Lasers Cut Clean for Cataract Surgery

A cataract is an eye condition wherein the lens turns cloudy, blurring the patient’s vision. More than 20 million people in the United States ages 40 and above suffer from cataracts. As people age, the likelihood of developing a cataract increases. An estimated 50 million people will be affected by the condition by the year 2050.

Going under the knife

Almost all cataract surgeries are still done via scalpel despite the proven effectiveness and accuracy of laser surgery. This is due mainly to the cost of the procedure, which Medicare doesn’t cover in many cases.

How it’s done

A small opening is cut around the cloudy portion of the lens. A vibrating ultrasound needle is then inserted to break up the cloudy mass which can be removed in small pieces, after which an IOL or intraocular lens is implanted to cover the opening.

On the other hand, a laser will make a clean opening and soften the cloudy tissue; this negates the need to use ultrasound applications to break down the mass.

The results speak for themselves

Any eye doctor will swear by this procedure, adding that patients enjoy clearer vision as early as the day right after the operation. Clearly, laser surgery is a boon to the medical field and shouldn’t be excluded as an option simply because it costs more.

How to Prevent Glaucoma-Related Blindness

Majority of your everyday work and leisure activities require clear vision, so protecting it is a priority. If you have glaucoma, you must be more conscious of preventing vision loss. Some types of glaucoma can take years before blindness occurs, but others may take as quick as a day or two.

Two Good Eyes and Cognitive Ability

In Greek mythology, cyclopes were one-eyed creatures who possessed enormous strength, but not too much wit---something that could perhaps be attributed to their anatomy. After all, human beings have two eyes for a very good reason.

Having two eyes enables depth perception. One eye can compensate for the errors made by the other eye, with both eyes mutually supporting each other in conjuring images. Each eye takes slightly different snapshots of the world, leaving it up to the brain to process the images and come up with a concrete image.

Thus, when the ability of one or both eyes is diminished for one reason or another, a person’s cognitive abilities may also be affected. This is true in both children and adults. In some cases, behavioral or cognitive problems observed in a child are the result of undetected visual impairment, which the child may have difficulty coping with.

For this reason, good eye care has to be observed at all times. Regular eye check-ups, especially among children, is very important, as these will help detect potential problems at their earliest stages. Likewise, everyone must be on alert about any optical concerns, and go to an eye doctor when symptoms, such as blurry vision and headaches, arise.

Batten Hatches on Cataract Surgery for the Elderly

It can be depressing to learn that an elderly loved one can’t see well because of cataracts. Being afflicted with the disorder carries its own set of dangers when it affects quality of life. This will warrant immediate treatment, with surgery the prime option if found eligible. The preparations for undergoing cataract surgery at the hands of a skilled eye doctor warrant much sacrifice on the patient’s part.

If your loved one is set for cataract surgery you must take a few days off from work to prepare for their operation and post-op recuperation. Arrange for a family member to accompany them to and from the practice, especially for the pre-op tests. The preferred eye doctor needs the time to assess the patient’s eye for the size of the lens needed for implantation.

Make sure your loved one sleeps well the night before the surgery, but consult with the doctor on what medication they can and can’t consume. On the day itself, help your loved one take a thorough bath and assist them with changing into clean clothes. A light breakfast may suffice unless the doctor suggested otherwise.

Have a pair of dark sunglasses ready for your loved one before you leave the practice. Administer eye drops and proper medication where needed, but never forget to involve them in some activities to practice their eyesight.

Ultimately, there’s no denying that cataract surgery for your elderly loved one will be a good thing for them in their advanced years. 

What You Need to Know About LASIK Surgery

For many decades, eye problems such as refractive errors, could only be corrected by using prescription eyewear or other types of corrective lenses. Nowadays, eye doctors make use of a technology and surgery to treat poor vision more effectively, with LASIK surgery leading the way in terms of success.

Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis is a procedure that involves the use of an excimer laser to permanently reshape the patient’s cornea. It’s relatively new, having been approved for practice in Canada and the U.S. only during the 1990s. In addition to excimer laser, some LASIK surgeries make use of a mechanical blade device called a microkeratome to achieve the desired results.

