QUESTION:
I had lasik surgery 3 weeks ago and was told I was both nearsighted and farsighted. If PRK was performed, would that correct both nearsightedness and farsightedness as well as my astigmatism?
ANSWER:
It is impossible to be both nearsighted and farsighted in the same eye. It is like a number being both positive and negative at once. More likely, you were nearsighted with presbyopia. Many people confuse presbyopia with farsightedness. Presbyopia is the aging of the lens inside the eye which happens to all people in their 40’s, and it causes a need for reading glasses. If you were nearsighted with presbyopia, and you had PRK, you would have had two options with surgery. One would be a full correction of your nearsightedness in both eyes, to give you excellent distance vision. You would remain presbyopic, and would need glasses for close work. The second option would be monovision, where the nearsightedness is fully corrected in one eye (usually the dominant eye), and partially corrected the the other eye. Leaving one eye slightly nearsighted helps “get around” the problem of presbyopia, and allows you to see near better without using glasses. Most people adapt very well to monovision and don’t notice any tradeoffs. Some notice minor tradeoffs but decide that it is well worth it to avoid the need for reading glasses. Astigmatism is treated either way, with the goal of complete elimination whether you do monovision or a full distance correction. Hopefully your surgeon explained all this to you prior to surgery and allowed you to make a fully informed decision.
QUESTION:
From trying to rinse my face with ONLY water, even the slight fingers going over my eyes hurts. I cannot wear any make-up without crying from it burning my eyes. I am freaking out and feel like my vision is getting worse. I have to use gel drops at night and drops during the day. Is there hope? Will this go away? Are my eyes still healing?
ANSWER:
It is likely that the burning and blurriness you are experiencing is from dryness, which is a frequent side effect of LASIK and PRK (more common with LASIK, actually). Fortunately, it is usually temporary, though it can last several months as the eyes heal, and can be quite annoying. Frequent use of tears and night lubricating gels/ointments are very helpful. For severe cases, punctum plugs and/or Restasis eyedrops can be used. Although possible, it is very uncommon for the dryness to be permanent following PRK.
Many considerations go into determining whether a patient is a good candidate for LASIK, such as cost, your degree of vision impairment, and potential side effects. Since astigmatism affects most people at some level and is a frequent companion of common issues like nearsightedness and farsightedness, knowing whether LASIK can correct the condition can also be an important factor.
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or the lens of the eye has curved into an oblong shape. This can occur naturally or be caused by an injury. For people who have some degree of astigmatism, this can cause blurred vision and lead to discomfort and headaches. Severe cases may even require a corneal transplant. Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, contacts, or laser eye surgery.
During the procedure, LASIK corrects astigmatism by extracting the inner corneal layer from the eye. This alters the oblong shape that can cause the blurriness associated with astigmatism. There are other ways of treating astigmatism, including another surgical procedure which removes more tissue. LASIK has the extra advantage of correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism with a 96% success rate.
LASIK also has the added benefit of being nearly painless, and it has a very quick recovery time. For those who have mild or moderate vision problems, LASIK is a great vision correction option to consider.
As always, you should consult your ophthalmologist when considering LASIK or any other procedure. Only a physician can evaluate your unique situation and recommend the best course of action for you.
Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions regarding LASIK surgery at (800) 398-3937.
Vision health is an often-overlooked aspect of our modern lives. Many people put incredible strain on their eyes without considering the long-term effects. Yaldo Eye Center wants all people to take care of their eyes.
Save Your Vision 2015 is focused on the eye-care needs of the 21st Century. They are trying to raise awareness of how digital technology impacts users’ eyes.
The doctors at Yaldo Eye Center have listed several eye health tips below!
- There are no shortcuts. While there are mobile apps and electronic tests online that claim to offer comprehensive eye exams, they have not replaced the traditional visit to an optometrist’s office. See your doctor once yearly to get a full exam.
- Follow the 20-20-20 Rule. Yaldo Eye Center recommends that users take a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at something three-dimensional at least 20 feet away. This easy principle takes discipline, which makes it an important habit for children to develop because they are using digital devices more every year.
- Be careful shopping online. Consumers believe that shopping for eyeglasses online is a way to save money. Yaldo Eye Center wants to raise awareness of the hidden costs and dangers of online eyewear shopping. Arm yourself with knowledge and avoid paying for eyewear that could be hurting your vision.
Learn about Computer Vision Syndrome
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), also known as Digital Eye Strain, is a group of eye and vision problems that are associated with extensive use of computers, cell phones, e-readers and tablets. The following symptoms are commonly associated with CVS:
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Dry eyes
- Eyestrain
- Neck and shoulder pain
Evidence indicates that the severity of these symptoms is often dependent upon pre-existing vision abilities and the time spent looking at digital screens. Some may experience symptoms of greater severity or variety if they have uncorrected vision problems like astigmatism, farsightedness, or poor eye coordination.
Older individuals may experience greater difficulty in viewing screens due to age-related changes of the eye like presbyopia. Some other causes of CVS symptoms are:
- Glare on a digital screen
- Poor seating posture
- Poor lighting
- Improper viewing distances
What Causes CVS?
Computer and digital screens make eyes work harder. Looking at a screen is different than looking at print on paper. Lettering on screens may not be sharply defined, causing users to struggle to read it.
