JERYL L. SPARKS, O.D.
Jeryl L. Sparks, O.D. is a board-certified therapeutic optometric doctor specializing in primary medical eye and vision care. Dr. Sparks performs dilated and non-dilated comprehensive eye examinations on adult, child, and senior-aged patients. He will professionally treat diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration and other systematic diseases.
Services
Comprehensive Eye Examinations
We have been fitting specialty contact lenses for years and have seen some incredible changes in that time. By far the most exciting changes have occurred in the last few years. Although rigid contacts lenses are a shrinking segment of the industry, we still have a large number of patients who wear them. Allergies can be particularly annoying to contact lens wearers. In the past many people had to quit wearing their lenses for a month or two during the allergy season. New lens materials and allergy medications have made it possible for these people to eliminate itchy eyes. The gas-permeable lens materials available today far surpass those available just a few years ago in terms of eye health and comfort.
Our optical laboratory has the latest equipment to not only fabricate your glasses, but to maintain and repair them should they become broken or damaged. We are able to tint, coat, and edge spectacle lenses. We are also able to provide you with any frame or lens design available. Our highly qualified opticians are able to adjust and fit your glasses to assure your extended comfort and vision.
Everyone is talking about Laser Vision Correction, here is a brief description of the procedure:
A small flap is cut in the cornea, by laser, and then the flap is gently folded back. An Excimer Laser is used to reshape the cornea, much like a contact lens forms a new shape on the cornea, only the laser is permanent. The flap is then put back in place, acting like a natural bandage.
The "Wow" effect of Intra-lase is the very rapid recovery of vision and the decreased level of discomfort post-operatively. You hear from people that they did not feel anything, and could see well the very first day. Most people have functional vision in 24-48 hours. Although this is true in some cases, it must be noted that each person will heal at a different rate. Vision, although greatly improved immediately after surgery, continues to improve for some weeks, even months.
Everyone's eyes are different. Even though you may have had a friend who has had LASIK or Intra-lase, it does not mean it is right for you. If you are interested in laser vision correction, we will be happy to guide you in picking the right surgeon, procedure and laser appropriate for you. For many of you who are long-term contact lens wearers, pre-operative input can make the difference between an excellent result and a mediocre one.
Post-operatively we can monitor your eyes, and taper medications to arrive at the best possible result. After all, no one knows your eyes better than your optometrist.
Surgery Co-Management
Our office provides
many of the surgical services such as Cataract surgery, Laser surgery,
Refractive surgery and Strabismic surgery. We offer this in conjunction
with the hospital and local eye surgeons.
Additionally, we have working arrangements established with other specialized eye care doctors to manage such things are retinal detachments, retinal tears and hemorrhage.
Eye Infections, Eye Injuries, Dry Eyes
Our office provides
emergency services for eye infections and eye injuries. Please call our
office at 972-231-3439 during normal business hours. You can reach Dr. Sparks after hours or on weekends at 214-676-0301. Our staff will work with you to
schedule an appointment as soon as possible. State of the art
microscopes allow us to examine the front surface of the eye and facial
areas around the eye for infection or injury. After assessing the extent
of the injury or infection a treatment plan will be formulated and
explained to you. Treatment may include medications and supportive care.
Follow-up visits to monitor your recovery will be scheduled as needed.
Dry Eyes: Symptoms include scratchy eyes, burning, mild redness and gritty feeling eyes. Oral medications, reading, computer tasks and dry environments may aggravate marginally dry eyes. Dry eyes can be diagnosed by using dyes to observe tear patterns, evaluation of the amount of tears on the front of the eye and from review of your symptoms. Treatment may include artificial tears; eye drops for treating allergies; and/or punctal plugs inserted in the tear drainage canals.
Eye Diseases; Cataracts, Glaucoma, Diabetes
Cataracts: The natural
lens in the eye gradually becomes less clear as we get older. When
opacities develop in the lens and the lens gets too hazy, vision will be
impaired. Our office can diagnose and manage cataract care. When the
cataract affects the vision to the extent that you cannot read or see
distant objects comfortably, we will recommend cataract surgery. Our
office co-manages with cataract specialists that are proven experts in
cataract surgery. Cataract surgery can provide you with a bright new
world of vision.
Glaucoma:
Glaucoma gradually destroys the optic nerve tissue in the back of the
eye. The greatest danger of glaucoma stems from the fact that the
disease is painless and without obvious symptoms until significant
damage has occurred. The most common cause is from pressure being too
high inside the eye, but vascular disease and other diseases can also
cause glaucoma. We always monitor for glaucoma during routine eye
examinations. Tests include checking the pressure of the eye, screening
for peripheral vision defects and analyzing the appearance of the optic
nerve. If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, we typically prescribe
medications that lower the eye pressure. Most forms of glaucoma are
successfully treated with eye drops. Laser treatments and eye surgery
are secondary treatments that offer alternative ways to treat more
advanced glaucoma.
Diabetes: Diabetic patients should have a dilated retinal examination each year. Laser treatments have proven to slow the progression of retinal eye disease for many patients. Diabetes often stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in the back of the eye, which ultimately leak and damage the retina. If this condition is discovered early, laser treatment can destroy these vessels. We have the latest instruments used to detect changes in the back of the eye. If we discover advancing diabetic eye disease that can be treated or needs further evaluation, we will refer you for consultation and further testing to a board certified retinal specialist.
Low Vision Services
In addition, we can direct those who have low vision problems to products that will help them carry on the day-to-day tasks that they need to perform. In some cases we can set up a program for the low vision patient with the National Library of Congress to receive "books on tapes", which is a service for the blind.
Vision Therapy
Seeing clearly is not enough. For many people, reading and hand-eye coordination tasks can be very difficult. The act of sight not only includes ones eyes, but it also includes the neurological activity that processes the visual information. Throwing a ball or skiing down a hill, is a learned activity; to do either well takes practice. Those who do it best are those who started learning at the earliest age. Sight plays an important role in the learning of these activities. Sight is the steering mechanism; it is the main activity that provides feedback regarding what really is happening. We provide Vision Therapy to help individuals learn how to process visual information and develop better hand-eye coordination skills.
