Why LASIK Surgery is a Good Long-Term Investment
Whether it is due to age, a hereditary disposition, or other circumstances, a person’s eyes can sometimes be compromised, affecting his vision. In the past, the common solution was using corrective or permanent glasses or using prescription contact lenses.
Fortunately, LASIK surgery has become available to people who nearsighted or farsighted, or are suffering from astigmatism. While not a new procedure, people still assume that LASIK surgery is very expensive. While not cheap either, the upfront investment for the procedure does pay off in the succeeding years, as the patient will experience the benefits of the surgery for years to come. These include:
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The elimination of the long term costs of corrective eyewear. Thanks to the effectiveness of LASIK surgery, individuals who used to wear corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses no longer need to invest in glasses, disposable lenses, and cleaning and eye solutions.
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Because there’s no need for corrective eyewear, there’s also no need to go through the inconvenience of wearing glasses and alternatively applying contact lenses when one wants to read, watch TV, play sports, or do just about any activity apart from sleeping.
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LASIK surgery is a quick, non-invasive process, one that commonly generates very minimal pain. Vision is often immediately better a few weeks after the procedure, with minimal recovery time needed, and with no need to use bandages or stitches.
Getting Your Eyes Checked by an Eye Doctor
When a person experiences problems with his eyes, the automatic response should be to visit his eye doctor to get treated and alleviate any discomfort he feels. Yet, with several eye clinics in the area, it can be a task to find the right eye doctor. Simply knowing what each type of doctor is trained to do for the patient can make the process a little easier.
Ophthalmologist
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye and vision care. They are trained to perform eye exams, diagnose and treat disease in relation to the eyes, prescribe necessary medication and perform eye surgery. They are also capable of writing prescriptions for eye glasses and contact lenses.
Optometrist
An optometrist is someone who has medical training but is not a physician. Optometrists are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of specific eye-related diseases, yet are commonly focused on routine eye care and conducting vision testing for glasses or contact lenses.
If the eyes are generally healthy, have problems with their vision, or have a minor infection, a visit to an optometrist is ideal. However, if the problem is related to medical issues like glaucoma, macular degeneration or cataracts, then visiting an ophthalmologist is the better option. Visiting a facility with a team composed of optometrists and ophthalmologist is a great way to have any eye concern addressed.
Breaking Down LASIK
Most people, patients and eye doctors alike, refer to “laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis” as LASIK simply because the full term is a mouthful. Run a quick search on Google, however, and you’ll see that the four-word terminology for laser eye surgery contains three terms. Here’s a breakdown of what LASIK really means: Continue reading →
What you Don’t Know can Blind You
How can you protect your eyes? Most people would enumerate ways to avoid just about every possible source of eyestrain. However, what many don’t realize is that your eyesight could end up getting damaged from a lot of other ordinary activities that, apparently, don’t really have anything to do with your eyes, much like:
Smoking
Smoking isn’t just bad for your lungs. As a matter of fact, it can also increase your risk of developing cataracts and other retinal diseases. It also serves to aggravate already existing eye problems. Continue reading →
Are You Eligible for LASIK Surgery?
Your eyes’ natural lens used to change shape effortlessly when you were younger, allowing you to have optimum focus on objects. Consequently though, as you grew older, you may have to use reading glasses or other visual aids since your lens’ ability to adjust their shape has decreased. To correct your vision, a specially trained eye surgeon can fine-tune your eyes through LASIK surgery, but is this right for you?
Your job allows refractive surgery.
Always ask your employer or organization if they allow such a procedure. Some jobs, like pilots and military servicemen, restrict this kind of treatment
You only had minor changes in your vision for the past year.
Minor changes in eyesight is common. However, when your prescription undergoes extreme changes each year, you may be unsuitable for the surgery.
You don’t have chronic medical conditions.
Having medical conditions like autoimmune diseases (lupus), immunodeficiency states (HIV), and diabetes can prevent proper healing after the LASIK surgery. In most cases, consuming medications like steroids can also hinder a full recovery.
You don’t participate in contact sports.
Contact sports like boxing, martial arts, and wrestling increase the possibility of LASIK flap dislocation if there is significant trauma to the eye. Thus, if you engage in any of these aforementioned sports, you may not be an ideal candidate for LASIK surgery.
Seeing Clearly: Finding the Right Eye Doctors
Much like any part of the body, the eyes have their own crucial role to play in people’s lives. Caring for the eyes is an important yet often neglected matter though, and most people only seek for help when the problems have already reached a serious stage. If you have yet to see an eye doctor or are in the process of searching for one, these few reminders will help you find the right ones.
Ask for referrals – One of the best ways to find good eye doctors is to ask for referrals from trusted sources. These could be your attending physician, your parents or siblings, or even reputable professional organizations who have a database of eye specialists in different areas of the country.
