Protecting your eyesight is one of the most important things you can do to help maintain your quality of life. Some type of sight-threatening eye problem affects one in six adults age 45 and older. And the risk for vision loss only increases with age. In fact, a recent American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) report estimates that more than 43 million Americans will develop age-related eye diseases by 2020. Since the leading causes of blindness and low vision in the United States are primarily age-related diseases such as macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, protecting your eyesight as you age is an essential part of your health care.
Tips for Protecting Your Eyes To protect your eyesight and keep your eyes healthy as you age, consider these simple guidelines:
Find out if you are at higher risk for eye diseases. Be aware of your family’s health history. Do you or any of your family suffer from diabetes or have a history of high blood pressure? Are you over the age of 65? Are you an African-American over the age of 40? Any of these traits increase your risk for sight-threatening eye diseases. Regular eye exams are particularly important, because an early diagnosis can limit any vision loss and help preserve your eyesight.Get regular eye exams to maintain your eye health and good vision. Want good vision all your life? Take care of your eyes, and get regular eye exams.
Have regular physical exams to check for diabetes and high blood pressure. If left untreated, these diseases can cause eye problems. In particular, diabetes and high blood pressure can lead to vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and eye strokes.
Look for warning signs of changes in your vision. If you start noticing changes in your vision, see your eye doctor immediately. Some trouble signs to look for are double vision, hazy vision and difficulty seeing in low light conditions. Other signs and symptoms of potentially serious eye problems that warrant immediate attention include red eyes, frequent flashes of light, floaters, and eye pain and swelling.
Exercise more frequently. According to the AAO, some studies suggest that regular exercise — such as walking — can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration by up to 70 percent.
Protect your eyes from harmful UV light. When outdoors during daytime, always wear sunglasses that shield your eyes from 100 percent of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. This may help reduce your risk of cataracts, pinguecula and other eye problems. Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Numerous studies have shown that antioxidants can possibly reduce the risk of cataracts. These antioxidants are obtained from eating a diet containing plentiful amounts of fruits and colorful or dark green vegetables. Studies also have shown that eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce your risk of developing macular degeneration. Also, consider supplementing your diet with eye vitamins to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of the nutrients you need to keep your eyes healthy.
Get your eyes checked at least every two years. A comprehensive eye exam, including dilating your pupils, can determine your risk for major eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, which has no early warning signs or symptoms. An eye exam also can ensure that your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses is up to date.
Don’t smoke. The many dangers of smoking have been well documented. When it comes to eye health, people who smoke are at greater risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, uveitis and other eye problems. In addition to following these guidelines, be sure to wear safety glasses when working with tools or participating in active sports to help prevent eye injuries that potentially could cause permanent vision loss. It’s true that following these steps is no guarantee of perfect vision throughout your lifetime. But maintaining a healthy lifestyle and having regular eye exams will certainly decrease your risk of developing a sight-stealing eye problem that otherwise might have been prevented.
Article by: AllAboutVision.com
According to the American Association of Ophthalmology, nearly 2.5 million people suffer eye injuries in the U.S. each year. Because they are so common, it may sometimes be difficult to tell whether or not an injury is serious and requires urgent medical attention. In honor of National Eye Injury Prevention Month, the vision experts at Yaldo Eye Center would like to share some important information to help you identify eye emergencies and what you can do in case of one.
The Telltale Signs of an Eye Emergency
You should contact your eye doctor immediately if it feels like you have something in your eye or if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Loss of vision
- Burning, stinging or other eye pain
- One eye is not moving like the other
- One eye is sticking out or bulging
- Double vision
- Redness and irritation
- Light sensitivity
- Bruising about the eye
- Bleeding or discharge from the eye
- Blood in the white part of the eye
- Itching
- Headache
- Pupils that are not the same size
- What to do in Case of an Eye Emergency
The most important thing to do in case of an eye emergency is seek urgent medical care immediately. However, here are additional precautions you can take:
For cuts and scratches, place a cold compress over the injured eye as you wait for medical attention. Be sure to not apply any pressure.
