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Mahmoud El-Yassir, M.D. Joins Specialty Eye Institute’s Team of Experienced Surgeons

Mahmoud El-Yassir Joins Specialty Eye Institute

Specialty Eye Institute is pleased to welcome Mahmoud El-Yassir, M.D. to the practice. Dr. El-Yassir is a Cataract and Glaucoma Specialist who will be seeing patients in the Jackson and Kalamazoo locations.

“Dr. El-Yassir brings a great blend of clinical experience and knowledge with a strong passion for providing community-based care," says Trent Roark, CEO of Specialty Eye Institute.

Dr. El-Yassir earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of California, Davis, and received his medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University. He went on to complete his ophthalmology training at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio where he received advanced training in the medical and surgical treatment of ocular disease and conditions.

“I am very excited to join Specialty Eye Institute and become part of this great team,” states Dr. El-Yassir.

“I am passionate about quality patient care and I sincerely look forward to serving the community.”

Specialty Eye Institute began in 1978 when Paul H. Ernest, M.D., the company’s founder opened Jackson Eye Center in Jackson, Michigan. Since then, the company has grown into a multispecialty ophthalmology practice with 24 doctors in 10 locations throughout Michigan and Ohio. We strive to provide the highest level of ophthalmic care at an affordable price.

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COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Preparedness at Specialty Eye Institute

All Specialty Eye Institute offices are currently open and operating during normal business hours.

As your ophthalmology healthcare provider our strongest commitment is to the health and safety of our patients, staff and communities.

Specialty Eye Institute is closely monitoring developments related to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and we are following state and federal guidelines to ensure best care for our patients.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our corporate office at and speak with one of our Patient Service Representatives at 877-852-8463.

Steps we are taking to protect our patients in our offices:

We are taking additional steps to protect our patients and staff. In addition to our regular cleaning and sanitizing protocols, we have implemented stricter cleaning protocols in our exam rooms, lobby and waiting areas to protect our patients and staff. Our team has also a protocol in place should anyone enter our office displaying symptoms of illness. We are requiring all patients to wear a mask during your visit. At this time we are not allowing any visitors. If you have someone accompanying you to your visit, please have them wait in the car unless you need assistance due to a disability, interpretation, or have a power of attorney.

We appreciate your understanding during this time should operations need to change.

Office Cleaning – We’ve had our offices deep cleaned and sanitized.
Hand Sanitizer – We’ve installed additional Purell dispensers so that you’ll be able to sterilize your hands after each time you have contact with a door handle.
Temperature Checks – We’ll be taking your temperature upon check-in. Any patient, or patient caregiver, with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be asked to reschedule. We’ll also be taking our own team’s temperature. Each staff member and doctor will have their temperature taken upon entering the building.
Virtual Medical Eye Exams – We will continue to offer virtual eye exams as an alternative to in-person exams. The exams are conducted using Zoom Video Conferencing technology. It is user friendly, private, and insurance recognized. Patients have really enjoyed this experience.
Parking Lot Waiting – After you check-in at our desk, we’ll ask that you wait in your car until our team is ready to take you back. This will mean a more personalized experience in our clinic. We have instituted a one patient per exam room protocol to minimize your exposure and maximized social distancing.
Fewer Surfaces – We’ve removed coffee tables and many chairs from our waiting spaces to minimize the surfaces that hands can touch.
Cleaning Technician – We’ve designated one staff member per office per shift whose main responsibility is to clean and disinfect surfaces.
Masks- We’ll be wearing masks to protect all in our presence from the aerosol spread of that can be transferred by breath, coughing, or sneezing.
Microscope – We have installed breath barriers on all of our exam room microscopes. This will allow the doctor to be able to still examine the inside of your eye thoroughly while keeping you safe.
Gloves – Technicians, doctors, and staff will wear gloves on an as-needed basis to help keep you and our team safe
Limiting Occupants – We will encourage family and friends who accompany the patient to wait in the parking lot. There will be exceptions made to this where caregivers are needed.
Masks – We would like you to wear a mask to cover your nose and mouth to all of your appointments.
Front desk shields – We have added clear shields at our front desk to act as a barrier between our staff and our patients.

Why Should You Consider Traveling for Cataract Surgery

Reasons To Travel For Cataract Surgery

An estimated 60 percent of Americans will eventually develop cataracts.

Once a cataract has progressed to advanced stages, surgery will be needed to ease the symptoms and restore visual acuity. The cost of cataract surgery will be an important factor in deciding where and when to have the procedure done, among other factors.