Experience and credentials – Check on the track record and experience of the eye doctors you are planning to visit. Go for the ones who have been in the industry for several years. Check their licenses, awards, and memberships in key organizations as all of these add up to their reputation.
Make an assessment – After you have chosen a doctor and have gone through a check-up or treatment, assess and evaluate your visit. Did the doctor attend to you in a professional manner? Was he or she able to make you feel comfortable before and during the procedure? Was he or she able to treat your condition properly and effectively?
Lasik Helps the King of the Wire Perform Better
Nik Wallenda, better known as “The King of the Wire,” is a record-holding tightrope walker. His tightrope hit list, which includes the Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon, has left everyone in awe and amazement.
None of Wallenda’s achievements, however, would have been possible without one of the key aspects in tightrope walking: balance. As balance can only be maintained or achieved by the sensorimotor control systems, which includes sight, touch, and motion, the absence of one will apparently keep the body from harmonizing with the mind. This is why Wallenda recently underwent Lasik surgery.
Lasik is usually performed on individuals wearing glasses or contact lenses. It corrects problems like nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism.
In the case of Wallenda, Lasik was the best option, especially after his contact lens problem impeded his vision. Not only is the procedure safe but also highly effective. It enables clear vision immediately or a day after the surgery, which is an advantage for this daredevil to allow him to do what he does best. Moreover, the procedure only takes a few minutes and does not require bandages or stitches.
If you’re ready to undergo Lasik surgery in Durham NC, remember to consult a trusted surgeon. He’ll make you go through a complete eye examination to make sure your eyes are healthy enough for the procedure.
What You Need to Know About Cataract Surgery
Statistics show that cataract problems are so widespread, at least half of all Americans will have had its symptoms or undergone surgery by the time they reach 80 years old. Don’t worry if you happen to be suffering from it, there are many treatments available today that can help you overcome the condition.
Many experts suggest that surgery is the only way to remedy a cataract. Therefore, no eye drop, medication, or pair of spectacles will make them go away or prevent them altogether. If you can no longer see clearly because of cataracts, talk to an eye doctor about cataract surgery.
The most common question patients with cataracts ask is: “When is the right time for cataract surgery?” The best way to make this decision is to talk to your eye doctor about how the condition is affecting your daily activities. Normally, if it’s mildly bothersome, it can wait. However, if it’s a major nuisance, you may need to discuss having surgery as soon as possible.
Trusted eye doctors know how frustrating and agonizing it can be to lose your vision. That’s why they do their best to help people with cataracts understand their options. These doctors have the modern technology and top expertise you need to help you deal with your cataract problem.
How to Prepare for LASIK Surgery
Have you misplaced your glasses once again? Are your eyes irritated because you forgot to take out your contacts before sleeping? If wearing glasses or contacts has become a hassle, LASIK surgery can restore proper vision without the need for corrective lenses. You can be in and out of the operating room in less than 90 minutes, and on your way to perfect eyesight before you even know it.
Like all operations, however, you need to prepare for LASIK surgery to achieve the best possible results and avoid complications. Twenty-four hours before your surgery, make sure to do the following preparations:
Don’t Put on Eye Makeup
Cosmetics like mascara or eye shadow can introduce debris to your eyes and cause infection, so don’t use them immediately before and after the procedure. It’s also a good idea to wash your eyelashes more frequently to remove trapped dirt that may get into your eyes.
Get Your Prescriptions Now
Directly after LASIK surgery, your vision may get slightly blurry so getting around will be difficult; hence, it’s a good idea to fill your prescriptions prior to the operation so you won’t need to drop by the pharmacist afterward.
Schedule Time Off from Work
While some people go back to work immediately after getting LASIK surgery, you should rest for a few days to let your eyes heal. Ask your doctor how much ti
Correcting Your Vision With LASIK
Defining LASIK
While it has been around for quite some time, LASIK eye surgery has only recently been gaining a surge in popularity. This surgical procedure, which stands for laser in situ keratomileusis, uses laser technology to reshape the cornea. Studies have shown that 96% of LASIK surgery patients attained the vision improvement they wanted from the procedure.
How it works
The eye surgeon creates a thin flap on the surface of the cornea using microkeratome, and uses excimer laser to reshape the cornea in a pattern that has been pre-determined for the patient. The reshaping process is based on the type of refractive error the patient has: myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
Myopia or nearsightedness is the inability to view distant objects clearly. Hyperopia or farsightedness, works the opposite way as myopia, with the patient able to see an object clearly from afar, but poorly when closer to it. Astigmatism, on the other hand, can cause blurred vision regardless of distance.
Preparing for the surgery
It is important for patients to follow all the pre-surgery preparations that may be advised by their surgeons, including taking the prescribed medications. Likewise, those who are wearing contacts prior to the surgery may need to stay away from wearing these for around three weeks before the scheduled procedure. It would also be good to take a light meal before going for the surgery.
North Carolina Eye Ear Nose & Throat 