Simple Tips in Caring for the Eyes

They say the eyes are the window to one’s soul. They allow the person to take in the sights, and at the same time allow others to see how the person is feeling through the expression in his eyes. As such, it’s very important to take great care of one’s eyes, because they are also very sensitive to external factors such as sunlight, dust and various irritants.

By practicing these basic eye care habits, you can help ensure that your eyes are properly protected and cared for:

• Wear sunglasses outdoors during daytime. We don’t realize that eye damage caused by UV rays accumulates during our lifetime, and that protection from it must start early and done often. When purchasing sunglasses, get lenses that are large and cover a large area, with lenses that have ANSI Z80.3 blocking requirements and provide UV 400 protection.
• Remove eye make-up when you get home. Using the right removal cream, coconut oil or olive oil helps avoid problems related to excessive eye make-up use, such as conjunctivitis, dry eyes, and loss of eyelashes, among others.
• Remove contact lenses when not in use. If you’re spending the day at home and will not be using contact lenses, don’t wear them. Not wearing contacts will allow your eyes to relax and avoid eye strain from constant use. Doing so also minimizes the possibility of cornea infection.
• Have a proper diet. Proper nutrition goes a long way in caring for your eyes. Food containing beta carotene from carrots can help maintain good eyesight, while eating leafy greens will provide the lutein and zeaxanthin needed to help lower the risk of developing macular degeneration and cataracts. Other food beneficial to the eyes include eggs, citrus, berries, and almonds.

Of course, these tips and many others work best with the care that your eye doctor can provide you. If you have any concerns with your vision, it’s best you contact your local doctor to make sure no minor problems become larger concerns in the future.

A Seasoned Eye Doctor in Durham, NC Can Deal with Severe Cataract

Although non-communicable, cataracts can lead to vision loss and thereby greatly affect your daily activities and overall quality of life. Cataracts may also render you vulnerable to accidents and, therefore, require prompt treatment via skilled eye doctors in Durham, NC, such as those from North Carolina Eye Ear Nose & Throat.

A cataract is a cloudy material that can be broken down and suctioned through a procedure called phacoemulsification. This is a more advanced method compared to extracapsular surgery that involves making a huge incision on the side of the cornea, which can be risky and may require a longer recovery period. With treatment methods undergoing constant improvement, cataract patients can look forward to regaining clear vision.

http://www.nceent.com/seasoned-eye-doctor-durham-nc-can-deal-severe-cataract/

Understanding Astigmatism and its Treatment

Astigmatism, also known as eye stigma, is a common eye condition that afflicts millions of people around the world, and is one of the primary reasons for many to wear corrective lenses or glasses. It happens when the eye is not completely round in shape, causing refraction to happen more in one direction than the other. As a result, only part of the object is given clear focus.

Facts to Know from Your Eye Doctor in Durham, NC: About Astigmatism

Symptoms

Oftentimes, astigmatism is accompanied by various other vision problems, nearsightedness or farsightedness among them. What separates them though, is that the former is typically exhibited early in life through symptoms like eye strain, headaches, and the need to constantly squint. This problem can lead children to a difficult time at school.

Causes

Since it could show up in childhood, many experts purport that astigmatism just might be hereditary, where children inherit the refractive problems in their parents’ vision. Another known cause is injury or disease that happened to permanently damage the victim’s cornea function. The disease in this case is called keratoconus, since it makes the cornea thinner and more cone-shaped.

http://www.nceent.com/facts-know-eye-doctor-durham-nc-astigmatism/

Seeing an Eye Doctor in Durham, NC? Important Facts on LASIK Surgery

There are several qualifications that an individual has to meet before this treatment can be administered. For one, your eyes’ prescription needs to be stable and not constantly changing; moreover, certain eye disease, especially when coupled with age, could also serve as a detriment. This is why efficient eye doctors in Durham, NC like those from North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat should check your condition thoroughly before having you sign on to the procedure.

