Dr. Heidi Reiling, owner of Blue Valley Eyecare, has always known that she wanted to do something in the medical field. After working in a veterinarian’s office when she was younger, she realized that she preferred human patients to animals. It wasn’t until her junior year of college that Dr. Reiling decided to make the field of optometry her career focus.

Originally from Lawrence, Kansas, Dr. Reiling received her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University, where she majored in biology. She graduated from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 1994. Dr. Reiling has been a member of the Overland Park Noon Lions Club for 15 years, and is currently serving as the group’s president. She is also a member of the Kansas Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association.

Dr. Reiling worked for various optometrists and ophthalmologists for about five years after obtaining her degree in optometry. She later opened Blue Valley Eyecare in 1999. She says she feels her past work experience was invaluable because it afforded her the opportunity to observe the kinds of things she wanted to one day incorporate into an office of her own.

Since opening in 1999, the focus of Blue Valley Eyecare has been to offer patients a full range of quality services, such as routine eye exams and contact lens and glasses fittings. The clinic also provides co-management of custom Lasik laser vision correction and cataract surgery. Dr. Reiling shares that it is important to her that her patients are provided with individualized attention to meet their eye care needs in a relaxed, professional environment.

Dr. Reiling explains that eye discomfort and contact lens-induced dry eye are two problems that contribute to the dropout rate of contact lens wearers as they get older. New products are being developed that both manage dry eye and increase the wearer’s comfort.

There are two types of contact lenses that meet the unique needs of some of these patients: multifocal contact lenses and monovision contacts. Both types are alternatives to reading glasses and/or bifocals. Multifocal contact lenses have been around for approximately10 to 15 years. There are four main manufactures: Vistakon (Johnson & Johnson), Ciba, Bausch & Lomb, and CooperVision, Dr. Reiling says.

Presbyopia is the term that describes the eyes’ decreasing ability to focus on objects that are close-up as one ages. Dr. Reiling points out that about a year ago, Vistakon came out with Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia. In addition, Ciba also recently came out with Air Optix Multifocals, which is a new design that provides the wearer with increased comfort when compared to previous multifocal designs. New materials such as silicon hydrogels have increased oxygen permeability so that more oxygen can get to the eyes and the eyes don’t dry out as much. As people age, their eyes also become drier, so this is currently a booming category due to the aging population, Dr. Reiling comments.

Dr. Reiling explains that in the past, there was a challenge when fitting patients with multifocal contacts to find a balance between distance and near vision. While trying to find optimal powers for both, distance was often compromised. Over the past four years, there has been a 50% increase in multifocal contact lens fittings.

Carole Rosthauser is a friend of Dr. Reiling’s. She was formerly a patient of another optometrist, as she initially chose to keep her friendship and her eye care needs separate. About three years ago, Carole, who was wearing monovision contacts (one lens for close-up; the other for distance vision) at the time, began having difficulties with her vision. She noticed that she was missing objects in the range of three to five feet in front of her. She mentioned this to Dr. Reiling, who suggested she pay her a visit at her office.

After evaluating Carole’s eyes, Dr. Reiling suggested she try multifocal lenses, which seemed to solve the problem at the time. Carole states that presently her vision seems to be changing once again. Dr. Reiling is working with her to attain a more crisp field of vision especially for close-up work. This is important for Carole, who is a nurse.

Monovision contact lenses, which have been around for a much longer time than multifocal lenses, are an alternative for those who are not candidates for multifocals due to high astigmatism. This is where the dominant eye is corrected for distance, and the non-dominant eye is corrected for reading up close. Dr. Reiling shares that monovision can be achieved with one or two lenses depending on the patient’s prescription. The majority of people require two lenses.

Susan Crane has known Dr. Reiling for over 10 years. The two women first became acquainted through Susan’s daughter, who is a friend of Dr. Reiling’s. Susan became a patient when Blue Valley Eyecare first opened, and about two-and-a-half years ago, she also became an employee. Susan shares that she was almost 60 years old when she was fitted with monovision contacts. It was the first time in her life that she had ever tried contact lenses.

Susan experienced some problems with dry eye with the first type of lenses she tried, so Dr. Reiling suggested she try another brand that had more moisture in the lens. Susan says she has done great with the second brand.

Because she is an employee as well as a patient, Susan is in the unique position to observe Dr. Reiling in both roles. Susan says she finds Dr. Reiling to be extremely thorough and accurate. She adds that she has a good rapport with her patients. She goes on to say, “Dr. Reiling is a good optometrist who takes care of her patients. She has a nice manner with them. She is very pleasant and extremely knowledgeable.”

Blue Valley Eyecare is located in Overland Park at 12621 Antioch Road in the Antioch 127 strip center just south of the Blue Valley Branch Post Office. The phone number is 913-814-7707. The hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It is closed on Sunday.
For more information about the services that are offered at Blue Valley Eyecare, as well as the types of payment accepted and specific insurance plans that it participates with, visit the Web site at www.bluevalleyeyecare.com. Numerous articles on eye care and information about current promotions are also available on the Web site.