Somers Eye Center

Using the latest advancements and state-of-the-art surgical equipment, Somers Eye Center provides comprehensive eye care for the entire family. We also provide a full spectrum of glasses and contact lenses in our Optical Gallery with a licensed optician on site. Every member of our staff is committed to your care. We are here to make your experience as painless and comfortable as possible.

Michael E. Somers, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Somers has more than 20 years of experience in eye care. He is an honor graduate of Brown University and the Brown University Medical School in Providence, Rhode Island. His ophthalmology residency is from Yale University where he was chief resident his final year. He completed an additional fellowship year at L.S.U. Eye Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dr. Somers is board certified and a member of many professional and honor societies. He has published a number of research papers and is involved in clinical research. In addition, he helped create the LASIK Refractive Center at North Kansas City Hospital.

Common vision problems include:

Nearsightedness, or myopia, occurs when viewing objects from a distance is blurred.

Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is a common condition in which objects up close are blurry. Squinting, eyestrain or headache after a prolonged period of tasks such as reading, writing or using a computer are common symptoms of this condition.

Presbyopia describes the gradual loss of the ability to focus on nearby objects, most recognizable when reading from an arm’s distance away.

Astigmatism is a common and easily treatable imperfection in the curvature of your eye causing blurred vision. Signs may also include eyestrain, headaches or visual distortion. This condition may occur in combination with nearsightedness or farsightedness.

One vision correction procedure is called monovision, which is created when one eye is corrected for clear distant vision while the other eye is corrected for clear near vision. The visual cortex of the brain learns to only pay attention to the image that it wants to see in focus and ignore the out-of-focus image. Most people who have monovision are able to see well enough at all distances without corrective lenses.

In a nearsighted person around the age of 40, correcting both eyes with LASIK or PRK to see clearly for distance vision means they would probably become dependent on reading glasses to see up close unless they have the monovision procedure. Between the ages of 35 and 45, many people also lose distance vision.

People around the age of 55 to 60 may show signs of cataracts. Removal of the natural lens inside the eye, Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), can be a better alternative to laser vision correction. After the natural lens is removed, there are a number of intraocular lens (IOL) options to provide a full range of vision.

Those with significant cataracts are not candidates for laser vision correction. Instead, cataract surgery is usually recommended to restore vision. The same IOL options are available to cataract patients as they are for refractive lens exchange patients.

Laser Vision

Many diseases of the eye cause no discomfort or symptoms, and most people believe that poor sight is a natural part of aging. In many cases, vision loss and blindness is preventable or treatable with early diagnosis.

These are a few of the most common eye disorders. Contact us today for a comprehensive eye exam if experiencing any of the following complications at 816.842.2015.

Dry Eye
Dry eye syndrome is a chronic lack of lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eye. Persistent dryness, scratching and burning or the feeling of something in the eye are signs of this syndrome. Causes can include medication side effects; a dry, dusty or windy climate; insufficient blinking such as staring at a computer screen for extended periods; long-term use of contact lenses; or it can be a symptom of a more serious disorder.

Somers Eye Center has a method of measuring the amount of dry eye through tear osmolarity. This tear lab unit gives us a number which not only helps us customize your dry eye treatment, but also measure whether we are improving the situation.

Glaucoma
Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness, typically causes no pain or symptoms. During a routine eye exam, measuring internal eye pressure and visual field testing are used to diagnose this silent disease. Left untreated, glaucoma can decrease peripheral vision and eventually lead to blindness. Somers Eye Center has advanced technology that measures the thickness of the nerve which represents the first signs of glaucoma even before the visual field changes. Therefore we are able to determine the likelihood of progression into glaucoma for people with a family history of glaucoma or an elevated eye pressure.

Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness among Americans age 65 and older. Other factors include hereditary factors, high blood pressure, lighter eye color and obesity. Degeneration of the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision, causes blind spots directly ahead. A retinal exam can often detect early signs of macular degeneration before symptoms occur. Somers Eye Center has advanced technology which visualizes the macula microscopically to detect early changes that the human eye cannot see.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
A pink eye, along with itching, burning, stinging, irritation, pain, grittiness, crusting or light sensitivity, are all symptoms of conjunctivitis. Contagious forms of pink eye are usually linked to bacterial or viral infections. Non-contagious pink eye can occur when eye irritants such as allergens, dust and smoke are in the environment. Left untreated, certain types of bacterial conjunctivitis can scar the eye’s surface.

Diabetic Retinopathy
High blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the eye causing impaired vision and even loss of sight. In its early stages, no symptoms may occur or a mild change of vision such as difficulty reading or double vision are noticeable. Annual eye exams are an important part of a diabetic treatment plan.

Corneal Disease
Somers Eye Center has the ability to measure the health of the cornea through specular microscopy. This test is helpful in determining whether contact lenses are damaging the eye. It can guide us as to whether your eye can tolerate cataract surgery. It is a very important indicator of corneal health which many practices do not possess. We also have a corneal topographer which gives a map of the cornea. This test is critical in determining astigmatism. This is important to know prior to LASIK surgery or the placement of intraocular lenses that compensate for astigmatism.

Cataract Center