In searching for the best facility for your eye surgery, it might be wise to look beyond your hometown and consider traveling to get a better experience with your corrective surgery.

Research & Technology

At Specialty Eye Institute, you can feel confident about the quality of eye care you will receive because our doctors are committed to research and clinical studies using the most advanced equipment available to allow for early detection of eye conditions.

By diagnosing eye conditions early, the doctors have the best chance of giving each patient a successful outcome in treatment.

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Traditional surgery to treat cataracts has been proven to be among the safest and most successful procedures in modern medicine. The popularity of laser cataract surgery has increased the degree of precision involved in performing certain critical steps of the procedure.

Types of Surgery & Lenses

Do you prefer a specific type of cataract surgery?

With the cutting-edge equipment and superior technology available at Specialty Eye Institute, our doctors will customize your surgery to give you the best possible results.

Traditional cataract surgery uses a no-stitch incision and is very safe and efficient and now with laser cataract surgery, Specialty Eye Institute can create incisions and potentially reduce astigmatism up to 10 times more precise than manual techniques for some portions of the cataract surgical procedure.

During cataract surgery, the cloudy natural lens will be removed and an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) will be inserted in its place. With the new, crystal clear lens, light rays will be able to penetrate to the retina and allow visual images to be sent to the brain.

A variety of lenses are available to choose from, and the type of lens used will affect the price and outcome of your surgery. And, certain lens options aren’t right for everyone so your doctor will help guide you to find the best option that fits your individual needs.

Different Lens Options:

Depth-of-Focus Lens
Toric Lens
Multifocal Lens
Monofocal Lens

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Cost, Insurance & Payment Plans

Most private insurance carriers and Medicare cover the costs of basic surgery for cataracts. There will be some out-of-pocket expenses, such as co-pays and deductibles. Costs will also vary depending on the type of lenses chosen for your surgery.

Specialty Eye Institute’s staff will work with you every step to give you the best possible care at the most affordable price.

Financing is also available to expedite your needed surgery. We offer the Alphaeon credit card to spread out your payments over time, with low monthly payments that fit your budget. Alphaeon offers you financing plans that might not be available with your current credit card companies.

Specialty Eye offers competitive pricing to help in your search for affordable eye surgery. We are committed to helping you preserve your eye health and can assist with arranging for discounts on hotel rooms to accommodate you during your surgical experience.

Combined with the technological advantages, cutting-edge equipment and some of the best doctors and medical staff to be found, traveling to Michigan for your cataract treatment could be one of the best decisions you have ever made!

Why Specialty Eye Institute?

The highly qualified doctors at Specialty Eye Institute offer state-of-the-art technology and Board Certified Eye Surgeons to give you the optimal experience in traditional or laser cataract surgery.

Dr. Paul H. Ernest founded Specialty Eye Institute in Jackson, Michigan in 1978. The Institute currently has 10 locations in Michigan and Ohio, with more than 20 physicians on staff.

Additional Resources:

New Retina Institute Coming Soon

TLC Eyecare & Laser Centers Retina Institute will be opening its doors this summer!

The retina is a vital component of your eyesight, and time is of the essence when it comes to saving your vision. The Retina Institute was developed to expand the latest technology and clinical treatment options available, while offering specialized care for patients with immediate vision needs.

Drs. Carmelina Gordon and Surendar Purohit are excited to provide a place for patients to receive advanced, compassionate care in a relaxing and healing environment.

The Retina Institute will be located next to the Corporate Headquarters at 850 West North Street in Jackson, Michigan.

Tecnis Symfony Intraocular Lens Comes to TLC

A new option for cataract patients is now available at Specialty Eye Institute!

The Tecnis Symfony Intraocular Lens provides an extended depth of focus for cataract patients. The extended depth of focus allows post-surgery patients to experience a wider range of vision, including near, intermediate, and far distances.

During cataract surgery, the natural lens of the eye is removed, and an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens, or IOL, is inserted into the eye. The IOL most commonly used in cataract surgery is a monofocal lens, which only allows the person to see at a distance, with closer objects being out of focus. In contrast, the Symfony lens was specifically developed with features to improve both the range and quality of vision.

The recent FDA approval of the Tecnis Symfony includes the Tecnis Symfony Toric IOL, a version of the lens for people with astigmatism.

Mahmoud El-Yassir, M.D. Joins Specialty Eye Institute’s Team of Experienced Surgeons

Mahmoud El-Yassir Joins Specialty Eye Institute

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Preparedness at Specialty Eye Institute

Steps we are taking to protect our patients in our offices:

Why Should You Consider Traveling for Cataract Surgery