Training and board certification
Source for all rows: source
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| College | Brigham Young University; Bachelor's degree |
| Medical school | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; M.D. and Ph.D. in Pathobiology |
| Other | Certificate of Business Administration, Illinois |
| Internship | St. Vincent's Hospital, Indianapolis, IN |
| Residency | Ophthalmology, University of Iowa |
- Board certification: "Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology."
- In practice in Southern New Mexico since August 2009.
- Has presented at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals, most recently on lamellar corneal transplantation.
Eyelid surgery work
The droopy eyes page (source) describes:
- Causes: loss of skin elasticity and gravity produce excess upper eyelid skin and muscle that can hang over the lashes and block vision; weakened membranes let orbital fat bulge into the lids.
- Common complaints: a tired look, heavy upper lids, smudged eye makeup and a faded eyelid crease. Brow droop can add to the excess skin.
- The page separates excess skin (dermatochalasis) from true eyelid droop (ptosis), in which the lid itself hangs down.
- Upper eyelid blepharoplasty restores the natural crease and removes excess skin, muscle and fat. It takes about one hour and is performed in the office or at an outpatient surgical facility.
- Ice packs are placed after surgery, and eye drops and ointment are prescribed for dryness in the first two to four days.
The bio states Dr. Fillmore performs surgery at the Las Cruces, Deming and Alamogordo locations (source). The site has no lower blepharoplasty page and no before-and-after gallery.
Other procedures
The clinic lists cataract surgery, premium lens implants, corneal surgery including endothelial keratoplasty, glaucoma, diabetic eye care, macular degeneration, dry eye and Botox (procedures).
Insurance and cost
- Excess upper eyelid skin with brow droop "can be filed under your insurance as a medical condition"; ptosis that reduces vision is "deemed medically necessary by common insurance providers" (source).
- The home page states the clinic accepts Medicare, Tricare, VSP and Blue Cross Blue Shield and offers financing (fillmoreeye.com).
- Patients must report any pre-certification or referral their plan requires for surgery (faqs).
- The site publishes no eyelid surgery prices.
Recovery
- Bruising and swelling: up to a week.
- Sutures: dissolve in three to five days.
- First post-operative visit: about six days after surgery.
- Activity: for one week, avoid straining, heavy lifting, swimming, aerobics and jogging; wear sunglasses; sleep with the head raised above the chest.