Frequently asked Questions
Who is Dr. Howard J. Kass... ?
I am a licensed Professional Optometrist who has practiced since graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1972. I regularly attend continuing education and I have practiced in both a private and hospital setting for the past 31 years. I have been co-managing, PRK, Lasik, Zyoptics and/or Cataract Pre and Post Op patients since I began practicing Optometry in 1972.
I am a past president of the Nassau County Optometric Association. I relocated from Long Island and moved to Syracuse in 1997 to be close to the beautiful outdoors and the things I enjoy. I have been fishing and skiing this area for the past 45 years. I can now practice Optometry and enjoy the great outdoors without leaving home.
Dr. Kass is also Licensed to Practice Optometry in the State of Alaska.
During the past 10 years that I have been in Syracuse my practices have grown to over 8000 active patients. I offer Professional eye care for your entire family. Contact Lens Fittings is one of my specialties. I have both a Diagnostic and Therapeutic license to handle all your medical eye concerns. I dilate patients regularly and handle medical eye emergencies promptly. My office participates with most upstate Insurance Companies such as, Blue Cross Blue Shield, MVP, Pomco, Univera, Rmsco, HealthNow, CHP, Aetna ,Us Healthcare, CoreSource, GHI, Block Vision, Medicare, just to mention a few.
Our Office hours are Monday through Saturday with evening hours on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Even with this growth, my office is still accepting new patients and I look forward to welcoming both you and your family to my Optometric Practice here in East Syracuse and Central Square. Our new office in Central Square opens on October 16, 2006.
Where can I receive my Pre Operative Evaluation and Post
Operative Care For Lasik Surgery?
At my office. All your Pre and Post Op needs and visits can be completed in my office. I will always be in touch with your surgical group regardless on where you had your surgery performed. Remember, my office has a Pachymeter necessary to measure corneal thickness. You need this measurement to insure you being a good surgical patient for Lasik surgery.
I am one of the very few Optometric offices in Central New York that has a Pachymeter. Doing your Pre-Op Evaluation at my office will save you a unnecessary trip to Canada and elsewhere.
Map to My Office...
I am located off 690 East on Bridge Street within the East Syracuse *Walmart. My office is within "The Vision Center"
315-434-9168
also located in the Central Square Wal-Mart off Route 49 in Central Square
315-668-0422
Why doesn't my Insurance pay for LASIK Surgery and what is the Fee for Co-Management... ?
Refractive Surgery is considered an elective form of surgery like most cosmetic plastic surgery.
Your company may have a medical fund where you can assign Pre-Tax dollars for your yearly medical needs. Consider using your Flex Plan for this procedure.
My fee for all your Pre and Post Operative care is $525.00. This fee covers all your visits to my office.
If the event that your Canadian surgeon has already completed your Pre-Op evaluation than your Post-Op care can be completed in my office in Syracuse. Your fee, if you pay in full @ the time of your 1st Post-Op visit would be $ 375.00. You will be seen @ 1 week, 1 month , 3 months and 6 months. A total of 4 visits.
PRK will involve more visits and my co-management fee is $475.00 for this 7 visits. This fee is payable in full @ the time of your first visit. You will be seen at 2 day, 1 week, 1, 3, 6 months and then again @ 1 year.
All your future care can be done in my Syracuse office without making the long drive back to Canada.
If you are having your surgery performed out of the country, I encourage you to have your Pre-Operative evaluation done at my office before making that long drive to Canada to see if your qualify for Lasik.
Your fees are payable in full at the time of your 1st visit to my office. A $150.00 deposit is customary if we are doing the Pre Operative evaluation. Your balance is payable in full upon you 1st Post-Op visit 1 week following surgery.
What is LASIK... ?
It is a laser method of changing the refractive error of the eye for Myopic, Hyperopic and Astigmatic patients. A flap is created and the Lasik laser molds the eye to correct for it's refractive abnormality. It is usually a painless procedure when performed under the supervision of a skilled surgeon. I will be most happy to answer any of your questions upon your next visit to my office.
Remember, your follow up care is just as important as the surgery itself. The healing process needs to be monitored.
When is LASIK Done... ?
In most cases you should be at least 21 years of age. By this time your eye had already reached it's refractive maturity.
If you wear contact lenses you should keep them off for a period of at least 1-2 weeks for soft lens wearers and 1 month for hard lens wearers prior to surgery. This one month period is usually considered a standard for proper care.
Contact Lens Expiration Issue....? 
Here is the latest information as posted on ABC.com on August 21, 2003
The following U.S. States have a 1 Year Expiration on Contact Lens Prescriptions.
Arkansas Connecticut Idaho Illinois Kentucky Michigan Missouri Massachusetts
Montana Nevada North Dakota New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island
South Carolina Tennessee Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
- The patient therefore needs a complete Contact Lens Examination every year to renew and purchase new contact lenses.
- Your Contact Lens prescription therefore expires according to New York State Law, 1 Year from the written date on your original prescription.
- Spectacle prescriptions are not Contact Lens prescription!
- In order to fill an outside prescription for contact lenses, the prescription must state the type of contact lens, the brand, the prescription, the parameters and the expiration date. The prescription must be specific for Contact Lenses.
- Trial Lenses dispensed during the initial fitting are only for diagnostic purposes.
- No Trial Lenses will be given out after the initial fitting phase is completed.
- Additional Lenses may be purchased after the fitting phase for continued use.
- Kindly plan ahead so you do not run out of your contact lenses. If you need replacement lenses they may be purchased as long as the prescription is valid and has not expired.
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How do I Make an Appointment ...? Just click on the
mailbox. 
You can also call my office @ 315-434-9168 in East Syracuse or 315-668-0422 in Central Square
We can also arrange your surgical appointment with several Canadian Surgeons and LASER VIEW of CNY.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Dr. Howard J Kass and his Staff is to make available the Best Optometric Family Eye Care in Central NY
My Offices Provide the Ultimate in Professional Eye Health Examinations; Contact Lens Fittings; Medical Eye Services; Dry Eye and Lasik/Co-Management in the Upstate Area.
Your Families Eye Health is my Main Focus.
“Optometrists are People of Vision”
Lasik Surgery Eye Exam Information
What's New in the Eye World & Contact Lens Update
TO
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
just click the Eye 
Authored by Howard J. Kass, O.D. Copyright © 2000
[Dr. Howard J. Kass, Optometrist] All rights reserved. 01/25/00