Of all your basic senses, losing your vision could perhaps be the most devastating. This is why science has seen to it that reliable treatments like LASIK are as safe as possible, for the benefit of those in dire need of getting their eye conditions fixed.

http://www.nceent.com/seeing-eye-doctor-durham-nc-important-facts-lasik-surgery/

3 Reasons Why You Should Visit Your Eye Doctor

There is a saying, “The eyes are the windows to the soul.” Regardless if you want your eyes to convey something meaningful or not, there is no question of how important and valuable they are. Caring for the eyes is everybody's business and knowing when to see your eye doctor is key to optimum eye care. So when should you go and see your eye specialist?

Make it an annual thing. 

Paying your eye doctor a visit should be an annual habit, whether you are still young or on your prime. Certain eye conditions may not be readily apparent but can actually be in their early stages of development. By having a specialist check on your eyes, you will be able to avert such conditions that can result in complications in the future, if left undetected and untreated. 

Chronic headaches. 

If you are suffering from nagging headaches, a visit to your eye doctor may help. You may already be suffering from eye strain that will probably require you to wear eyeglasses. If you are already wearing eyeglasses, your prescription may have changed so head to your eye doctor for confirmation. 

Pain signals. 

Last but not least, if you are feeling pain in your eyes and it's already bothering you a lot, better head to your doctor and have it checked. Pain serves as a signal that something is not right and should be addressed quickly.

How Astigmatism Affects Your Vision

As a common hereditary condition, astigmatism can manifest while a person is still young. When this happens, he's likely to wear corrective lenses for a very long period or undergo laser surgery for permanent treatment.

What Causes It

As astigmatism can show up as early as childhood, many experts say astigmatism might be hereditary. Children inherit the refractive problems from their parents’ vision. Another known cause is injury or disease that happened to permanently damage the victim’s cornea function. The condition, in this case, is called keratoconus (because it makes the cornea thinner and more cone-shaped).

You Might Have Astigmatism When…

Oftentimes, astigmatism is accompanied by various other vision problems; nearsightedness and farsightedness among them. What separates them, though, is that astigmatism can be typically exhibited early in life through symptoms like eye strain, headaches, and the need to constantly squint. Children may have a difficult time at school with this problem.

Treatments

Doctors typically treat patients with astigmatism via refractive or laser eye surgery. In this procedure, a laser is used to correct your vision by changing the shape of the cornea's surface back to normal.

If you want to know more about astigmatism and have your eyes checked in the process, call up a reputable eye doctor and schedule a checkup. Ask him about the procedures that will work best on you.

When Blurred Vision Gets in the Way

Nearsightedness defined

Myopia is an eye condition where the eyeball is too long for the cornea’s and the lens’ ability to focus, making it difficult to clearly see from afar. The condition can also happen when the eyes’ cornea and lens are too curved relative to the eyeball’s length. Myopia can be inherited and generally starts in childhood, particularly between ages 8-12.

What are the symptoms?
Nearsighted persons have blurred distance vision and are likely to squint their eyes frequently. More often than not, someone afflicted with myopia also experiences frequent eye strains or headaches.

How to treat myopia

A professional eye doctor will diagnose the degree of nearsightedness by means of a comprehensive eye exam. The blurred vision can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery.

Eyeglasses and contact lens prescription will typically be preceded by a minus sign to indicate the degree of nearsightedness. Essentially, a higher number means that you are more nearsighted and you may need to wear your glasses or contact lenses all the time.

While surgical procedures are deemed to be more expensive, they can lessen the need for contacts or glasses. Laser technology or manual incisions are used to remove small amounts of corneal tissue to allow light rays to better focus on the retina.

A Look into Cataract Surgery

When asked, most people will say that they want to grow old gracefully, but this means different things for different people. For some, it means resorting to cosmetic surgery to change their looks or make them look younger. For others, it means living life as they've normally done, without assistance from anyone. However, the latter is not possible if they suffer from the eye condition known as cataracts.

Cataracts occur when the eye lens begin to cloud, and vision becomes impaired. This condition is mostly age-related and is common in Americans age 65 and above. Since cataracts lead to impaired vision, those suffering from the condition are likely to experience difficulties in accomplishing household tasks on their own, like cooking or gardening. It can pose safety risks if a sufferer still insists on driving a vehicle himself.