For chemical injuries, turn your head so the affected eye is down and to the side. Hold your eyelid open and flush with cool tap water for 15 minutes. If possible, continue flushing your eye with clean water as you wait for medical attention.
If a small foreign object gets in your eye, first try blinking to see if it clears your eye. If not, wash your hands and look into your eye to see if you can locate the object. Gently pull down on your lower and upper eyelid one at a time. If you find the object, flush your eye with cool water. If you can’t find the object or if irritation continues, contact your eye doctor.
If a large foreign object such as glass or metal gets stuck in your eye, leave it where it is and get to an emergency room as soon as possible. Do not attempt to touch or remove the object.
For more information on eye safety, contact Yaldo Eye Center today. Please schedule a one-on-one appointment by calling 248-553-9800.
Nearly every Sunday in November, football fans are glued to the television, watching as their team battles it out for a chance to go to the Super Bowl. Here at Yaldo Eye Center, we celebrate the athleticism displayed by the nation’s top players. We want to point out that some of your favorite football players (and other favorite athletes) may have had LASIK eye surgery at some point in their career to improve their performance. LASIK gives athletes the gift of clear vision without the need for glasses or contacts. In full-fledged contact sports like football, this is especially important.
Here are several examples of athletes who have had LASIK surgery:
One of the most famous football players to have LASIK is Troy Aikman, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Stuck wearing contacts since he was 14 years old, Aikman could not even see the big E on the eye chart without visual aids. He underwent laser vision correction in 1998 and his vision improved from 20/600 to 20/20. “This procedure definitely has the wow factor,” Aikman was quoted as saying in a 1999 issue of Texas Monthly.
Tiki Barber is another NFL superstar who achieved incredible vision thanks to LASIK. The former New York Giant had LASIK in 2000, resulting in 20/15 vision. “I think people, in general, feel more confident about LASIK now more than ever,” Business Wire quoted Barber.
Wayne Chrebet, former New York Jet, revealed that LASIK saved his career. Motivated by concerns about the playing conditions and awkwardness of wearing contacts during games, Chrebet achieved 20/15 vision after LASIK. “My eyesight and perfect vision are keys to my success,” he is quoted as saying.
Tiger Woods had LASIK in 1999, at a time when he couldn’t even see the other side of the room (according to his surgeon). “As a professional golfer, my eyesight was just too important to risk. My vision is fantastic,” Woods said in a Business Wire article. He went from being considered legally blind without glasses or contacts to enjoying 20/15 vision and shattering a number of golf records.
Former Atlanta Braves pitcher and four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux had laser vision correction in the middle of baseball season. Two days after his procedure, Maddux pitched a one-hitter. “I see better now, I know I see a lot wider now,” he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
NBA legend LeBron James had LASIK surgery in 2007. Sources say the superstar can see the rim and net clearer than ever. King James has won the MVP award an astounding four times since his surgery.
Contact Yaldo Eye Center
You don’t have to be a professional athlete to enjoy the benefits of LASIK surgery. To learn more about laser vision correction eligibility and how it can help you live your life to the fullest, schedule a consultation at Yaldo Eye Center today. Please call 248-553-9800 to make an appointment.
The benefits of LASIK are well-documented: clearer vision, freedom from glasses and contacts and a better quality of life are just few wonderful benefits of the laser vision correction procedure. But did you know that there are also financial benefits of having LASIK? In fact, having LASIK can save you thousands of dollars in vision-related costs over your lifetime.
In this blog post, the Yaldo Eye Center team explores the cost of LASIK compared to the cost of not having LASIK. We also explain why having LASIK is financially advantageous.
How Much Does LASIK Cost?
LASIK is a highly individualized procedure, and so is the cost. Ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 per eye, the one-time cost of LASIK varies based on the technology your surgeon uses, how much correction is performed and the difficulty of your procedure. Few LASIK patients need additional treatment or touch-ups after their procedure. The only way to find out for sure how much your LASIK procedure will cost is by scheduling a consultation.
