Possible Hereditary Element
Nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism are refractive errors that compromise the eye’s ability to focus. They affect the curvature of the cornea. A healthy cornea is evenly and smoothly curved, like a marble, to refract incoming light so that it makes a sharply focused image on the retina. When the cornea takes on an abnormal curvature, it cannot properly refract light for a clear image.
Nearsightedness occurs when the cornea is curved too much and makes it difficult to see faraway objects. Farsightedness occurs when the cornea is curved too little, which makes it difficult to see nearby objects. And astigmatism occurs when the cornea (or, in some cases, the lens) is curved like an oval or egg, causing blurry vision.
What is to blame for the abnormal cornea curvature? In some cases, these vision conditions can be inherited and present from birth. Other possible causes include environmental factors, an eye injury or previous eye surgery.
Understanding the Treatment Options
If you have been diagnosed with nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, it is likely that you wear glasses or contact lenses to see clearly. But did you know that there is a better treatment option available to you?
LASIK laser vision correction surgery changes the shape of the cornea so it can properly refract light. The surgery is a short outpatient procedure with rapid results. At Yaldo Eye Center, our eye surgeons use advanced lasers to carefully remove small amounts of corneal tissue. This is not painful and takes less than 15 minutes. The visual improvement is almost immediate!
For more information about laser vision correction for the treatment of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, please call Yaldo Eye Center at (800) 398-3937 to schedule a consultation.
What Is Your Professional Experience?
The single most important decision you will make regarding LASIK is the surgeon you select. The baseline criteria for a LASIK surgeon is someone that has graduated medical school, performed an ophthalmology residency program and become board certified. Ideally, you want some additional credentials, such as special advanced training through a fellowship program or something similar. Other “bonuses” include teaching fellow surgeons or students, publishing articles and belonging to professional associations.
How Many LASIK Procedures Have You Performed?
Ask your surgeon how many LASIK procedures they have performed; they should be able to provide this information. You want someone that has performed a high volume of procedures and uses the latest technology and techniques. This ensures that their skills are refined and up-to-date.
Am I a Good Candidate for LASIK?
Your initial consultation should include a comprehensive eye examination and some testing to determine whether you qualify for LASIK surgery. Your refractive error should be within a certain range, you should not be pregnant or nursing and you should have a stable prescription. Ask your surgeon whether they recommend the procedure based on these factors, or if they would suggest an alternative or even postponing surgery.
What Results Can I Reasonably Expect?
Try to get a clear understanding of what you can reasonably expect after LASIK. Will you still need to wear glasses or contacts occasionally? Regularly? When can you expect to see improvements in your vision? What are the chances you will need future enhancement?
For a good idea of what to expect with a particular surgeon, you can read patient reviews or testimonials describing their experience.
How Do You Handle Complications?
LASIK is generally a safe and successful procedure. However, any surgical procedure involves some degree of risk. In the rare case that something goes awry, you want to know how your surgeon would handle it. The most experienced surgeons can explain their approach to complications and to cases where future enhancements are needed (rare, but possible).
Schedule Your Consultation with Yaldo Eye Center
To schedule a consultation at a Yaldo Eye Center location, please call (800) 398-3937.
Contact Lens for IOP monitoring in Glaucoma Patients
A smart contact lens could help to know whether the disease will progress slowly or advance quickly.
A new study appearing in the journal Ophthalmology this April shows that electronic signals from a such smart contact lens can be used to predict which glaucoma patients may have a faster advancing version of the disease.
‘Stunning’ operation regenerates eye’s lens
A pioneering procedure to regenerate the eye has successfully treated children with cataracts. Experts describe the breakthrough as one of the finest achievements in regenerative medicine.
Survey weighs LASIK, contact lens wear
LASIK results in fewer visual problems with night-time driving for patients who previously wore contact lenses and for those who wore glasses, indicate preliminary data from a survey comparing patient satisfaction.
The goals of glaucoma therapy at the end of life
With no cure for glaucoma, the goal in caring for these patients is to have good, functional vision at the end of life.
Improving the Screening, Treatment, and Referral of Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy
Despite a number of effective treatment options, diabetic eye disease is a leading cause of vision loss in the United States, in part because many patients are not identified as needing therapy.
Exercise Your Way to Healthier Eyes
Who doesn’t want increased energy, a toned, fit body and improved health? It’s no secret that exercise is the best way to get in shape and avoid serious health conditions. But you may be surprised to learn that you can actually exercise your way to healthy eyes too.
People’s perception of color changes depending on the season, new research suggests.
In particular, people see yellow differently on a grey day in the middle of winter, compared with how they see it on a summer day with green foliage all around.
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Lecture: How good is LASIK?