If cataracts are clouding your vision, cataract surgery offers a chance not only to restore your sight, but also to see more clearly than you have in years. One of the most exciting parts of cataract surgery is the ability to choose a premium intraocular lens (IOL) customized to your lifestyle and visual goals.

What Is an Intraocular Lens?
During cataract surgery, your eye’s cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with a clear artificial one. This new lens, called an intraocular lens or IOL, focuses light onto your retina, helping you see clearly again.

While monofocal IOLs provide excellent vision at one focal point (usually distance), premium IOLs can correct for clear vision at two or more focal points. Even patients who have had glasses for most of their lives may be able to reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contacts. 

Types of Premium IOLs

Multifocal and Trifocal Lenses
These lenses are designed to give you a full range of vision—near, intermediate, and distance. They use advanced optical zones that focus light for various distances, allowing you to see your phone, computer, and road signs with ease.

Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) Lense
EDOF lenses offer a continuous range of clear vision from distance to intermediate, with fewer halos or glare compared to traditional multifocal lenses. They’re great for patients who spend time on computers or driving at night.

Toric Lenses
If you have astigmatism, toric IOLs can correct the irregular curvature of your cornea that causes blurred or distorted vision. This reduces your dependence on glasses for distance vision after surgery.

Light Adjustable Lenses (LAL)                                         
The newest innovation in lens technology, light adjustable lenses can be fine-tuned after surgery. Your surgeon adjusts the lens with a special light treatment, ensuring you achieve your best personalized vision.

How to Choose the Right Lens for You
Choosing the right IOL depends on your individual visual needs, including your hobbies, activities, lifestyle, and pre-existing eye conditions such as glaucoma or macular degeneration. Do you enjoy reading without glasses? Drive frequently at night? Spend hours on digital devices? Your Columbia Eye surgeon will guide you through every option to create a customized surgical plan that fits your needs.

The Columbia Eye Difference
At Columbia Eye, our board-certified ophthalmologists use the most advanced cataract surgery technology, including femtosecond laser precision and premium IOL options. We’ve been helping the Midlands see clearly for generations, and we’re committed to delivering exceptional vision outcomes with compassionate, patient-focused care.

Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective procedures in modern medicine and with today’s lens options, it’s also one of the most customizable. Schedule a consultation with one of our cataract specialists to explore which lens option can give you your personal best vision.

The post Exploring Premium Intraocular Lenses: What Are Your Options? appeared first on Columbia Eye.

On January 13, 2025, Columbia Eye experienced an information technology network disruption that impacted the clinic’s accessibility to certain electronic systems. Cybersecurity specialists were engaged to investigate the source of the issue. The investigation determined that an unauthorized actor entered the network between January 9, 2025, and January 13, 2025, and may have accessed certain files during the incident. Columbia Eye is in the process of conducting a comprehensive e-discovery review of the affected files to determine what information is impacted by this incident. Columbia Eye will notify individuals whose personal information was potentially impacted directly once the review completes. Columbia Eye also notified law enforcement.

The potentially-affected information may include names, contact information, date of birth, procedure codes and other information needed to obtain pre-approval for eye-related procedures.  Columbia Eye does not have any indications that its electronic medical record system or practice management systems were affected by this incident.  Though Columbia Eye has no evidence that the data has been used to commit fraud, persons potentially affected are encouraged to remain vigilant, carefully monitor financial account statements, healthcare statements, and credit reports, and report any discrepancies to law enforcement.

Columbia Eye takes the privacy and security of information seriously. Upon discovering this incident, Columbia Eye promptly reset all user passwords, created a new IT environment using backup systems, issued new devices and software, added additional monitoring software, implemented enhanced security policies and procedures aimed at protecting access to data, and took additional steps to harden the overall environment. Columbia Eye will continue to review and enhance its policies and procedures to reduce the likelihood of a similar incident occurring in the future.

If you have any questions, please call toll free 1-800-298-2295 between 9:00 am – 5:30 pm EST Monday – Friday (excluding holidays).  Columbia Eye remains fully committed to protecting personal information entrusted to its care and sincerely apologizes for any concern this incident may have caused you.

The post Notice of Data Security Incident appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Purchase two complete pairs of prescription glasses and get 20% off the first pair and 30% off the second pair!

May not be combined with other offers (value packages, coupons, discounts, and insurance.) Offer excludes Maui Jim.

Offer valid through 2/28/23 at any of our optical shop locations.

The post 20% off the first pair! 30% off the second pair! appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Please note that our office locations will observe the following holiday closure schedule:
Downtown – CLOSED 12/24/2022-12/26/2022, 1/2/2023
Lexington – CLOSED 12/26/2022, 1/2/2023
Northeast – CLOSED 12/26/2022-12/29/2022, 1/2/2023
West Columbia – CLOSED 12/26/2022, 12/30/2022, 1/2/2023

A doctor will be on call throughout the holiday season for emergency eye care needs for our patients.