How Much Do Glasses and Contacts Cost?
A box of six lenses typically costs between $50 and $70, and most people need between four and five boxes per year. That adds up to $200 to $350 per year spent on contact lenses. Special contact lenses for astigmatism can cost even more.
Eyeglass frames and lenses are typically a little cheaper than contacts. The average pair of corrective eyeglasses costs about $196. However, some people buy new frames regularly or rotate through a couple different styles to suit their taste.
On top of these costs, it’s important to factor in the cost of special cleaning supplies, contact solution and prescription sunglasses. The lifetime cost of wearing and caring for glasses or contact lenses can reach into the tens of thousands of dollars over the course of your lifetime.
The Bottom Line
When compared to the costs of wearing contacts or glasses for the rest of your life, LASIK is well worth it. Despite the larger upfront cost, LASIK eventually pays for itself — it actually saves you money in the end.
To help you absorb the upfront costs of LASIK into your budget, Yaldo Eye Center has several payment and financing options. For example, we accept CareCredit, a third-party financing organization. We have also worked out customized pricing for corporations. Or, you can pay for LASIK using your employer-sponsored flex spending account.
Contact Yaldo Eye Center Today
For more information about LASIK and the related costs, please contact us to schedule a consultation or call (248) 553-9800 and speak with a member of our team!
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.
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:
I am 60 yrs. old, having pupils so large they let in too much light.The daily light from the sun makes my eyes water and sting. From a headlight it is also kind of “blinding”. I am also very farsighted(?).
ANSWER:
If you are extremely farsighted, you might want to consider a procedure called Refractive Lens Exchange. This procedure is similar to cataract surgery, where the natural lens inside the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial lens implant. Advanced lens implant styles now available offer patients the ability to see both near and far without glasses. A side benefit is that by having your lens removed, you will not develop cataracts as you get older.
QUESTION:
My spherical power is -7.25 and cylinder is -1.25with 10 degree axis in right eye and spherical power is -5.5 and cylinder is -2 with 170 degree axis in left eye in which i have undergone barrage laser for lattice…and my corneal thickness is about 611 in both eyes..what is the best procedure to get rid of my glasses?
ANSWER:
With your prescription and corneal thickness, assuming the shape of your corneas is normal, I would recommend LASIK as the procedure of choice for you. Lattice degeneration is not a contraindication for LASIK.
QUESTION:
I’ve noticed that some doctors perform the iridotomy a few days or a week prior to the ICL implantation, but my doctor wants to do it on the same day. I also see that dome doctors prescribe antibiotic drops to be taken a day prior to the surgery; mine didn’t. Some recommend no make-up etc. for several days prior. My instructions were only: don’t wear contacts and don’t put any lotion, etc. on the day of the procedure. Also, my doctor wants to do both eyes on the same day. Should I be concerned?
ANSWER:
There is no absolute right or wrong way to handle some of the issues you raise regarding Visian ICL. Some physicians will perform iridotomies in advance and some at the time of ICL implantation. Similarly, some pretreat with antibiotics and some don’t. Nearly all will advise against makeup on the day of surgery and some for a few days even before that. Some will do the two eyes separately and some will perform bilateral implantation. If your surgeon is well trained, experienced with ICL, and you are comfortable with him/her, you should not be concerned.
QUESTION:
I have very poor vision that has required me to wear contacts for over a decade. As such, I would like to get refractive surgery to correct my vision. Unfortunately, my pupils are very large (8-9mm in low light conditions). As such, I am very worried about getting glares or halos if I have my eyes corrected with LASIK or ICL or some other surgery. Is there a “best” refractive option for people who have large pupils?
ANSWER:
It would be very important to know both your current prescription, and your corneal thickness in order to better advise you regarding what procedure might be best for you. All refractive procedures, including the ICL, have a risk of night side effects such as glare, halos and starburst. If your corneas are relatively thick and your prescription mild to moderate, you would likely be best off getting wavefront (custom) LASIK to help address high order aberrations, which are a root cause of night side effects.