  • Technologically advanced laser systems, such as the VISX Star S4, that are FDA-approved for the widest range of corrections and may allow patients who were previously considered non-candidates due to thinner corneas and other related conditions to now have LASIK. All of these new technologies are available at the Beitman Laser Eye Institute, where the price for LASIK surgery now averages $4,200 compared to $3,000 before the introduction of custom cornea and Intralase. "These are breakthrough technologies that represent a huge financial investment on the part of researchers, manufacturers and software developers, as well as LASIK surgeons," explains Dr. Beitman. "Such an investment cannot and will not be made by providers who believe irresponsibly low pricing will attract patients," continues Dr. Beitman. "Only consistently excellent surgical outcomes can do that." Dr. Beitman was named to LaserVision Centers, Inc. Top 5 Surgeons list for 2002, a list of the nation's leading LASIK surgeons based on volume. He participated in the FDA trials for the initial approval of LASIK in 1995 and was the first surgeon to perform LASIK in Michigan. Dr. Beitman holds a medical degree from Wayne State University and received his ophthalmology residency training at Detroit's Sinai Hospital, which pioneered the use of lasers in ophthalmology. Dr. Beitman is a member of the International Society of Refractive Surgery and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and is the founder and past president of the Michigan Keratorefractive Society. For additional information on CustomVue, IntraLASIK and laser vision correction, please visit www.beitman.com, www.VISX.com, and www.intralase.com. WaveScan For CustomVue... IntraLASIK®... VISX® Star S4 Laser... Michigan's Leading LASIK Technology Trio Printed in HOUR Detroit magazine, September issue [ PDF format - download Adobe Acrobat Reader ] More articles . For your complimentary consultation: 1-800-826-EYES (3937) Home | About Us | About LASIK | Questions | Locations Contact Us | Our Patients | Bulletin Board | NewsLink | Site Map Copyright © 2000 - 2008 Beitman Laser Eye Institute Website by Fresh Papaya Design and Goodchap Design Communications, Inc. .