Excessive visual demands on an individual, requiring eyes to perform tasks that take the greatest effort to focus, will cause CVS. Those at greatest risk of the syndrome are those who spend two or more hours in front of a screen every day.
At Yaldo Eye Center we encourage people to take the time to consider the health of their eyes. Everyone uses their eyes for many tasks, so make sure they will last a lifetime.
Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions regarding LASIK surgery at (800) 398-3937.
Wondering how to choose a LASIK Surgeon? Finding the right LASIK surgeon is a crucial decision – after all, laser vision correction can have a huge impact on the rest of your life! So what’s important to remember while you’re still on the search? We recommend starting with a list of questions.
For example, ask them what kind of laser they use, what financing options they offer, and how long they’ve been performing LASIK procedures. The main objective is to determine their level of expertise, experience, and safety although cost is always a concern. While going with the least expensive surgeon in town is certainly not a great rule of thumb, choosing the most expensive one does not mean that you’ll receive superior services either.
There are multiple other aspects to consider as well – look into their licensing and board certification along with verifying whether they are credentialed by the American Board of Ophthlamology or American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Determining how to choose a LASIK surgeon can and should be a deeper process than that of course. You’ll probably want to visit the office for an initial examination — most practices (like Yaldo Eye center) offer this for free. It always helps to be able to interact with the staff firsthand, asking further questions such as if they charge extra if an enhancement is required.
Finally, ask around – request a referral from your friends or family, doctors, and read online reviews (if available). This allows you to get a “second opinion” of sorts from other sources so you can effectively choose between your existing options.
Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions regarding LASIK surgery at (800) 398-3937.
Top 10 LASIK Myths and the Truths Behind Them
Myth 1: LASIK is not real surgery.
Fact: LASIK is surgery, but with proper care, it’s not dangerous or risky. Numerous clinical studies show that the chance of serious vision-reducing complications is extremely low.
Myth 2: Complications and side effects should be expected after laser vision correction.
Fact: As with any other surgery, there are potential immediate side effects like moderate glare or dry eyes. But these are likely to subside in short order. Again, clinical studies of laser vision correction have documented the risks of having a serious vision-reducing complication as extremely low.
Myth 3: Laser vision correction is so new that no one really knows if there are any long-term side effects.
Fact: Laser vision correction became widely available in the United States in the mid-1990s. In the 25 years since, no long-term ill effects of the procedure are known or even display any evidence.
Myth 4: There is only one type of laser used to treat all patients.
Fact: There are a variety of lasers that can be used depending on the needs and prescription of each patient. After careful screening, Dr. Yaldo identifies the most appropriate laser for your situation or condition. In fact, Dr. Yaldo is the only eye surgeon in SE Michigan with the CATz laser, the most advanced in all of ophthalmology.
Myth 5: It doesn’t matter which doctor performs your procedure because the laser does all the work.
Fact: The surgeon’s skill and the level of care offered is an essential element in the success of any surgical procedure. The laser is the surgeon’s tool to perform a delicate surgical procedure based on skill, experience and expertise. Pre- and post-operative care by both the surgeon and his staff is important and is available to all patients of the Yaldo Eye Center.
Myth 6: The best indication of a surgeon’s ability is the number of procedures he or she has performed.
Fact: The number of procedures performed by a surgeon indicates his or her level of experience, and is an important factor in selecting a surgeon. Potential patients should first consult their own eye doctor to recommend a surgeon and also talk to family and friends to relate their lasik experiences. Dr. Yaldo has performed more lasik procedures than anyone in Michigan, nearly 30,000, which makes him Michigan’s most experienced lasik surgeon.
Myth 7: LASIK can forever end patients’ needs for glasses.
Fact: Most patients with mild to moderate prescriptions can achieve 20/20 vision or better and never again need glasses or contact lenses. During the pre-surgical screening, your doctor should be able to determine the range of your probable outcomes. However, as patients get into their mid-forties or thereabouts, the need for reading glasses often arises. Fortunately, there are number of procedures to deal with that issue and help prevent the need for reading glasses.
Myth 8: Anyone who wants to have LASIK is a candidate.
Fact: This is almost true. You must be 18, in good health with eyes free of diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma. If so, nearsightedness, farsightedness and even astigmatism can all be corrected with life-changing visual clarity. Appropriate screening, like the detailed evaluations at the Yaldo Eye Center, is the most important step in preventing complications.
Myth 9: Since the outcomes are all the same, the cheapest surgery is no different than the most expensive one.
Fact: “You get what you pay for” also applies to laser vision correction. Lasik can be performed at low cost using old technology, such as using a blade called a mechanical keratome, and discount centers often come up short on patient screening and care. All laser lasik, such as Wavefront or CATz, as well as life time enhancements and follow-up are very important.
Myth 10: New lasik technologies continue to be introduced every year. Patients should wait for doctors to find the best one.
Fact: The current LASIK technologies provide stunning outcomes. CATz, or topography guided lasik, is designed to give most patients better than 20-20 vision. Future technologies may make LASIK available to a wider group of potential patients whose vision cannot currently be corrected, but if you’re one of the over 95% who do qualify as a patient, there’s no reason to wait for something better.