Having someone help out with household tasks and someone to drive him to the places he needs to go to can provide a cataract sufferer relief and peace of mind in these situations. However, a better solution would be to see an eye doctor who can treat the condition and improve the vision, typically through prescription eyeglasses. In extreme cases when eyeglasses are barely any help in vision enhancement, the eye doctor will most likely recommend cataract surgery.

Your Durham, NC Eye Doctor Can Prescribe the Perfect Glasses for You

"Another black mark against glasses purchased online is that, according to the journal Optometry, almost half of them don't meet impact testing standards. This is an important requirement since the Food and Drug Administration considers all prescription glasses as medical devices. If the lenses shatter or crack easily, they can cause serious damage to your eyes. Since most glasses have to be replaced every two or three years, it's understandable why people are looking for cheaper ways to buy them. However, protecting and prolonging your eyesight is a worthy investment. If you're thinking about buying your glasses online, consult first with trusted eye doctors in Durham, NC like those from the North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat."

http://www.nceent.com/durham-nc-eye-doctor-can-prescribe-perfect-glasses/

LASIK: What You Need to Know

People with very poor vision have different methods at their disposal to correct it such as wearing prescription glasses or contact lenses. However, there is a more effective way to correct poor vision and permanently eliminate the need for glasses or contacts altogether: the LASIK eye surgery. A long-standing procedure, the LASIK or “Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis” is a common surgical procedure performed to treat hyperopia or farsightedness, myopia or nearsightedness, and astigmatism.

The eye is covered by a transparent layer called the cornea, which is responsible for controlling the entry of light into the eye. As we age, the cornea starts to lose the ability to change shape. Thus, the LASIK eye surgery calls for the use of an excimer laser to reshape the cornea, allowing for the refocusing of the light entering the retina and improving one's vision in the process.

Prior to LASIK surgery, patients have to undergo a medical evaluation. A thorough exam will be administered to check the benefits or risks of the surgery. Information pertaining to the expectations and responsibilities of a candidate before and after the surgery will also be provided. If you are qualified for the surgery, it is highly recommended to give yourself plenty of time to review or to ask the necessary questions before signing a consent form.

Can Cell Phones Damage Your Eyes?

Less than a decade ago, a cell phone that could receive email was already considered smart. But cell phone capability nowadays has gone beyond a simple email send button. The cell phone has become more technologically advanced with its various applications from social media apps to strategic games. It's not surprising then that people's eyeballs are always glued to this gadget. Chances are, the first thing you do in the morning is to check your phone for text messages, tweets or status updates that came in while you were asleep. But with all the time you spend staring at a cell phone, do you ever wonder if it damages your eyes?

Cell phone screens are tiny compared to those of other mobile devices like laptops and tablets. With a small screen size, you're more likely to squint and experience eye strain as you browse through websites and read e-books. In fact, the Israel Institute of Technology conducted a study wherein calf eyes were exposed to heat and microwave radiations similar to those given off by a cell phone. After the exposure, the researchers concluded that the eyes showed early signs of cataracts, saw blurred images and couldn't focus well.

Having a computer that fits in your palm is a giant leap in this technozoic era. However, too much of a good thing can be bad too, especially for your eyes. Mind your cell phone usage and have regular consultations with your eye doctor to protect your vision.

Correcting Astigmatism

Astigmatism may be one of the most common vision problems yet it is often misunderstood. It is defined as inability of the eyes to properly focus on light sources, because the light is directed at other sections of the retina. You know you have astigmatism when you are forced to squint to see an object more clearly. There are ways to correct them that an eye doctor can help you with.

Corrective treatments are the first option, and eyeglasses are a popular choice among the patients. The practitioner will first test your eyes through various methods and determine the right grade for the lenses. The patient will then have to choose the material for the frame. In some cases, however, the patient may opt for glasses and a pair of contact lenses. The eye doctor will then determine whether soft or extended-wear lenses are appropriate, depending on your level of activity, as well as explain the maintenance options for the lenses.

A more or less permanent solution to eliminating astigmatism is to undergo refractive surgery. LASIK, where the cornea’s flap is cut open and a laser beam shapes the cornea underneath, is a highly popular option because of its relatively fast healing time and the excimer laser used in the procedure does not generate heat. PRK is also the same as LASIK, but has longer recuperation time.