The post Holiday Closures appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Announcing updates to our COVID-19 safety protocols effective Monday, October 17, 2022:

In accordance with the CDC’s current COVID-19 guidelines for healthcare settings, masks use by patients and visitors continues to be optional. Staff working in close contact with patients will wear a mask if the patient is wearing a mask, upon request by a patient, and in some other circumstances.  

One visitor is permitted with each patient.

The safety of our patients, staff, physicians, and visitors continues to be our highest priority. We are closely monitoring CDC guidelines and infection rates in our community and will adjust our COVID-19 precautions as appropriate. Thank you for your continued cooperation as we work to provide the highest quality care to our patients.

The post COVID-19 Safety Protocol Update – 10/17/2022 appeared first on Columbia Eye.

In observance of the Independence Day holiday, the Downtown Columbia clinic location will be closed on Saturday, July 2 and all clinic locations will be closed on Monday, July 4th.

A doctor will be on call throughout the holiday weekend.

The post Independence Day Holiday Closure appeared first on Columbia Eye.

When Homa Greene, R.N. joined Columbia Eye Clinic 43 years ago, she was hired to assist Dr. William Cain, Jr., M.D. when he joined the practice and has worked side-by side as his Lead Technician for the entirely of that time. Back then, she traveled with Dr. Cain, seeing patients in Bennettsville, Hartsville, Santee, and West Columbia, assisting him in the office as well as in the operating room with surgery.

Prior to the opening of the Columbia Eye Surgery Center, surgery was performed in the hospital, and it took a full year to learn to assist with surgery, including learning to use the operating room microscope. Through the years, Homa has cross-trained to help fill-in in just about every area of the practice and has mentored countless other staff.

Homa says that she feels fortunate to have spent her career working with physicians that have not forgotten that healthcare is about helping people and show kindness, generosity and caring to the staff and patients.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
Homa:  My favorite part of my job is interacting with patients. Patients are so kind and appreciative for the care we provide. Taking in the medical advice their physician is giving them can be overwhelming and scary. I hope I am able to help them better understand and give them peace of mind when they are anxious about a diagnosis or procedure.

What do you find most rewarding about your job?
Homa:  After nursing school and prior to joining Columbia Eye Clinic, I worked in the hospital and often had to deal with difficult and tragic situations. My work helping Dr. Cain restore people’s sight through procedures like cataract surgery and LASIK is positive and rewarding. We also catch conditions like glaucoma in the early stages before it causes permanent vision loss, and sometimes even life-threatening conditions.

What would you say is unique about Columbia Eye Clinic?
Homa:  There are not many workplaces anymore where co-workers (and the doctors) are like family. Columbia Eye Clinic is still locally owned by our physicians and they foster an environment where staff are valued and appreciated. I believe this is reflected in the quality of the care we provide and respect we give to our patients. Dr. Cain has said “thank you” to me at the end of every single day that we have worked together for the last 43 years. My co-workers have been there for me through many ups and down in my life. Some other long-time staff have retired, but we still get together often outside of work.

Patients know you as a kind and caring healthcare professional, but tell us about yourself…what do you like to do outside of work?
Homa:  I come from a large family in Rockingham, NC and have two daughters, one son, and six grandchildren. I am an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and family and my faith are very important to me. I enjoy genealogy and find it exciting to learn about my ancestors. I’ve even connected family members with living relatives they didn’t know existed through my research on ancestry.com! I also love to read.

The post Staff Profile: Meet Homa Greene appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Now through February 28, 2022, purchase two complete pairs of prescription glasses and get the second set of lenses half off! Some restrictions apply.

To take advantage of the offer, schedule an appointment or walk-in to the Optical Shops at any of our three convenient locations.

The post 50% Off Lenses appeared first on Columbia Eye.

We know that you have more on your mind than re-ordering contact lenses. Keeping your contact lenses stocked is important for your eye health and comfort. With Text2Order, we’ll send you a text and you simply text back to confirm your order. Get your contacts delivered right to your door, right on time. You can even pause a shipment if needed and we’ll text a reminder later.

Get started by visiting or calling the Optical Shops at any of our three convenient locations.

The post Text2Order Your Contacts appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Downtown

Closed Thursday, 11/25/2021 and Friday, 11/26/2021

Open on Saturday, 11/27/2021 from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Clinic only, Optical Shop closed

Northeast

Closes at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, 11/24/2021.

Reopen on Monday, 11/29/2021

Lexington

Closes at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, 11/24/2021.

Reopen on Monday, 11/29/2021.

The post 2021 Thanksgiving Holiday Hours appeared first on Columbia Eye.