Is LASIK Right for You?

If you're tired of wearing glasses or contacts, LASIK can be the answer you're looking for. However, before you decide to undergo the procedure, make sure you take the following things into consideration: 

Imperfect vision isn't the only qualifier for LASIK. Before you're considered for LASIK, your eye doctor will require you to undergo a number of pre-tests. These tests screen for any underlying problems that may complicate the surgery or prove it impractical. 

Like all surgical procedures, LASIK comes with some risks. However, the advances in the technology have led to improvements in the procedure. In addition, most of the risks associated with LASIK have to do with post-operative care mishaps, so make sure to follow your surgeon's post-care suggestions down to detail. 

Understand that your vision after LASIK may not be a perfect 20/20. However, a lot of patients who underwent the procedure managed to discontinue using eyeglasses and contacts immediately. Thus, at any rate, the surgery is guaranteed to reduce or eliminate the need for corrective eyewear. 

Getting LASIK does not mean you can neglect your eyes. Your eyes will still be subject to changes due to both age and your lifestyle. Taking care of your eyes after LASIK is important to retain benefits for as long as physiologically possible. 

Finally, there are the costs. LASIK isn't the most affordable option for vision correction. However, if the surgery works for you, any costs can easily offset the benefits you gain from it.

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.

Tips on Recovering from LASIK Surgery

LASIK surgery is an effective way of remedying eye problems such as nearsightedness and astigmatism. However, the delicate procedure requires extra attention to details to avoid any complications.

Baby Steps

Put as little strain on your eyes as possible for at least the first two days following your LASIK treatment. Arrange for someone to take you home after the surgery. If you want to take public transportation, make sure you have someone accompanying you to make sure you won’t be forced to keep your eyes open the entire way.

Avoid Sports

Avoiding contact sports right after any type of surgery might be on the nose, but see to it that you also stay away from non-contact sports after LASIK. It will take quite a while before your vision and depth perception fully adjusts. You might also want to steer clear of straining your eyes on the computer too often.

Visit Your Doctor

Make sure you pay a visit to your trusted eye doctor regularly and report any possible complications to him. Note that your doctor will also prescribe you with sufficient medication that should speed up the recovery process. Make sure you take them as prescribed, lest you end up worsening the surgery. The rest of the recovery process, on the other hand, is all up to you.

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.